Jesus is Not Running for President. He already won King.
(My Life Group Lesson for Sunday, Nov. 26)
Main idea: The Lord Jesus Christ is the King who has conquered, is conquering, and will conquer, not for power, but for the redemption of the human race and created order.
This aspect of theology is one we do not think about or teach about much. We spend a lot of time on “Jesus died for my sins so I can go to heaven theology.” As I have matured as a Christian, I tend to think of that as a 101 class versus the full reality; it’s the first door, but we tend to stay there.
John Calvin says God speaks to us in baby talk (“God, in so speaking, lisps with us as nurses are wont to do with little children” [Institutes, 1.13.1]. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-precious-gift-of-baby-talk
Paul says we now see through a glass darkly. The writer of Hebrews (6:1-20 says we must go on:
“Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
It is true that Jesus died for our sins and we have eternal life. But there is so much more. Jesus Christ was Savior and Messiah and King. He did not only conquer sin’s hold on us but its hold on the whole world and creation, including power systems. The created order is groaning waiting for redemption, Roman 8:18
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of [f]corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
Note the use of “us” and “we.” A child is very self-centered. A mature Christian sees the “we,” not just the “me.” I sometimes change the words of songs to we and us just to remind myself I am not the center of the universe or the focus of the theology of the hymn. (Worship songs can get very “me” focused.)
The theme in the Life Group literature is Christ the Conquering King. In the cross He conquered sin’s power over us to condemn. In the resurrection He conquered death’s (I Corinthians 15:54-56) power over us, and we enjoy that victory.
54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O[n] Death,
where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the ascension and last words He showed authority. We believe He will come back to rule in eternity. The problem is the in-between. Is He conquering now? What is He conquering now? Is it just a matter of our perspective, or of reality? Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper wrote, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” Jesus does not have to run for president. He is king, but not like we think.
We tend to focus on how He will be the conquering when He returns rather than on the fact He is already conqueror, and that God is not bound by time.
In terms of his being KING, we falter here because of being Americans and having poor examples of Kings in human history. When we think of Kings, it’s based on
· Tales in storybooks.
· In the royal family of England.
· In historical examples. Nicholas and Alexandria, the last rulers of Russia before the Communist Revolution. He was not willing to change to help the needs of the Russian people; in fact, he made it worse for them. He wouldn’t allow the people to have any kind of self-rule, civil rights, and democratic government, like the rest of the world, and they lived in protected luxury. He held on to power. Contrast that with King Jesus: Philippians 2:5-11
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who,
being in very nature[a] God,
did
not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; who, though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, or “to be held on to for
His own advantage.”
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being
made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he
humbled himself
by
becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore
God exalted him to the highest place
and
gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow,
in
heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus
Christ is Lord,
to
the glory of God the Father.
This was how Jesus was, became, is, and will be the conquering King. KING is too big a job for anyone but The Son of God.
Contrast with President. The presidency today is not what the original constitution envisioned it. Certain presidents in the early 20th century took on powers that were not originally thought of as theirs. Now people expect the president to be all things to all people. George Washington specifically turned down the job of King. The Presidency is basically a political position, meaning the president has to be approved of by a majority of the people in the states in a majority of the states. He has to be constantly concerned about political issues on top of doing the job.
Jesus did not win an election; in fact, the opposite. Most of the people in the world right now do not approve of Him or even know about Him. That goes against what the Bible asserts about His Kingship. And that—the Bible—is where we have to go to understand how He is King. We just don’t see His Kingship now because we look at a violent and chaotic world. Let’s look at three passages.
The Lord Jesus Christ rules the Cosmos, which refers to Hebrews 1:5-9 (read), based on Psalm 2:7, Acts 13:33, Phil 2:8-9, Psalm 45. Cosmos (we get cosmopolitan and cosmetics) means created order, government, system. v. the geo world (earth). So whether we know it or not, Jesus rules the created human order and systems. Personally, for me, that takes a lot of faith, since there seems to be so much chaos today and in the past, but the fact that the world continues everyday, the sun comes up, plants grow, babies are born, people live day to day, etc., shows we see the black spots against the background.
The Lord Jesus Christ directs the church. Colossians 1:18-20 (read. He more than directs it; it exists only because of Him. A decapitated body does not live. Many “churches” have tried to put something else as the head of the church: humans, doctrines, power, money, status. That makes a dead church.
Firstborn and only begotten refer to the resurrection, not “Christmas.”
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Returning King who rewards the faithful. Revelation 22:12-13
Alpha and Omega (A-Z, the whole alphabet of revelation and communication from God, “The Word.”
Eternal both ways; did not have a beginning or end.
He has the authority and power and right to reward as He sees fit.
There are two judgments in Revelation.
Great White Throne (Rev. 20, of unbelievers, condemnation)
Bema (rewards of the Olympic athletes, not condemnation)
I have often been taught that II Corinthians 5:9-10 “10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
And I Corinthians 3:12 “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.”
Meant that anything we do in this life must have eternal value or it will burn up and not count. The literature this week has this passage:
“This world is not our home. … This life is a layover. As we wait for our final flight, we get to steward the godly gifts of grace we possess to bring as many souls as possible with us to be with Jesus for eternity.”
I personally disagree. This life is not a waiting room; it is a proving ground. What we do matters. Any act of obedience and faithfulness that is done in His name and for His glory is pleasing to Him. We can’t know the consequences of everything we do.
Conclusions: Organizations have a problem called “mission drift.” Over time the leadership of an organization makes decisions that take it away from what it is supposed to be doing. (Think if Chik- Fil-A started selling fish sticks.) Christians can experience mission drift every day. We first have to know our mission, and then reflect on it every day. That is why we need to be in the Word every day and spend time with God, asking Him what that day we can do to serve His glory, cosmos, and church.
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