A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

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A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I I : Mas ter i ng the New Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

a. God has exalted Christ to be head over all things to the Church, Eph. 1.20-23 – that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, [21] far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. [22] And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the Church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. b. Eph. 4.15-16 – Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

2. The vision of Christ as Lord and Head: he announces his identity, he asserts his command of the situation, and he charges them with his word for them, and ends with an appeal and a promise .

3. The sense is clear: the glorified Christ is supervising every dimension of his Church on earth today . He literally is with us till the end of the Age, Matt. 28.20 – . . . teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

C. Christ is the Risen and Ascended Lord of All, sharing the very throne of the Living God in heaven, (Rev. 4-5).

1. The picture of the throne of God: there is a God in the universe, and he has never relinquished his authority to anyone.