Watchman Radio Hour

David Shulze: Welcome to the Watchman Radio hour, coming to you from Portland, Oregon, here in the beautiful Northwest. This is David Shulze, your announcer. The Watchman Radio hour is a production of Watchman Radio Ministries International, an evangelistic ministry reaching out to the peoples of the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And now here's our speaker, Alex Dodson, to bring you this week's message from God's word.

Alex Dodson: For our scripture reading today, let us turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and we'll begin reading in verse 20. Let us hear the word of God. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn, Christ the first fruits, then when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power.

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet, and the last enemy to be destroyed is death. Our Father in heaven, we thank you for the Bible that you have given to us. We thank you that it's your infallible word and that we can put our full confidence in everything that it says. Now, our Father, as we come to study your word, we pray that you will send forth your Holy Spirit in great convicting power. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen. Much popular Christian teaching looks forward to a time when Jesus will return and will be king of kings and Lord of lords.

When he will come and issue in his kingdom and begin his reign. It is true that Jesus will return as king of kings and Lord of lords. Yet we often forget that he is already king of kings and Lord of lords. He has already ascended to the right hand of the Father, and from the throne of God, he now reigns. We must not forget that. He is truly reigning right now, and he is the Lord of history. Also, his kingdom is not just future. It is also present in that he has already set up his kingdom.

When he came the first time, he came to issue in a new kingdom, the kingdom of God. Wherever Jesus reigns in the heart of his people, hearts of his people, there is the presence of the kingdom of God in this age. In Luke 17 20 and 21 it says, once having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, the kingdom of God does not come visibly, nor will people say here it is or there it is, because the kingdom of God is within you. Jesus was saying that the kingdom of God would not be issued in by some mighty military army, but it would come quietly through the hearts of his disciples.

Wherever Jesus reigns in the hearts of men, his kingdom would influence the world for good. Not only has the kingdom of God already begun, but that kingdom will increase and will eventually dominate the world. This has to be the meaning of Daniel's stone that became a mountain and filled the whole earth. It began as a little stone, but it grew to such an extent that it dominated the whole earth. Jesus is reigning now and will continue to reign more and more even to the last day after he has defeated all his enemies, the last of which will be death.

This is the message that Paul brings out in 1 Corinthians 15. Our text then is 1 Corinthians chapter 4 15 and verses 24 and 25, which again says the end will come or then the end will come when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The reign of Christ has already begun. We're not looking forward to the reign of Christ in a future millennial kingdom, but that reign has already begun and will increase more and more.

The church will not go down in defeat as some teach, but will be victorious. As John Newton's hymn says, glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God. Micah declares in the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established. As chief among the mountains, it will be raised above the hills and peoples will stream to it. In the New Testament, the temple is the church, a spiritual temple which is being built. It is that temple that Micah ultimately refers to. Isaiah declares that one day the church will shine in a glorious way in the earth.

He says, arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn. The reign of Christ has begun begun even now and will continue. Let us see in the first place that his reign began at the resurrection and ascension. He was exalted to God's right hand. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, declares in Acts chapter 2 in verses 24 beginning in verse 24 he says, but God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

David said about him, I saw the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. My body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life. You will fill me with joy in your presence. Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.

Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said the the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.

Therefore let all Israel be assured of this, God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Peter declares that Jesus not only rose from the dead, but had ascended to the throne of God and was now beginning his rule over his enemies, over whom he would be victorious. He has now sent the Holy Spirit to empower his church to carry the gospel over the whole earth and spread the kingdom of God. John Calvin then wrote, for he must reign. Paul shows that it is not yet the time for Christ to deliver up the kingdom to the Father.

In order to bring out at the same time that the end has not yet come, when everything will be restored to its true condition and to a peaceful state. Because Christ is not yet subdued all his enemies. That must take place because the Father has placed him at his right hand on condition that he does not surrender the authority which he has received till they have all been brought under his sway. This is also been said for the comfort of believers, so that they may not grow impatient because the coming of the resurrection is so long delayed.

We must realize that Jesus reigns even now from the throne of God in heaven. He is carrying out his plan. He is defeating all his enemies and he will be victorious in the end. Now we may see momentary defeats before us right now when it seems that Satan is winning. But this is only an illusion. It is not true. Satan is not winning. His doom is sure. His influence will not last. It will be defeated. Jesus gave the great commission to his disciples and to the church. In Matthew 28 18 through 20 it says, then Jesus came to them and said, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always to the very end of the age. Jesus comes to his disciples and announces that he has been given the authority to rule over the whole world. He instructs his disciples to spread his rule to all nations. In Acts 1 8 it says, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

Jesus sends out his disciples empowered by the Holy Spirit to all the world to the ends of the earth. His rule would spread his people everywhere, yielded to his lordship and received his salvation through the gospel. And then let us see in the second place that his reign continues throughout the age. Again our text says, then the end will come when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. This is Jesus is presently reigning.

The tense of the verb reign or rule is in the present tense, indicating something going on right now and continually. In his book Victory in Jesus, Dr. Greg Bonson, commenting on our text in 1 Corinthians 15 said, if you want to put together a chart of redemptive history, this is the passage you need to turn to. Jesus is now reigning. He has already been raised from the dead. He is ruling from God's right hand and he will continue reigning until every enemy has been subdued. Finally, he will subdue our last enemy, death. When he comes back and raises us from the dead, and that will be the end.

The promise of the Old Testament is that the Messiah would reign and defeat his enemies. He would defeat Satan and all his forces. In Genesis 3 15 it says, and I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers. He will crush your head and you will strike his heel. This is a prophecy of the coming Messiah who would crush the head of Satan. And he would be victorious over him. In Psalm 110 1 it says, the Lord says to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.

John Calvin comments this verse, verse 25 of our text is taken from Psalm 110 1. But Paul seems to make more subtle play with the word until than its simple and natural meaning requires. For in that verse the spirit is announcing not what will occur after the end, but only what had to happen beforehand. My answer to that is that Paul does not argue that Christ will hand back the kingdom to the Father, because that is foretold in this Psalm. But he has made use of the evidence of the Psalm merely for the purpose of proving that the day for delivering up the kingdom has not yet arrived, because Christ has still to deal with his enemies.

Finally, Paul explains in passing what is meant by Christ sitting at the right hand of the Father. For instead of that metaphorical expression, he uses the simple word reigning. Philippians 2 9 through 11 says of Christ, therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Jesus reigns from heaven even now and calls all to follow him.

F. W. Grosheide writes, the work of the glorious Savior during the period between his resurrection and his return consist of applying the fruits of his glory. Leon Morris writes, he does speak of all rule other than that of Christ as being rendered completely inoperative. Although this is mentioned after the delivery up of the kingdom, it takes place before. Notice the change from the present delivers up to the arrow is shall have put down. Morris then says there is a compelling divine necessity about Paul's must. He is speaking about what God has determined and therefore there is no uncertainty about it.

It is a thought it is a thought well worth keeping in mind when the powers of earth and hell seem strong. Often to the Christian it seems that the wicked will triumph, but such an appearance can only be temporary and illusory. At the climax of history of Christ and none other must reign. His reign is thought of as a career of conquest as he brings the enemies into subjection. These enemies are not named with the exception of death in the next verse, but this one exception perhaps indicates that the enemies Paul has in mind are not evil men, but evil forces.

Jesus reigns even now and carrying on his rule to the end of the age when he will be completely victorious. And then there's the promise to the church in Matthew 28 20 Jesus says, and teach them or in teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you and surely I will be with you always to the very end of the age. Jesus promises his church that as they proclaim the gospel and win the nations to Christ, that he will be with them to the very last day of the age. That's the literal meaning of the Greek.

He will be with them to the very last day. His promise is still in effect. We are to continue proclaiming the gospel to the nations. We must not stop or give up. In Matthew 16 18 Jesus says to Peter, and I tell you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not overcome it. Satan and all his forces cannot stop the church. Our mission will prevail. Our mission is none ended, but must continue. The great old hymns of the past reflected the view that the church was to carry the kingdom of God to all the nations of the world.

In 1772 William Williams wrote this beautiful hymn in which he said, o'er the gloomy hills of darkness cheered by no celestial ray, Son of righteousness arising, bring the bright, the glorious day. Send the gospel to the earth from utmost bounds, kingdoms wide that sit in darkness, grant them, Lord, the glorious light. And from eastern coast to western may the morning chase the night and redemption freely purchase when the day. Fly abroad, thou mighty gospel, wind and conquer, never cease. May the lasting wide dominions multiply and still increase. Sway thy scepter, Savior, all the world around.

In 1779 Edward Perronet wrote, all hail the power of Jesus' name. Let every kindred, every tribe on this terrestrial ball to him all majesty ascribe and crown him Lord of all. And then let us see thirdly the promise of ultimate victory. Again our text says, then the end will come. When he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. He will prevail over all enemies. Jesus will prevail over all his enemies. He will prevail over Satan and all his forces.

We must believe that. Leon Morris writes, telos means the end or aim. The thought is thus of the consummation of all things, of that climax to which everything is destined to lead up. Paul's thought is that Christ will at the last have full and complete authority over all things and all men and that he will then deliver up this authority, this rule to his Father. When Christ comes back, it will be to reign in majesty. Morris goes on to write, Paul speaks of him as bringing to naught all rule and all authority and power. These three words are probably not used to define various kinds of authority with precision, but the putting of them together gives emphasis on to the thought that in that day there is no governing power of any kind that will not be completely subservient to him.

Satan and all his forces will never defeat Christ and his forces. Christ will lead his church forward in victory. We can be assured of that. The kingdom of God is a victorious kingdom. In commenting on Psalm 72 John Calvin writes, the kingdom of Christ was to be extended from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof. The meaning then is that the king chosen by God in Judea will obtain so complete a victory over all his enemies. Far and wide they shall come humbly to pay him homage. This verse 11 contains a more distinct statement of the truth that the whole world will be brought in subjection to the authority of Christ.

The nations will be convinced that nothing is more desirable than to receive from him laws and ordinances. David breaks forth in praising God because he was assured by the divine oracle that his prayers would not be in vain. David therefore with good reason prays that the glory of the divine name may fill the whole earth. Since that kingdom was to be extended even to the uttermost boundaries of the globe. In commenting on Psalm 110 Calvin writes, in this Psalm David sets forth the perpetuity of Christ's reign and the eternality of his priesthood. And in the first place he affirms that God conferred upon Christ supreme dominion combined with invincible power with which he either conquers all his enemies or compels them to submit to him.

In the second place he adds that God would extend the boundaries of this kingdom far and wide. Christ should not reign as king upon Mount Zion only, because God would cause his power to extend to the remotest regions of the earth. Richard Mather wrote in 1653, the amplitude and large extent of the kingdom of Jesus Christ upon earth when the heathen shall be his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth his possession and when all kings shall fall down under him and all nations do him service. All contrary kingdoms and powers being broken in pieces and destroyed is a thing plainly and plentifully foretold and promised in the holy scriptures.

John Eliot, early pioneer missionary to the Indians in America wrote, the gospel shall spread over all the earth even to all the ends of the earth and from the rising to the setting sun all nations shall become the nations and kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ. George Whitfield preached in a time of great revival in both England and America. He looked forward to a time when more revivals would come and the whole world would be won to Christ. In 1763 Whitfield wrote, the scriptures are so far from encouraging us to plead for a diminution of divine influence in these last days of the gospel that on the contrary we are encouraged to expect, hope, long, and pray for larger and more extensive showers of divine influence than any former age had ever yet experienced.

For are we not therein taught to pray that we may be filled with the fullness of God and to wait for a glorious epoch when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. The kingdom of God will prevail in this world. We have the promise of the scriptures and though Satan and his forces yet rage, their doom is sure. They will not succeed. The gospel will succeed that we must believe. Jesus reigns. He is conquering both his and our enemies and he will prevail. But what about you today?

Are you a servant of Satan and his forces or are you a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ? If you serve Satan and his forces, you're on the losing side and you will go down in defeat. Our if you come to Christ and serve him, you will be victorious. You must repent at once and come to the Lord Jesus Christ and follow him as your Lord. His kingdom is coming more and more and you are invited to be a part of that kingdom. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Our Father in heaven, we thank you for your word.

We thank you for the wonderful promises of your word. We thank you, oh Lord Jesus, that you are now on the throne in heaven and that you are reigning from there and that you are defeating and ruling over your enemies. And we know that your ultimate victory over your enemies is certain because your word says it is. And oh Lord, even though Satan and his forces are raging right now, we know that he will not succeed. We know that you and your forces will prevail. We know that the church, your church, the church that you have called into being will prevail.

For you we know you are empowered your church with the power of the Holy Spirit. Oh Lord Jesus Christ, send forth your gospel into all the world. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

David Shulze: We hope this week's broadcast has been a blessing to you. If you have any questions about Mr. Dodson's message, please write us. You may email us at info@watchmanradio.org. Our mailing address is Watchman Radio Ministries International, Post Office Box 13251 Portland, Oregon 97213. That's Watchman Radio Ministries International, Post Office Box 13251 Portland, Oregon 97213. You may listen to this broadcast at any time on the internet at www.1place.com. In the list of ministries, just select the Watchman Radio hour. This week's program and previous programs are always available there for listening. Our web address is www.watchmanradio.org. That's w a t c h m e n radio dot org www.watchmanradio.org.