OceanSide church of Christ

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THE HIGH OFFICES HELD BY JESUS

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     One of the things that our military is known for is its ranks.

1.       When one enlists in the military, he is expected to “move up the ranks.”

2.       New recruits are quickly taught about those who have ranks above them.

 

B.      Some of us may have been privileged to know someone who possessed a high rank in our military such as a 4-Star General in the Army or the Fleet Commander in the Navy.

1.       We respect them for their hard work to reach those positions.

2.       We also respect the authority and power they wield.

 

C.     Today is our Military Appreciation Day.  I like to present a Scriptural lesson that centers upon some theme from the military.  Today, I want to talk about “The High Offices of Jesus Christ.”

1.       Most of us definitely know Him.

2.       Others may know Him, but are not fully aware of the positions that He occupies.

 

I.                    HE IS OVER HUMANITY AS LORD

 

A.     One of my favorite verses about Jesus as Lord is Acts 2:36.

 

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, who ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

 

B.      The Hebrew and Greek terms.

1.       The Hebrew word is “Yahweh” or “Jehovah.”  This word means “self-existent one” or “eternal one.”

2.       The Greek word is “kurios.”  This term means “supreme in authority, controller.”

 

C.     As Lord, Jesus has power and authority over all of humanity.

1.       Matthew 28:18

 

And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 

2.       Ephesians 1:21

 

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.

 

3.       I Peter 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.

 

D.     Sadly, many in the world do not recognize and honor the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.  But, one day they will (Phil. 2:9-11).

 

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name that is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

II.                 HE IS OVER ALL NATIONS AS THE GOVERNOR

 

A.     Psalm 22:28

 

For the kingdom is the Lord’s:  and he is the governor among the nations.

 

B.      Because of the different political opinions that so many of us hold, we do not speak very often about the fact that our Lord is over all nations, but He is.

1.       Romans 13:1

 

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.  For there is no power but of God:  the powers that be are ordained of God.

 

2.       God can speak concerning a nation to pluck it up, pull it down, or destroy it (Jer. 18:7).

3.       God can speak concerning a nation to build it and to plant it (Jer. 18:9).

4.       Jesus told Pilate:  “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above…” (John 19:11).

 

C.     All presidents, kings, rulers, despots, dictators, emperors, shahs, and czars should honor the Lord as “King of kings and Lord of lord” (Rev. 19:16). 

1.       To make war with Him is foolishness.  Remember, all He must do is speak and a nation can be plucked up, pulled down, and destroyed

2.       Philistines, Hittites, Assyrians, Medes, Persians, Romans, Ottoman Empire, East Germany, and the Soviet Union are several powerful nations that no longer exist today.

 

III.              HE IS OVER THE KINGDOM AS KING

 

A.     Daniel predicted that a kingdom that would never be destroyed would be established in the days of the Roman kings (Dan. 2:44).

1.       Either, the kingdom was established and Daniel is confirmed to be a true prophet.

2.       Or, the kingdom was not established and Daniel is a false prophet.

 

B.      That kingdom was established. 

1.       John the Baptist predicted its imminent coming in the first century (Matt. 3:1-2).

2.       Jesus also predicted the same (Matt. 4:17).

 

C.     That kingdom was established on the day of Pentecost following our Lord’s ascension into heaven.

1.       Jesus went unto the Ancient of days, “and there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him:  his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed” (Dan. 7:13-14).

2.       NOTE:  It is not a physical kingdom.  He said:  “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).

 

D.     Right now, at this very moment in time, Jesus is reigning as King over this kingdom (I Cor. 15:22-26).

 

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order:  Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are his at his coming.  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.  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

 

1.       My friends, there is not future kingdom of Christ.

2.       My friends, there is not future reign of Christ.

3.       The kingdom and Christ’s reign are happening right now.  Presently, Jesus is ruling over his kingdom as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

IV.              HE IS OVER THE CHURCH AS THE HEAD

 

A.     “And he is the head of the body, the church…” (Col. 1:18).

1.       He is head.

2.       He is “the” head, meaning only one.

a.       The pope is not over the church.

b.      There is no human apostle over the church.

c.       There is no a human prophet over the church.

d.      There is no synod or council over the church.

e.       There no committee or delegation over the church.

 

B.      As the head of the church, He is the only one who guides and governs the church.

1.       All Christians are just members of the body.

2.       They carry out the desires and wishes of the head.

3.       They are not the ones who determine what is and what is not to be done.

4.       When a Christian seeks to be the head of the church, he has usurped his God-given role for the role of Christ.

5.       All the body needs to ask is:  “Lord, what wilt thou have us to do?”

 

V.                 JESUS IS OVER ALL CHRISTIANS AS THE CAPTAIN OF THEIR SALVATION

 

A.     Hebrews 2:10

 

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering.

 

B.      The Greek word is “archegos.”

1.       It is a combination of the words “chief” and “to lead.

2.       Thus, it is defined as “the chief leader.”

3.       It refers to one who takes the lead in anything and thus affords an example.

 

C.     Jesus came to earth in order to show us the way. 

1.       He lived His life as a perfect man (Heb. 7:26).

2.       He showed us how to serve (John 13:4-5).

3.       He showed us how to perfectly obey God, even in death (Phil. 2:5-8).

4.       He is entered into heaven as our forerunner (Heb. 6:19-20).

 

D.     If you and I will follow His example, we can enter into the same place that He has already gone.

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     If we were to come into contact with a Five Star General of days gone by, we would treat that man with courtesy and respect. 

 

B.      Our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ occupies offices much higher than a Five Star General or a Fleet Admiral.

1.       He is LORD over all humanity.

2.       He is the GOVERNOR among the nations.

3.       He is the KING of kings.

4.       He is the HEAD of the church.

5.       He is the CAPTAIN of our salvation.

 

C.     How much more we should respect Him.  How much more should we honor Him.  How much more we should obey all that He has commanded of us.

 

D.     When our Lord finally proceeds from heaven at the Second Coming.

1.       All will confess Him as Lord and bow before Him

2.       He will put down all other rule and authority and power.

3.       He will stand before all men as the “blessed and only Potentate.”

4.       He will stand before the church as her only head.

5.       He will lead the faithful back home to glory with Him.

 

E.      Dear listener, how you view Him now will determine what will happen to you then.