The View from Here (Reigning in Christ)

“If we endure, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2:12).

INTRODUCTION

This is quite astonishing because the context of 2 Timothy 2:12, and of all other passages that refer to Christians reigning with Christ, are of Christians suffering at the hands of strong and powerful people and forces.

Paul is saying to Timothy, “Those same people who are presently at the bottom of the ladder, who are treated as the lowest of the low, who are weak and oppressed by everyone; these same people will one day reign with Christ!” Co-regency with the King of Kings. What a reward! What a turnaround! What a prospect!

“Most Gladly Therefore Will I Rather Glory in My Infirmities, that the Power of Christ May Rest Upon Me. ” – (2 Cor. 12:9).

17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (Romans 5: 17)

REIGNING

• We also reign with Him because He puts His royal power in our hearts to break sin’s dominion.

• Faith in Christ brings His powerful dominion over sin, the world, and the devil into our lives.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4).

(Whatever is going on around us is subservient to what is inside of us.)

Just another way of saying: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 NKJV

Reigning with Christ (Present)

Reigning does not mean we dominate others. It means that circumstances are a lesser thing than what is going on around us.

4 May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice!
5 Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon.
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.
7 And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.
8 In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.
9 Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9) Good News Translation (GNT)

A third way we already share in Christ’s reign is as office-bearers in His church:
“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:19).

Christ has delegated spiritual authority to execute His instructions on earth.
Christian believer, you are already a king and share the kingship of Christ.

He has “made you a king and a priest unto God” (Rev. 1:6).

Future reign

• No matter how much believers reign with Christ now, the greatest experience of co-regency lies ahead, beginning with the moment of death.

• Although death seems such a moment of weakness of defeat and loss, in reality it’s a moment of victory, of power, and of triumph.

• At death, the believer fully triumphs over sin, death, and the devil in his soul. He is not defeated by them but defeats them.

• Just as Christ reigns over sin, death, and the devil, so they do too in a new way.

• They enter into a new and powerful life; no longer a life of losses and disappointments but of gain and of triumph.

• This reign climaxes at the last judgment when the believer’s body is reunited with the soul and shares in the soul’s power and authority.

• Sin, death, the devil, and the world will be under our feet.

  But there’s more!

  • Crowned with the crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8),

• The crown of life (James. 1:12; Rev. 2:10),

• And the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4),

• We will access and enjoy the King’s power, possessions, and authority, including even ruling over the angels (1 Cor. 6:3).

• As Christ promised, the meek shall inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5),

• And part of that will involve specific responsibilities according to our faithfulness in this world (Luke 19:17).

• “But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” (Dan. 7:18).