CHRIST’S PRESENT REIGN
Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
If there’s one doctrine which the Harlot church ignores, and seems to despise, it’s the present reign of Christ. She imagines herself going to heaven and crowning him Lord. But he was Lord when he got here! Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And being borned again involves calling on him as Lord! Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
And Peter preached on Pentecost, as seen in our text, that Christ had to be by the right hand of God in order for the Holy Spirit to have been sent. Then he stated that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
The majority of religion also leaves out Christ’s present reign in the matter of their evangelism! But that focuses only upon the sinner, and not upon the Commissioner who gave them their ‘great commission!’ Therefore their message is more like, “Let’s Make A Deal,” rather than “Repent and bow to Lord Christ!” The sinner is to be ‘commanded,’ not ‘invited!’ Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
They conveniently leave out verse eighteen of their “Great Commission” passage. But what about that word “therefore” in verse nineteen? That word means, “because of.” It is “Go ye therefore,” and not just “Go ye!” And what is that word “therefore” there for? It is to refer them back to the previous verse. And verse eighteen states that Jesus Christ is absolute ruler and reigning Lord!
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
That sovereign authority of the Lord Jesus is not only omitted in their determination to add more members to their religious organization, but it is conveniently omitted regarding the latter part of that verse twenty! For the evangelists are only authorized to teach disciples to obey the Lord Christ as themselves are obeying whatsoever I have commanded you:
Now the Lord’s present reign is one of mediation. He sovereignly mediates between God and mankind. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Luke 10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
He is our High Priest, representing us to the Father. Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
And just when did the Lord Jesus begin his sovereign reign? For that answer let us look to the Scriptures. Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
It is very clear by these verses that the Lord Jesus was made reigning Lord over all heaven and earth at the time of the cross and his resurrection and ascension! That is made absolutely clear by these verses. (It would also do the reader well to read Philippians 2:5-11 to farther establish this well documented fact.)
There is only one who is not made subject to his absolute authority. That person is God the Father. For it is the Father who put all things under the Son’s authority. 1 Corinthians 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
Consider the following passages concerning his Lordship. Some of them were spoken by the very mouth of God, the Son. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. His request at the hour of the cross was for the Father to return the glory unto him which he had “before the world was.”
And he spoke of already being sat down with his Father in his throne! Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Consider these words which the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus: Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
With these passages, why then does not the Harlot church believe this doctrine? Because she finds it too hard to yield absolute submission to his Lordship! Therefore she fashions herself out a more convenient god, whom she can crown as lord at her own discretion. So the modern day ‘gospel’ is little more than a social agreement reached between religionists as they simply add members to their cult! The Apostle Paul speaks of religionists being more able to “bear with” those who preach of another gospel, another Jesus, and another spirit. 2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
The Harlot system seeks to divide the Lordship of Christ from his being saviour! But Peter, on Pentecost states that God made him both Lord and Christ at one and the same time. Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. He is Lord to rule with absolute authority as he is Christ to save. Reread the Lord’s words as recorded in John 17:2. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. He gives eternal life as he has power over all flesh!
And having all these passages, what does the religious unbelievers set forth as a rebuttal? They ask, “Well, if Christ is Lord, why is there all this suffering and chaos in the world?” And this question farther reveals that they do not understand God, nor his purposes!
First of all, the Lord informs us that the occurrence of these things are God’s will. Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
And he reveals that such things as being hungry, and in prison, and without clothing, and being sick are used by him as telling signs of who is a believer and who is not! Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
The Apostle Peter sheds even more light upon the reason for afflictions and hardships. 1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
For the believer to suffer wrongfully (that is, for an evil which he did not commit), he is allowed to enter into the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. 1 Peter 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Christ shall continue to reign until the rule of all offenders has been put down! 1 Corinthians 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
Pastor Gene Breed
September 29, 2020
