The Foundation of the Church (part 3) - "At God's right Hand Exalted"
The Foundation of the Church (part 3) - “At God’s Right Hand Exalted”
Introduction. Every sinner making “the good confession” before being born again in baptism learned of the greatness of our Lord. The words of Peter’s confession centered on two things. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Paul spoke of this confession as “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord.” Paul revealed that on the last day “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” The apostle John added: “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (Mt. 16:16; Rom. 10:9; Phil. 2:11; 1Jn. 4:15)
The phrases “Jesus is the Christ” and “Jesus Christ” are identical in meaning. When the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, Joseph was commanded in a dream: “you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Mt. 1:21). Thus, His name was chosen as a personification of what the Word who became flesh was destined to do. He was called Christ because He was anointed by God (the meaning of the underlying Greek word christos). Anointing had a long and important history among God’s people. When God revealed the recipe for “the holy anointing oil,” He also revealed its purpose (Ex. 30:22-30). It would “consecrate” the tabernacle and all its furnishings “that they may be most holy,” and “anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests.” The Hebrew for “the anointed one” is “Messiah” and in Greek it is “Christ.” Learning the purpose for this anointing will greatly impact our understanding of “Jesus Christ” as “the Anointed Savior.”
The greatness of God’s “Anointed Savior” was made clear when, after His resurrection, God made Him “King of kings and Lord of Lords.” (Rev. 17:14). This was exactly what Peter meant in his final point, using the keys to open the kingdom. After His resurrection, He did not remain on earth as all others had done. Instead, He was “exalted to the right hand of God.” All the apostles were present on Jesus’ final day on earth. They were all talking together when, “while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:3-10). What happened next is the most amazing and exciting thing that occurred since man’s fall into sin.
The prophets of old were given a clear description of His exaltation. As the apostles watched Jesus pass into those clouds, He was received out of their sight. But Daniel revealed what happened from the moment He could no longer be seen by the apostles. From heaven’s perspective, Jesus came out of those clouds and all who dwell in heaven who had the right to witness it saw His return:
This was the exaltation Peter revealed. It fulfilled Jesus’ words to His apostles that: “all authority has been given unto me in heaven and on earth.” At that moment, God “put all things in subjection under his feet,” and “the Son of Man ascended where He was before.” (Mt. 28:18; 1Cor. 15:27; Jn. 6:62). As Jesus had said to Mary right after his resurrection: “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.” At this exaltation, His fervent prayer was fulfilled: “O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” (Jn 20:17, 17:5)
As it was summed up in Revelation: Mary “bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.” (Rev. 12:5). Jesus is now “King of kings and Lord of Lords” because at this ascension: “to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.” Isaiah also added more to the amazing scene revealed in Daniel: “The “government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” “The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this,” He received “His kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever.” (Isa. 9:6-7).
After Jesus “became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross,” “God highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” (Phil. 2:8-9). God had truly “set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed,” “and it shall stand forever.” The head of the serpent had finally and completely been “bruised.” (Gen. 3:15). Satan had been “cast down.” By Jesus’ sacrifice, at His return to heaven, the “last enemy, death” is now fully under His control. Both “death and Hades” have been shaken from their firm foundation and now await the bidding of our Exalted and Anointed Savior: “He who lives, and was dead,” is now “alive forevermore,” has “the keys of Hades and of Death.” At His second coming, He will exercise His power and “death” will be “swallowed up in victory," and “death and Hades” will be “cast into the lake of fire.” (Gen. 3:15; 1Cor. 15:26, 54-55; Rev. 1:18-19; 20:14). What an amazing account of the greatness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God!!!
Peter then added David’s prophesy of the moment that Jesus returned to heaven exalted: “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” (Acts 2:34-35; Ps. 110). This ancient promise of David was also part of the scene described by Daniel. Jesus had already silenced the rulers with the paradox of these words: “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” (Mt. 22:45). As Jesus entered heaven after His sojourn on earth, it was revealed exactly why David must call his son “Lord:”
Conclusion. Jesus is far greater than anything we can imagine. Before He came, “He was the Word, who was with God and was God.” “Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself.” At His return, “God highly exalted Him, and gave him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow,” “and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Jn. 1:1; Phil. 2:5-11). Now, “to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.’” God has advised all: “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” (Heb 1:8-9; Ps. 2:12).
Introduction. Every sinner making “the good confession” before being born again in baptism learned of the greatness of our Lord. The words of Peter’s confession centered on two things. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Paul spoke of this confession as “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord.” Paul revealed that on the last day “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” The apostle John added: “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (Mt. 16:16; Rom. 10:9; Phil. 2:11; 1Jn. 4:15)
The phrases “Jesus is the Christ” and “Jesus Christ” are identical in meaning. When the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, Joseph was commanded in a dream: “you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Mt. 1:21). Thus, His name was chosen as a personification of what the Word who became flesh was destined to do. He was called Christ because He was anointed by God (the meaning of the underlying Greek word christos). Anointing had a long and important history among God’s people. When God revealed the recipe for “the holy anointing oil,” He also revealed its purpose (Ex. 30:22-30). It would “consecrate” the tabernacle and all its furnishings “that they may be most holy,” and “anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests.” The Hebrew for “the anointed one” is “Messiah” and in Greek it is “Christ.” Learning the purpose for this anointing will greatly impact our understanding of “Jesus Christ” as “the Anointed Savior.”
The greatness of God’s “Anointed Savior” was made clear when, after His resurrection, God made Him “King of kings and Lord of Lords.” (Rev. 17:14). This was exactly what Peter meant in his final point, using the keys to open the kingdom. After His resurrection, He did not remain on earth as all others had done. Instead, He was “exalted to the right hand of God.” All the apostles were present on Jesus’ final day on earth. They were all talking together when, “while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:3-10). What happened next is the most amazing and exciting thing that occurred since man’s fall into sin.
The prophets of old were given a clear description of His exaltation. As the apostles watched Jesus pass into those clouds, He was received out of their sight. But Daniel revealed what happened from the moment He could no longer be seen by the apostles. From heaven’s perspective, Jesus came out of those clouds and all who dwell in heaven who had the right to witness it saw His return:
- Behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. (Dan. 7:13-14)
- “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!’” (Rev. 5:11-12)
This was the exaltation Peter revealed. It fulfilled Jesus’ words to His apostles that: “all authority has been given unto me in heaven and on earth.” At that moment, God “put all things in subjection under his feet,” and “the Son of Man ascended where He was before.” (Mt. 28:18; 1Cor. 15:27; Jn. 6:62). As Jesus had said to Mary right after his resurrection: “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.” At this exaltation, His fervent prayer was fulfilled: “O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” (Jn 20:17, 17:5)
As it was summed up in Revelation: Mary “bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.” (Rev. 12:5). Jesus is now “King of kings and Lord of Lords” because at this ascension: “to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.” Isaiah also added more to the amazing scene revealed in Daniel: “The “government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” “The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this,” He received “His kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever.” (Isa. 9:6-7).
After Jesus “became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross,” “God highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” (Phil. 2:8-9). God had truly “set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed,” “and it shall stand forever.” The head of the serpent had finally and completely been “bruised.” (Gen. 3:15). Satan had been “cast down.” By Jesus’ sacrifice, at His return to heaven, the “last enemy, death” is now fully under His control. Both “death and Hades” have been shaken from their firm foundation and now await the bidding of our Exalted and Anointed Savior: “He who lives, and was dead,” is now “alive forevermore,” has “the keys of Hades and of Death.” At His second coming, He will exercise His power and “death” will be “swallowed up in victory," and “death and Hades” will be “cast into the lake of fire.” (Gen. 3:15; 1Cor. 15:26, 54-55; Rev. 1:18-19; 20:14). What an amazing account of the greatness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God!!!
Peter then added David’s prophesy of the moment that Jesus returned to heaven exalted: “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” (Acts 2:34-35; Ps. 110). This ancient promise of David was also part of the scene described by Daniel. Jesus had already silenced the rulers with the paradox of these words: “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” (Mt. 22:45). As Jesus entered heaven after His sojourn on earth, it was revealed exactly why David must call his son “Lord:”
- “This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Heb. 10:12-14).
- “The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ. 27 For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.” (Acts 4:26-28)
Conclusion. Jesus is far greater than anything we can imagine. Before He came, “He was the Word, who was with God and was God.” “Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself.” At His return, “God highly exalted Him, and gave him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow,” “and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Jn. 1:1; Phil. 2:5-11). Now, “to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.’” God has advised all: “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” (Heb 1:8-9; Ps. 2:12).