The name of the message today
is Christ the King. Our text will be in Ephesians
chapter 1, verses 20 to 23. The subject will be the exaltation
of Christ. Jesus Christ as King over all
the earth, that is the message of Acts chapter 2, that's the
message of the New Testament, and that's the message of our
text, Ephesians chapter 1, verses 20 to 23. Our Redeemer has been
exalted to the throne of everlasting dominion. We need to recognize
and rejoice in it and proclaim it. If we worship the Son of
God, if we worship the Lord Jesus Christ, we must know Him in His
kingly office and worship Him as the King. I want you to turn
to the first chapter of Ephesians. It's one of my favorite books.
I want to read starting at verse 15 to the end of the chapter. Starting verse 15, wherefore,
I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love
unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making
mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit
of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. The eyes of
your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the
hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his
inheritance in the saints. And what is the exceeding greatness
of his power to usward who believe according to the working of his
mighty power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him
from the dead and set him in his own right hand in the heavenly
places. far above all principalities,
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, and
hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the
head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness
of him that filleth all in all. This was a message that John
wrote to the Ephesians, to the believers in Ephesians, Ephesus,
or in Ephesus, I should say. Ephesus was on the Aegean coast,
which is modern-day Turkey. Let me tell, let's tell us in,
it tells us in the first few verses here that God raised Christ
from the dead and set him at his own right hand in heavenly
places. That place is far above not some
but all principalities. The word all in here, it's mentioned
several times and it doesn't mean just some things, it means
all. And power and might and dominion
of this world but also in that which is to come. That tells
us that Christ is king over all the earth. There is no power
on earth that is equal to his power. Isaiah, the prophet Isaiah,
had a prophetic incarnation vision of the king. In Isaiah 6-1 he
said, I saw also the Lord sitting upon the throne, high and lifted
up, and his train filled the temple. That throne is the throne
in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. The
temple in this verse is the temple in heaven as well. Zechariah,
which was also a prophet and told us that when Christ came,
he would enter into his kingdom through humiliation, turned to
Zechariah chapter 9, verses 9 and 10. It says here in Zechariah rejoice
greatly Oh daughters of Zion shout Oh daughters of Jerusalem
behold thy king cometh unto thee He is just and having salvation
lowly and riding upon an ass and upon a colt the foal of an
ass and I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from
Jerusalem and the battle bow shall be cut off and he shall
speak peace unto the unto the heathen, and his dominion shall
be from sea even to sea, and from river even to the ends of
the earth. Zacharias prophecy was fulfilled
on the eve of the Lord's crucifixion on the cross. Jesus rode into
Jerusalem to enter his kingdom by the way of the cross. The
multitude cried out saying, blessed be the king that cometh in the
name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory to
the highest. That's in Luke 19 3. Many of
God's saints lose great blessings because they limit their thoughts
about Christ to one aspect of His life or another. At Christmas,
many will focus on the Savior's virgin birth at Bethlehem, Bethlehem's
manger. Others think only of His exemplary
life of mercy. We may limit our thoughts to
the Savior's death at the cross. a cavalry. We need to think about
all these things because they're all vitally important. If we
deny any one of them, we are denying the gospel. We can never
think too much about Christ, but our Redeemer's death on the
cross was not the end of his story or his life. He rose from
the grave and was exalted to a heavenly and eternal throne. I want us to look at the exalted
and glorified Savior. It is a privilege of faith to
follow the Lamb of God into the holiest of all and see Him seated
upon the throne of grace, the King of kings. In Ephesians,
in the closing verse of Paul's letter in Ephesians 1, we are
reminded that the risen Redeemer has been given all power, authority,
and dominion. In these verses, Paul breaks
out into praise and adoration for the exalted Christ, our King. Christ has been given the scepter
of the universe. Think about that for a second.
The whole universe. It is so vast that we can't even
begin to see the vast majority of it. We can't even begin to
measure how big the universe is, but he has the scepter over
all of that. The earth is just a tiny little speck in the universe,
and yet Christ still takes care of his chosen people. He come
to earth out of this whole universe to save a chosen people, and
we're fortunate to be among that chosen people. He is the God-man,
mediator, the head of the church, and over all the universe. Those
verses ought to strengthen our faith and encourage our hearts.
He is worthy of our fullest trust. There should be no doubt or uncertainty
about God's values, the obedience, and death of Christ above all
else. He accepts it for our perfect
redemption, and to prove that, God has exalted our Redeemer
to the throne of eternal glory as the reward of his obedience
as our Redeemer. God the Father has given the
supreme place of honor in heaven to the very one who bore our
sins and died in our place. For us to pay for those sins,
we wouldn't be able to, but Christ paid that for us. Christ did
that for us, even though we were undeserving sinners. He saved
us from our sins. We cannot save ourselves. It
is totally the work of Christ. The subject of Christ the King
is much too large a subject for me to understand or for me to
begin to help you understand the full meaning. I will try
to scratch the surface of the subject. Our text is four verses,
and I have a point to cover for each verse here. the place of
our king, Ephesians verse 20, the preeminence of our king,
verse 21, the power of our king, verse 22, and the pleasure of
our king, verse 23. First verse is the place of our
king. Paul is talking about the power
of God in verse 20. Ephesians 20 says, which he wrought in
Christ when he raised him up raised him from the dead and
set him at his own right hand in heavenly places. The Lord
Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and exalted to a kingly
throne by the power of God because Christ suffered and died for
his chosen people. The throne of our king is the
reward of his humiliation and death. This is the place of our
king. He sits in heaven. Let's turn to Philippians chapter
two, and let's look at verse six. Philippians two, verse six. who
being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with
God. The Lord Jesus Christ is himself
equal with God. Verse seven, it goes on, but
made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of
a servant and was made in the likeness of man. Christ our God
greatly humbled himself and become a man. Though a man, a real man,
he was also yet God. He was 100% God, yet 100% man
overall, blessed forever. Verse eight, and being formed
in fashion as a man, humbled himself and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. As a God-man, our mediator,
our Lord Jesus Christ, died in obedience of his Father's will. And in verse nine, Wherefore,
God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which
is above every name. As reward for his suffering and
death, God the Father raised him up from the dead and set
him upon the throne of everlasting dominion. He was raised by the
power of God. It is the same power which brings
dead sinners to life in Christ. If we are to be exalted in heaven,
we must be humbled upon the earth. And verse 10, that at the name
of Jesus, every knee should bow of things in heaven and things
in earth and things under the earth. Soon everyone, not just
believers, but everyone in heaven, earth, and hell will bow to Christ
the King, confessing him as Lord over all. The Lord Jesus Christ
is setting as the King in heaven. Paul's expression, set him at
his own right hand, is not meant to be a literal interpretation.
It's a metaphor. Scripture plainly shows us that
Christ is not actually and permanently seated at the right hand of God.
There are many verses in the Bible which, where the Bible
talks about Christ in heaven. Acts 7 tells us, the son of man
standing at the right side of God, he is the one who walketh
in the midst of seven candlesticks, Revelation 2, 1. And in Revelation
5, it says, verse 6, it says, in the midst of elders, stood
a lamb. He stands to receive repenting
sinners. He stands to intercede for his
elect, Zechariah 3. He stands to receive the dying
saints, Acts 7. and he stands to fulfill the
purpose of God, Revelation 10. When scripture speaks of Christ
sitting in heaven, it must be interpreted as a figure of speech.
It's like when we talk about the president, the sitting president. He doesn't sit in the White House
all the time. He is always out and around,
but it's just a figure of speech indicating at least four things. One is Christ being seated in
heaven indicates that he is resting from a finished work. His sacrificial
services and suffering has ended. The Old Testament priests could
never finish their work. There was no chairs in the tabernacle
for the priests because their work was never finished. Christ,
on the other hand, sat down because he finished his work on the cross.
Turn to Hebrews 1, and we will look at verses 1 to 3. In Hebrews it says, God who at
sundry times and in diverse manners spake in time past unto the Father
by the prophets, 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. 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 of high.
God completed everything. His work on earth was finished. Now let's turn over to Hebrews
10, just a few pages over. And look at verses 11 to 14. And every priest standeth daily,
ministering and offering oft times the same sacrifices, which
can never take away sin. But this man, after he had offered
one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down on the right hand of
God, from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his
footstools. For by one offering he has perfected
forever them that are sanctified. Christ is being seated in heaven
indicates that he has begun a new work. Turn to John 17, and we
will look at verses one to five. John 17, verse one. These words
spoke Jesus and lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father,
the hour has come. Glorify thy son, that the son
also may glorify thee. As thou has given him power over
all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou
has given him. And this is the life eternal
that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ
whom thou has sent. I have glorified thee on the
earth, I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And
now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the
glory which I had with thee before the world was. Christ's being seated in heaven
indicates that the superior honor and dignity that God placed upon
him. For to this end Christ both died
and rose and revived that he might be the Lord both of the
dead and the living. Romans 14 9. Let's turn to Revelation
5 and we'll look at verses 9 to
14. starting at verse 5. And one
of the elders said unto me, weep not, behold the line of the tribe
of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book
and to I'm at the right place. Yep. I'm sorry. I start the wrong
place. I'm supposed to be down on verse
nine. Sorry. And they sung a new song saying thou art worthy to
take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou was slain
and has redeemed us to God by the blood out of every kindred
and tongue and people and nation and has made us onto our God
kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld,
and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne,
and the beast of the elders, and the number of them was ten
thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. And
saying with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb that was slain to
receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor,
and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in
heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and as such
as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth
upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. And the
four beasts said, amen, and the four and 20 elders fell down
and worshiped him that liveth forever and ever. It tells us here that Christ
is worthy, blessed, glorified, honored in heaven, and by all
of heaven. Christ being seated in heaven
indicates a state of everlasting continuance. His humiliation
was temporary, but his exaltation and dominion is eternal. It will
last forever. In Isaiah 16, 5, it says, and
in mercy shall the throne be established, and he shall sit
in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking judgment
and hasting righteousness. Daniel 7 verse 14 tells us, 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 which shall not be destroyed. The Lord Jesus Christ is seated
at the right hand of God. This is to be understood figuratively. God does not have a body like
us. He is a spirit. When he uses the term body to
describe himself, he does so in a figurative manner. The right
hand is the place of blessedness, Psalm 16, 11. The right hand
is the place of honor, Hebrews 1, 13. And the right hand is
a place of power, Matthews 26, 64. Let me draw a few conclusions
from this verse. Those that believe are raised
with Christ. When we trust him, we enter into his rest. Hebrews
4.10, we are out of reach of our enemies. We are the children
of God's right hand. Our next verse is about the preeminence
of our king. Going back to our text, Ephesians
1.21, it says, far above all principalities 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. Remember, God
and the Holy Ghost is telling us about the God-man, our Savior. As God, he already possessed
the honor described here, but as our mediator, the humility
of Christ is exalted. He rules as the son of David
above all creatures in dignity, glory, and authority. He sets
us king as David's son and David's lord upon the throne of David. Our exalted king is also our
our high priest. Hebrews 8 Verses one and two,
now the things which we have spoken, this is the sum. We have
such a high priest who is set on the right hand of the throne
of the majesty in the heavens. A minister of the sanctuary and
of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man. Christ is our high priest. There
is no man on earth that is our high priest. He is a priest upon
the throne. He rules as a king, but he intercedes
as a priest. He is our Melchizedek. Melchizedek was both a king and
a priest in the Old Testament. He is neither father nor mother. He is the king of righteousness.
He is the king of peace. Christ our king is a universal
monarch. He is a king over all the angels.
He is a king over all the devils. He is king over all authority
on earth. He is king over the world to
come. He is king over heaven, he is king over earth, king over
hell, and before this king, all shall bow. We can draw comfort
and encouragement from this verse. Is Christ a king? Then we are
kings in him. Is Christ a priest? Then we are
priests in him. With such a king as Christ, the
kingdom is safe. God has given Christ preeminence,
then the children of God will also be given preeminence to
Christ our King. Our third verse covers the power
of our King. Let's read verse 22 in Ephesians
1. and hath put all things under
his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. Lord Jesus Christ has all power
and authority throughout the universe as our king. God has
exalted Christ to such dignity and dominion that everything
is under his power and brought unto subjection to him. John
17 2 says as thou has given him power over all flesh That he
should give eternal life to as many as thou has given him Christ
will give eternal life to everyone that That to that's two words
not the single word everyone because he does not give eternal
life to everyone but every one of his chosen people every one of his chosen people
that was given to God before the foundation of the world.
He will not lose a single child of his. In Psalms 8, verse 6,
it says, Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy
hand. Thou hast put all things under his feet. Then in Hebrews
2, verse 8, it says, Thou hast put all things in subjection
under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection
under his feet, he left nothing that is not put under him. All
creatures are under the rule of Christ our King. He is Lord
of all, Acts 10, 36. He is Lord over all, Romans 10,
12. And he is the Lord of the dead
and the living, Romans 14, 9. Jesus rules in providence over
all things. History is shaped by the hand
of our King. He governs the lives of all men. King Jesus rules for the benefit
of his church. Christ has been given absolute
and universal rule so that he may give eternal life to his
elect, John 17, 2. It is by the power of Christ
that the church carries out her mission, Matthew 28, verses 18
and 19. And because Christ rules, his
church is safe. No weapon formed against the
church shall prosper. Our king orders the affairs of
the universe for his church. There is a mystical union between
Christ and his church. He is our head. He is the head,
therefore he receives honor. He is the head, therefore he
is governor. He is head, therefore he is the
God. The last verse of our text tells
about the pleasure of our king. Let's read Ephesians 123 again,
which is, His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all. We are His body. We are one with
Him. We are one with all who are in
Him, and His body must be perfect. We are His fullness. As our mediator,
the Lord Jesus Christ must have all the members of His body for
the fullness of His body and His satisfaction. There cannot be a redeemer without
the redeemed. Believers are the redeemed. There
cannot be a shepherd without sheep. Believers are his sheep. There cannot be a head without
a body. We are his body. There cannot be a bridegroom
without a bride. Believers are the bride of Christ.
Colossians 1 18 verses 18 and 19 says and he is the head of
the body the church who is the beginning the firstborn from
the dead that is that in all things he might have the preeminence
for it pleased the father that in him should all fullness dwell
In Colossians 2 it says, verses 9 and 10, for in him dwelleth
all the fullness of the Godhead body, and ye are complete in
him, which is the head of all principality and power. We have all fullness in Christ
our King. The fullness of redemption, the
fullness of pardon, the fullness of grace, the fullness of righteousness,
the fullness of sanctification, the fullness of glory, the fullness
of heaven, the fullness of eternity, and the fullness of God. Sinners
bow before our King. Christ is our King. Look to Him,
trust Him, love Him, live for Him. In closing, let's turn to
Timothy 1, verse 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal,
invisible, only was God, be honor and glory forever and ever, amen. Christ went to the cross for
his chosen people, to save them from their sins. We can do nothing
to save ourselves. Our salvation is 100% dependent
on him, on Christ and him alone. He is our mediator, our savior,
our redeemer, our high priest, and our king. He is the King
of kings. Amen and amen. Let us pray.