The Need To See The King | Ephesians 1:15-23

Scripture

• Ephesians 1:15–23

About this sermon

Introduction: Why does the Bible exalt the truth that Jesus is the preeminent King regularly? GOD HAS DONE THAT THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURES. FROM THE BEGINNING OF GOD’S REVELATION IN SCRIPTURE TO THE END. EXPRESSED IN ANTICIPATORY LANGUAGE — THE BIBLE PREPARED US FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD. EXPRESSED IN FULFILLMENT LANGUAGE — GOD ANNOUNCING JESUS AS KING IN MORE THAN ONE WAY WHEN CHRIST ARRIVED. EXPRESSED IN CELEBRATORY LANGUAGE — THE BIBLE CELEBRATING THAT JESUS IS KING AFTER HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. EXPRESSED IN HOPEFUL LANGUAGE — THE BIBLE ANNOUNCES AND ANTICIPATES THE DAY WHEN THE FRUITS OF CHRIST’S VICTORY ARE BROUGHT INTO FULL VISION AT HIS SECOND COMING. The Bible gives repeated voice to the truth that Jesus is King. He is the priest-King typified by Melchizedek. ESV Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. 4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! He is the greater son of David who will sit on David’s throne and rule forever. ESV Psalm 2:6 "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill." 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. ESV Luke 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." He is the great conqueror who will return to the earth and put an end to the tyranny of the wicked and usher in a Kingdom of righteousness. ESV Revelation 17:14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful." ESV Revelation 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the great HOPE who fulfills all the promises made to Abraham and his offspring. ESV Romans 11:11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! He is the one worthy to open the title deed to the earth that wraps up this present age — the one who explains the Kingdom of redeemed souls that He not only rules over but one day will rule WITH. ESV Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." ESV Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. Jesus IS the preeminent King. AND YET, REVERENTLY, WE MUST ASK “WHY THIS EMPHASIS?” GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD HAD NO NEED FOR THE INCARNATION IN ORDER TO BE A RULER. Before anything was created — there was God. He is before all things because He is eternal. He sustains all things He made because He is self-existent. He needs nothing that He made because He is self-sufficient. And after God created — when the holy angels were created, when all the worlds were created, when mankind was created — God had no rivals. He has always ruled over His creation. The creature is not the equal of its maker.