Sometimes, when discussions about God’s Kingdom come up, people are curious about humanity’s function. Many want to have a conversation about Spirit-filled believers’ role in the overflow of Jesus’ victory.
Since this is such an important topic, I thought that I would take the opportunity to reflect on it in the following article.
While there are a number of beautiful things that emerge in our role as mediators of the Kingdom of God, I thought that I would primarily focus my attention on one vital element.
You see, through our unfolding identity in Christ, we are increasingly receiving “governmental” authority. As we walk in God’s goodness and glory, He is giving us the capacity for righteous judgments within the realm of creation. Reflecting on this, Jesus boldly declared:
“I assure you that at the restoration of creation and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging” (Matthew 19:28a).
As things are progressively brought into their fullness, the followers of God will ultimately sit on thrones and make determinations about a myriad of things. Elsewhere in Scripture, a similar declaration is made:
“You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging” (Luke 22:28–30a).
In these passages, we observe a “dominion” conferred upon Jesus and His loyal followers. The sons and daughters of the Most High are being offered a “royal” status. Under the unction of the Spirit, Paul takes this notion further, declaring:
“Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).
This incredible passage suggests that Christians will not only judge the world, they will also have jurisdiction of the angelic realms. I don’t think that many envision “flesh and blood” operating in a heightened role like this, but this is rather clear from the Bible. Though made of “dirt,” we will still function on a higher plane than Satan and his minions.
This remarkable truth is also asserted in other passages. In one instance, the writer of Hebrews declared that the world to come will be in submission to men, not demons or other spiritual entities. He writes that “God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels” (Hebrews 2:5).
He goes on to declare that Jesus’ “concern is not for angels, but for Abraham’s descendants” (Hebrews 2:16). As the larger trajectory of the Bible is considered, there’s little doubt where things are going.
One of the goals of Kingdom advancement is to restore humanity to its original status. Through the precious blood of the Lamb, the redeemed are being brought back into the dynamic role that Adam relinquished.
As we try to understand the complexities of the future, we must never forget the precious words of Jesus. He declared, “Don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
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JD King
World Revival Network
http://worldrevivalnetwork.blogspot.com/2016/06/humanitys-co ntroversial-role-in.html