GOD’S RULE OVER THE CHURCH

“giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Col.1:12-18).

God claims dominion over all that He paid for.  I have the right over something I have made, but also for what I paid for.  Paul declares that Christ is the head of His church.  He bought us by His blood.

We are RECONCILED TO HIM.  We were estranged from God, but He reached out to reconcile us to Himself.  He calls, He justifies, and He glorifies.

 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” (Rom.8:29-30).

God is sovereign in salvation.  He is the One who provided a Savior and sought His lost lambs.

Thus, we should be RESPONSIVE TO HIM.

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Cor.6:19-20).

He has every right to reign over us. We belong to Him and it is His glory we are to seek.

Ultimately, this means we will be REIGNING WITH HIM.

“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’”  (Rev.19:6-7‬)

Christ is our Bridegroom.  Since He is the King, His Beloved—His Bride, the church—will reign at His side.  God has a glorious future in store for us!