0963. Ruling His Church

Ruling His Church

"Raised Him from the dead, * * and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church" (Eph_1:20-23)

Once more we have three things which we wish to say about the resurrection of Christ.

1. The resurrection places value upon the atoning Blood. We quote from Heb_13:20.

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the everlasting covenant."

This passage has been used before, but not as we use it now.

The marginal reading is, "In virtue of the eternal covenant."

When Jesus Christ sat at "supper" in the upper room, He took the bread and brake it, and took the cup and poured forth the wine, then He said: "This is the Blood of the new covenant." This covenant had been anticipated in the Old Testament Scriptures. It was now re-emphasized in the breaking of the bread and in the pouring forth of the wine. However, it took the resurrection of Christ, to put God's seal, God's stamp of approval upon the atoning Blood. The saving efficacy of the Blood is verified, certified by the resurrection of Christ. Stated another way–God, Who made peace by the Blood of the Cross, brought forth from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd Who gave His life for the sheep. God did this in virtue of His everlasting covenant, and in doing it He verified the value of the Blood and proclaimed Christ the Great Shepherd of the sheep.

2. The resurrection placed Christ as Head of the Church. In the Book of Ephesians we read of the resurrection of Christ and how God raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the Heavenly places,–"and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all" (Eph_1:22-23).

The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the open door through which He ascended to the Father's right hand and sat down clothed with power and authority as the head of the Church.

Let those of us who worship Him retain to Him this headship. Let us hear His voice and obey His will.

To the Church and its disciples Christ speaks saying, "All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth. Go, * * and lo, I am with you."

3. The resurrection of Christ is the sanction of our ambassadorship. In Eph_4:9-11 we read of Christ as the One Who has descended into the lower parts of the earth, and Who then ascended up far above the heavens, that He might fill all things. Then, the Holy Spirit, having thus enthroned the Risen Christ, proclaimed that He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ.

What blessed ambassadorship is this! God hath reconciled us unto Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given unto us the ministry of reconciliation.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ; we are sent forth by the Risen, Ascended and Seated Lord; we are sent forth clothed with all authority and all the power of our Risen Head. Let us not fear the face of man. Let us go encouraged, undaunted, fulfilling the will and doing the work which our God hath given us to do. The Risen Christ sends us forth and the Risen Christ will stand behind His ambassadors.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR