Monday, November 13, 2006

Created to Have Dominion: Kings Over All the Earth

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion … over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “… Have dominion.” (Genesis 1:26-27)

What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet.
(Psalm 8:4-6)
God created man to have dominion over the earth. To have dominion means to rule and reign. The extent of this rule and reign was the whole of the earth and all its inhabitants—the works of God’s hands. All were to be put under the feet, or the authority, of man.

The purpose of this rule and reign was to represent the rule and reign of God, to establish the plan and purpose of God, and to manifest the glory of God on the earth. It is for this reason that man was created in the image and likeness of God—to be king over all the earth.

This kingship was broken when Adam rebelled against God and plunged the whole world under the curse. On that day, Adam died and death came upon all mankind. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

But the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to redeem us from the curse and restore what had been lost. He did this by taking on human flesh, becoming fully human while remaining fully divine, and bearing the sins of the world all the way to the cross.
For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)
In Jesus Christ, we receive the abundance of grace and the righteousness required by God. In Him the curse is reversed and death can no longer hold us. The rule and reign of man over the earth has been restored to us in Jesus Christ. For though He ascended to the throne of heaven forty days after His resurrection, He has never ceased to be fully human. He is the God-Man who is King over all, forever and ever. For God raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies
far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:21-23)
Not only that, but Paul adds this concerning us:
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-6)
Get the picture! Jesus sits on the throne of heaven, with all things under His feet—and we have been seated there with Him! This is not future hope, but present reality in the realm of the spirit. We are seated with Jesus the God-Man in the place of ruling and reigning.

We were created to be kings over the earth, and that honor has been restored to us in Jesus Christ, who is called King of kings. “For He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous10:33 PM

    "Let Them" have dominion..... This is why we must always pray for Gods promises in our lives and into the world. We have the authority He has the Power. And God is just waiting for us to ask, so He can release his blessings and promises unto the earth and our lives. God Bless You

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