The Present Reign of Christ • 12.24.23
Nick Lees   -   December 24, 2023

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The Present Reign of Christ
Acts 1:1-11, 2:22-36; Ephesians 1:15-23; Hebrews 1:1-4, 4:14-16, 7:23-25, 9:22-28, 10:11-14

Reasons to believe in and worship the Christ

  1. The Christ was raised on high and seated at the right hand of the Father
  2. The Christ empowers his church to carry out the mission
  3. The Christ saves those who come to God through him
  4. The Christ oversees local churches and will provide accountability to them

What a wonderful opportunity to gather to celebrate the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. If you’re visiting with us, we’re glad you’re here today. My name is Pastor Nick and I have the privilege of studying God’s Word with you.

This month we’ve been Beholding the Christ throughout the Scriptures. It has been our goal to slow down and fix our eyes on the Christ. To focus on the ONLY unchanging, stable, reliable place to put your hopes and trust. To show that the Creator God who made all things is at work even now fulfilling his grand plan of redemption through the Christ. This is the same unchanging plan he has always had – to send the Christ to save his people from their sins! Our hope is that as we focus on these truths, that it would lead each one of us to the place of believing in and worshiping the Christ.

I know not all of you have been able to be here for the entire series, so let me catch you up. Over the past three Sundays, we’ve looked at the Old Testament prophecies of Christ, the birth of Christ, and the life and salvific work of Christ. In each one of these sermons, we have covered a different segment of God’s grand redemption plan throughout history. We have read extensive portions of the Old and New Testaments. I hope these passages have refreshed your own understanding of what God has planned and accomplished. As we have gone, we have arrived at many reasons to believe in and worship the Christ. Here is a brief recap of each of them:

12/3/23 – Prophecies of Christ

  1. The Christ is the seed of woman who slays the serpent
  2. The Christ is Immanuel, God with us
  3. The Christ is the promised deliverer and eternal ruler
  4. The Christ is God’s chosen servant who brings justice to the nations

12/10/23 – The Birth of Christ – Connecting the dots between “the Christ” and Jesus of Nazareth

  1. Jesus the Christ’s birth was miraculous
  2. Jesus the Christ is the God-man
  3. Jesus the Christ came to save his people from their sins
  4. Jesus the Christ’s birth fulfilled Old Testament prophecy

12/17/23 – The Life and Salvific Work of Christ

  1. The Christ’s ministry was heralded by significant signs
  2. The Christ’s mission was to reconcile sinners to God
  3. The Christ willingly endured betrayal, death, and the wrath of God for us
  4. The Christ succeeded in making many righteous
  5. The Christ’s mission is still being carried out to this day

Today, we are studying the present reign of Christ. Where is he now? What is he doing? What does he expect us to be doing? This may be different than your typical Christmas Eve birth narrative, but I believe it will be helpful for us this Christmas. Many of you will be spending the coming hours or days with your extended family members or friends. There will likely be opportunities for spiritual conversations, after all this is the holiday celebrating Christ’s first coming. I hope to send you off to these interactions rejoicing in the truth of what Christ has done and is doing, and excited to share this Good News with others!

Family Worship Sunday (Welcome the kids)

Ushers + Bibles (Acts 1; page _)

We’re picking up today after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Luke, one of Jesus’ early followers, is about to give a historical recounting of the ascension of Jesus into heaven. Let’s read the Word of God now.

Acts 1:1–11 (ESV)

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

What you just heard is the revelation of the next stage of the grand redemption plan of God. Jesus is going to heaven, and he sends his followers to spread the Gospel to the end of the earth! These two concepts are going to be the focus of our study today. What is Jesus doing right now? And what are we supposed to be doing?

In the course of our time this morning, we are going to discover four additional…

Reasons to believe in and worship the Christ

Starting with…

  1. The Christ was raised on high and seated at the right hand of the Father

This is the beginning of our answer to “What is Jesus doing now?” As we already heard, Jesus ascended into heaven. But let’s keep reading to learn more about what that means. We’re going to pick back up in Acts 2, on the day the Holy Spirit is sent to the disciples. Specifically, we’re going to hear a portion of the Apostle Peter’s first sermon. Listen to his testimony before the people:

Acts 2:22–36 (ESV) (page _)

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

       “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me,

for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

26    therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;

my flesh also will dwell in hope.

27    For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

or let your Holy One see corruption.

28    You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

       “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,

       “Sit at my right hand,

35        until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Peter’s testimony is one that confirms many things we’ve heard over the course of this month. Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, the promised Christ/Messiah. And his life, death, burial, and resurrection were the plan of God, not some accident nor a victory for evil. In fact, Peter connects the dots between King David’s words in the Old Testament (over a thousand years earlier) to their fulfillment in Jesus Christ! King David prophesied that the Christ would live forever and reign at the right hand of God, as Jesus was now doing! The testimony of Christians from the earliest days was that the Christ was raised on high and seated at the right hand of the Father. Further evidence of this is found a little bit later in Acts 7, when Stephen becomes the first martyr for Christ. Listen to the incredible vision God gives Stephen right before his death:

Acts 7:54–56 (ESV) (page _)

54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Stephen testified to a vision given to him of the throne room of heaven. And he confirms that Jesus is at the right hand of God! Now, interestingly, in this instance Jesus is STANDING at the right hand of God. In almost every other account, he is seated. Is there any significance to this distinction? There may be. Being at the right hand of God is a statement of Jesus being in the position of all authority and power over the universe. There is not one square inch of creation where Jesus does not have all power and authority.

Jesus’ standing in this vision could very well mean that he has risen from his seat to welcome Stephen and to show his solidarity with his saints. Jesus is by no means unaware of the trials and sufferings of his people. He is not aloof or uncaring or unaffected by them. No, he cares deeply; even as we see him standing, ready to receive Stephen into His presence, as Stephen’s life is about to end.

Whether or not that is the significance of Jesus’ standing rather than being seated is up for debate, but it is clear from the pages of Scripture that Jesus cares for his people. I do believe it is a reasonable interpretation of the passage. We should believe in and worship the Christ because he is the God who cares for us!

We also need to recognize the significance of Jesus’ position at the right hand of the Father and that He is often said to be seated at the right hand. In Ephesians, Paul writes about God the Father’s exaltation of Jesus:

Ephesians 1:20–23 (ESV)

20 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.

Jesus is eternally exalted above all! Or, as the author of Hebrews puts it:

Hebrews 1:1–4 (ESV)

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

These Scriptures and their authors testify to Jesus’ position of all power and authority at the right hand of God. Paul makes it clear that Jesus is above every other authority forever. Then the words of Hebrews really stretch the mind… Jesus upholds the universe by the word of his power. He is the only reason the universe continues to function as it does. How’s that for power and authority? It doesn’t get any bigger than that!

The significance of Jesus being seated is that he is VICTORIOUS, and his redemptive work is FINISHED. He satisfied the demands of God’s holiness by dying in our place and bearing the wrath of God for us. The enemies of humanity, the devil and death, are no longer reigning over his people. This is why Christians no longer need to fear death or the devil! We know the one who has conquered both! And now he reigns over all creation until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. This is the quote Peter shared from King David, which originates in Psalm 110:1. Here’s what it teaches us…

The present reign of Christ will continue from the right hand of God until his enemies are made a footstool and until the full ingathering of the saints. (repeat) Of the latter concept, Peter speaks of God’s desire to have all his people reach repentance:

2 Peter 3:8–9 (ESV)

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

God knows exactly how long it will take to save each one of his people and he will accomplish it. John, in his vision recorded in Revelation, shares that there is a specific number of saints who will suffer and die for Christ before his return:

Revelation 6:9–11 (ESV)

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

These are hard truths to hear this morning, perhaps especially on Christmas Eve when you’re used to focusing on the newborn king… but they remind us that God has a grand plan of redemption that He is and always has been working out… that newborn king would be rejected and killed by the people he came to save. And it is not surprising that his followers would face the same.

And yet… his grand plan of redemption is for our ultimate good and His glory! You can trust that whatever you face in this life is not outside of the power and plan of God. And, if you are in Christ, He will force it to do good unto you. *pause*

So… what is Jesus doing right now? Reigning from on high at the right hand of God the Father, using his power and authority to save his people from their sins as he fulfills the grand redemption plan. And his position and power exercised on your behalf is a reason to bow the knee in faith and worship this morning!

But what are WE supposed to be doing right now? As we heard last week and again today, Jesus has called his followers to active involvement in his mission! His mission is our mission. In Acts 1-2, Jesus not only promised the disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit upon them to empower and equip them for ministry, he did it! And he sent them to testify to the world about Him!

A significant component to the present reign of Christ is that…

  1. The Christ empowers his church to carry out the mission

This is another reason to believe in and worship the Christ today. Jesus’ mission is still being carried out and it is affecting people like you and me. It started at Pentecost in Acts 2, when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit upon his disciples. The Holy Spirit is the promised Helper who would bring to remembrance all that Jesus had taught them. The Holy Spirit emboldened them for public ministry and helped them to apply the truths they had been taught.

Paul speaks of the empowering work of the Holy Spirit in Christians in his letter to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 1:15–19 (ESV)

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is that the Holy Spirit would empower them with wisdom and knowledge of God. That they would no longer be hardened by sin but spiritually alive and able to know the depths of the hope that God has provided for them in Christ. When you trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, there is an incredible work being done by the Holy Spirit in your life. The Holy Spirit not only enables you to respond in faith to the truth about Jesus, he also gives you the equipping necessary to live a life pleasing to Jesus!

God truly thought of every detail in his redemption plan. He not only sent the Holy Spirit, Jesus also stands ready to give us grace and mercy in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 testifies to this:

Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV)

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

These are powerful promises from God to us! The Christ has determined to further the grand redemption plan through the church. And the church is made up of weak and weary, yet redeemed, sinners. He provides us with everything we need for life and godliness so that we can represent and reflect him on this earth.

And, as we heard last week, Jesus commissions his followers in his authority and presence:

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

God’s plan was always to empower the church to carry out his mission in this stage of redemptive history. Christ reigns from the right hand of the Father and, on earth, the church makes disciples in his power and authority. This is what we are supposed to be doing. Knowing God and making him known to the world around us. Helping others to respond to the Christ in faith and obedience.

However, it is essential for us to understand that the power for salvation and sanctification (growth in holiness) ultimately comes from Him, not us. In fact, this is our third reason to believe in and worship the Christ today:

  1. The Christ saves and sanctifies those who come to God through him

It is the Christ who saves. It is the Christ who sanctifies (makes holy; set apart from sin for God). While we are called to cooperate with His work in us, it is ultimately His power at work. And His power is at work in any who come to God through faith in him.

The author of Hebrews makes these truths clear. Let me share with you three passages that highlight these truths.

Hebrews 7:23–25 (ESV)

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Jesus is the only eternal high priest who continues forever. Because he is in this position of power and authority forever, he is able to save all who draw near to God through him! He is constantly making intercessions for us. Going before the Father pleading our holiness and innocence through His finished work on our behalf! There could be no better advocate for us with the Father than the Son who sits at His right hand and reigns forever! Our next passage is in Hebrews 9:

Hebrews 9:24–28 (ESV)

24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Jesus is not only the perfect high priest, he is also the perfect sacrificial lamb who died in our place. Because he is a perfect, sinless sacrifice, he was a ONCE FOR ALL sacrifice. The outcome of Jesus bearing our sins is that when he comes again, he is coming to save us! All who have their faith in him will not be disappointed when that day comes! If your faith is in Jesus, you have the security of eternal salvation. Finally, consider what Hebrews 10 says:

Hebrews 10:11–14 (ESV)

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

The author again draws upon the perfection of Jesus’ sacrifice in our place. The result of his finished work is that he sat down at the right hand of God. And once more we hear that he is waiting for his enemies to be made a footstool for his feet! And, as verse 14 beautifully states, he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Jesus is not only growing us in righteousness day-by-day, he has guaranteed the outcome – perfect holiness.

Jesus accomplishes both our salvation and sanctification. It is through faith in Him that we are rescued from our sin that was leading us to death, and it is by faith in Him that we are daily growing in holiness. When asked about Christ’s present rule, Pastor John Piper put it this way:

He is sovereign in every way, but he uses his sovereignty now to rescue captives by destroying the authority of Satan in the hearts of his people, and by gathering his elect from all the nations. The penetrating thrust of the kingdom in this age is salvation and sanctification — that is, the beautification of the bride of Christ for presentation to him at the last day. That’s the dominion of God over the nations through Christ now.

From <https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/does-christ-rule-the-nations-now>

What a wonderful hope! Because Jesus reigns at the right hand of God. Because He has all authority and power over the universe. Because these things are true, we can have confidence that He will accomplish the work He has set out to do… which is to achieve our salvation and sanctification through faith in Him. Jesus will win His bride, the church. He is victorious over the enemies of sin and death and the devil.

This gives us great hope as the church. It tells us that when He commissions us to go and make disciples of the nations that He has people who will respond to the Gospel in faith! The mission will be successful, not because we’re so great, but because He is so great. His power and authority ensure the success of the mission. And we get to partner with Him in carrying it out.

If you haven’t caught on yet, there is a beautiful interplay of the answers to “What is Jesus doing now?” and “What are we supposed to be doing?” Jesus is ruling and reigning and saving and sanctifying, yet He is also carrying this out through the church! Our obedience to the mission is His chosen means to accomplish the mission! We get to be an integral part of the grand redemption plan! *pause*

Now, some of you are likely joining us this Christmas Eve from a position of skepticism or unbelief in Jesus Christ. I’m glad you’re here. Can I encourage you to take time to evaluate the claims of Christ this Christmas?

What do you have to lose by reading the Scriptures or having an honest discussion with a Christian friend/family member about these things? Nothing in comparison to what you stand to gain. What do you have to gain? The forgiveness of your sins, holiness, the promise of eternal life! Everything! *pause*

For the Christians in the room, our call is to submit to Jesus’ authority and carry out the mission! Will that be your response? This response is so important due to the accountability that Christ provides. The Bible makes it very clear that each one of us are stewards of the life and resources that God has entrusted to us, and God intends to hold us accountable for our stewardship. This is true at both an individual and corporate level. Each one of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ on our own, but we also see the Christ providing accountability for entire churches in the New Testament.

Listen to these snippets from Revelation 2 and 3:

Revelation 2:1–7 (ESV)

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.

4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

Revelation 3:14–22 (ESV)

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

These are the bookends of Jesus providing accountability to seven different local churches. Each one contains encouragements for things that are going well and rebukes for things that need to change. The expectation of the Christ is that His churches would conquer sin in their lives and live zealously for Him. This leads me to our fourth and final reason to believe in and worship the Christ for today…

  1. The Christ oversees local churches and will provide accountability to them

As the Chief Shepherd, Jesus is our authority. He has entrusted tremendous resources to us to wisely steward. From finances to facilities, from our gifts and abilities to the souls of the next generation who sit among us and in the Kids’ ministry below us… every minute of every day matters to the Christ. Each interaction you’ll have with family/friends/others this week matters to Him. They are Gospel opportunities. The decisions you make throughout the day will either please Him and promote righteousness or dishonor Him and promote ungodliness. How will you live? (repeat) *pause*

I mentioned this last week, and I’ll do so briefly again today. But as this year closes and a new one begins; we have a whole host of resources meant to equip you to grow in your walk with Christ. These can be found at the back table in the worship center or online at our Resources page. Please take time to plan for growth in 2024! If you need help with that, reach out to your SG leaders or one of our pastors. We are here for you! *pause*

The present reign of Christ provides incredible power and direction for our lives. We are not a people lacking for help or answers. We have the source of truth at our fingertips and the Holy Spirit within us to learn and obey that truth. I ask again, How will you live? As Jesus said, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Let’s pray.

Pray