Faith In Christ the King
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 11/17/2013 AM |
Text: | Revelation 1; Lord's Day 12 |
Psalters: | 124, 331, 58, 194 |
- The concept.
- God created Adam as the first king of the earthly creation, "have dominion" (Gen. 1:28).
- The fall into sin changed man's ability to function in this office.
- Man remained king of creation, but now under Satan, selfishly using creation for himself and his pleasures.
- The result of the fall is that when man became king under Satan, then the devil became the prince of this world.
- The Anointed One came as THE King.
- God promised to redeem this kingship in the Old Testament scriptures: Genesis 49:10; Numbers 24:17; II Samuel 7:16; Psalms 45, 72, 110; Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 7:13,14.
- The Christ began His kingship by fighting and defeating the powers of darkness.
- It is a spiritual battle, not physical or earthly for earthly land or an earthly throne in Jerusalem.
- For this spiritual battle, the King came meekly (Matt. 21:5), with the weapon of obedience to and love for God.
- He is the mighty Conqueror, the Lord strong and mighty, the King of kings (Isa. 55:3,4; Acts 5:31; I Cor. 15:25).
- In heaven Christ continues as our King, but with all power in heaven and on earth.
- He governs His people by His Word and Spirit, with the power of grace, not the power of the sword.
- He defends and preserves His own in their salvation.
- The office of king is manifest in office of elder.
- In the Old Disp. the kings of Israel and Judah ruled in a theocracy under God and in God's name, and as types of Christ.
- The good kings ruled in the hope of the Mighty King, Whose rule and dominion would be perfect.
- In the New Dispensation this office is in the elders.
- Good elders rule over God's people on behalf of Christ; evidence that Christ is with us.
- They seek to preserve them in the truth, through the rod of discipline.
- Those who are in Christ are partakers of His anointing and thus are kings.
- In this life we fight against sin and Satan.
- First, we manfully fight against sin and Satan.
- We can fight with a free and good conscience because sin no longer has the right to rule us.
- We fight with faith in Christ's perfect obedience, with the weapon of obedience.
- And afterwards we will reign with Him in eternity.
- There is a sense in which this reign begins now.
- We will presently reign in glory with Christ over all things forever.