The Person of Our Lord Jesus: The Ascended Exalted Sovereign Christ.

Memorize:

Php 2:9  Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name,

Php 2:10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth;

Php 2:11  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1Pe 3:21  which figure now also saves us, baptism; not a putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

1Pe 3:22  who is at the right hand of God, having gone into Heaven, where the angels and authorities and powers are being subjected to Him.

Eph 1:19  and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us, the ones believing according to the working of His mighty strength

Eph 1:20  which He worked in Christ in raising Him from the dead, and He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies,

Eph 1:21  far above all principality and authority and power and dominion, and every name being named, not only in this world, but also in the coming age.

Eph 1:22  And He has put all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church,

Questions for Research and Review.

1. Christ ascended and was taken up into Glory where He reigns from the Father’s Right Hand. Why is the right hand of God a significant place for Christ?

1Pe 3:22  who is at the right hand of God, having gone into Heaven, where the angels and authorities and powers are being subjected to Him.

     2. Why was Jesus slowly taken up from the Mount of Olives in broad daylight in front of His disciples?

     3. Why is Matthew 28:18 so important for the Risen ascended Christ?

     4.  What does Christ control from the Right Hand of God the Father, with reference to the following verses?

1 Cor 11:3………………………………………………………………….

Colossians 2:10…………………………………………………………..

1 Peter 3:22………………………………………………………………..

Romans 14:9 ……………………………………………………………..

Philippians 2:10 -11……………………………………………………….

Christ possesses Universal Sovereignty to be exercised for the good of the church which is His Body.  Therefore in a very special sense Christ is Head of the Church.  Note the following ways he exercises this power.

1. By the way He exercises authority over the members of the Church. Paul uses the MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP as an illustration of Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:22-33. Marriage is a “Mystery” which reveals the spiritual union between Christ and the Church.
2. The risen ascended Christ is not just the ruling directing power in the church, but also the source of its life and energy. As the vine to its branches, as a head to a body, so is the Living Christ to His Church. The Holy Spirit is the bond of communication btween Christ and His Church.

Eph 4:15  But that you, speaking the truth in love, may in all things grow up to Him who is the Head, even Christ;

Eph 4:16  from whom the whole body, fitted together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of each part, producing the growth of the body to the edifying of itself in love.

Colossians 2:18  Let no one defraud you, delighting in humility and worship of the angels, intruding into things which he has not seen, without a cause being vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Col 2:19  and not holding the Head, from whom all the body, having been supplied through the joints and bands, and having been joined together, will grow with the growth of God.

The Body Of Christ by Jessica Wells

www.haikudeck.com

Barnes Notes:And not holding the Head - Not holding the true doctrine respecting the Great Head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ; Notes, Eph_1:22. This is regarded here as essential to the maintenance of all the other doctrines of religion. He who has just views of the Redeemer will not be in much danger of erring respecting the other points of religious belief.

From which all the body ... - This passage is almost word for word the same as in Eph_4:15-16.

Application

The Headship of Christ over His Church is so important. We are subject to ‘Popes or Fathers’ but to the Lord Jesus Christ who had right and authority to direct all things in the Church by His Word. 

Are you submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?