Phil. 2:1-11, Our Purpose: To exalt Christ as Lord (2)

The Father’s desire and plan to exalt His Son is a story that begins in eternity past.  That is the trust expressed in Psalm 2:6-9.  The Lord says to the rebellious kings, Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.”  Then He speaks to the Son: You are My Son, today I have begotten You.  Ask of Me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.

This exaltation, in order to fit God’s love and mercy, required a sacrifice for sin so that the nations might, by faith, submit themselves to the Son.  Thus, the Son laid aside His glory, humbled Himself, even to death on the cross (Phil. 2:5-8).  But then God began to exalt His Son (Phil. 2:9-11), when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 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 (Eph. 1:20-23).

The Son is exalted as Lord over all; every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10-11).  Passages like that lead us to say: the one thing that glorifies God is the exaltation of the Son!

In passages we already have shared we see how extensive is the Lordship of the Son of God.  He is both the one who will rule on the throne of Zion (Psalm 2:6), and He is head over all things to the church (Eph. 1:22).  We can say even more about this from Scripture.

·       Rom. 14:9: Jesus is Lord of the living and the dead.  His death and resurrection brought this about, the passage says.

·       Eph. 4:9-10: Jesus is Lord of the entire universe, having ascended into the lower parts of the earth, and ascended higher than the heavens.

·       Phil. 2:5-11: Jesus is Lord of those in heaven (saints who have died and entered heaven), those on earth (all who are alive today), and those under the earth (those who have died as unbelievers).

·       Col. 1:15-18: Jesus is Lord over the original creation (He is the firstborn, ruling Son, over all creation) as well as over the new creation (He is the firstborn, ruling Son, of those who died but will be resurrected).

Since Christ is head over all things to the church, we are not surprised that every Biblical picture of the Church places Christ in the Lordship position.  He is the Head of the Body.  He is the Shepherd of the Flock.  He is the Vine; we are the Branches.  He is the Husband of the Bride.  He is the Savior of the people.  He is the Cornerstone of the Temple.  Yes, our one purpose is to exalt Jesus as Lord.  This glorifies the Father.