God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ, our hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27).
Like I said yesterday, the more I learn, the more convinced I am of how little I do know. I’m sure thankful for it, however. We’ll never know it all. God doesn’t expect us to. What He’s revealed is enough to keep us going for our lifetimes. There is a time coming when we will know even as we are known (I Corinthians 13:12).
Psalms 8:4-6:
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels [God], and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: [Both Adams received the dominion.]
Hebrews talks more about this reality. This scripture is applied to Jesus Christ in Hebrews 2 of whom the Bible says he is “the same yesterday, today and forever.”
Hebrews 2:6-11:
But one in a certain place [That’s referring to Psalms 8:4-6 which we just read.] testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels [God]; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
While God alone is eternal in an infinite sense, God can bestow an eternal nature to a creature who has a beginning such as angels and mankind. Eternal life can be communicated to them but it is not part of their essential nature, it is not called their own. It dependent on another for the duration of their existence since they are created as temporary. God can provide new life, eternal life, so that they will never perish. Everyone will either spend eternity with Him or pass from existence with a second death.
As creatures we grow in all things, especially knowledge, we can acquire somethings and lose somethings, we mature. God’s nature is not like that; His being is always one and the same receiving nothing in addition nor can He lose anything He is always the same: perfect, infinite, magnificent.
Our heavenly Father is the one Who decided how things were going to be. It is right to honor our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came to declare God (to make Him known) not to replace Him (John 1:18). Jesus came to glorify God not replace Him. Yes, Jesus has been given all power in heaven and on earth, but he did not come to replace God. Rather he gave us access to God as Ephesians 2:18 says.
Jesus is still a man. However, he is not a man like us, but he is a man, a new kind of man. He is called the forerunner in Hebrews 6:20. He has gone before us, and we will be like him at his return (I John 3:2; Philippians 3:21; I Corinthians 15:42-49). Jesus is second in command and sits on God’s right hand. God is the one on the throne, and Jesus is at His right hand exercising all the power and authority that God has granted him.
Hebrews 12:2:
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. [Hebrews 8:1 also records this truth.]
God paints a beautiful picture of the relationship He has with His son in Genesis, portraying it in the lives of Pharaoh and Joseph. After Joseph tells Pharaoh the dream and its interpretation, Genesis 41 records:
Genesis 41:37-44:
And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
The phrase “I am Pharaoh” (v 44) is a declarative reminder of his right to make the decision which follows the statement. Pharaoh was the one who decided that without Joseph’s permission and oversight no man would lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. In other words, they couldn’t do anything or go anywhere unless Joseph allowed them to do so. Remember what Paul points out when he talks about all the magnificent power Jesus has been given in I Corinthians 15.
I Corinthians 15:27-28
For he [God] hath put all things under his [Jesus’] feet. But when he [God] saith all things are put under him [Jesus], it is manifest that he [God] is excepted, which did put all things under him [Jesus]. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him [Jesus], then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him [God] that put all things under him [Jesus], that God may be all in all.
“All in all” is often explained as “all things in all people” or “all things in all places.” However, it is also used idiomatically of the dearest object of one’s affection. Jesus has done, is doing, and will continue to do all he does so that God may be the dearest object of our affection. Jesus made God known and gave us introduction to Him so that He may become the dearest object of our affection.
Psalms 102:25-27:
Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end.
This is quoted in Hebrews 1 referring to Jesus.
Matthew 28:18:
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Jesus is our forerunner. We will be like him when we see him as he is. Until then rest assured that all things are under his feet, and we can absolutely count on him to do what the Word says he’ll do.