30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 1-13 God's Regents 02 The saints to rule with Jesus
📖 Luke 16:1-13
21Mar2020 - The saints to rule with Jesus - Luke 16:1-13 - Bible reading: Ephesians 2:5-7
Luke 16:10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
We have begun the study of Luke 16:1-13. This parable is usually known as the parable of the dishonest steward but we will title this study as God’s regents.
Yesterday, we looked at Genesis 1:26, where we read that the Triune God created us in their image and in their image, we are to have dominion over all of His creation. Right there in the very beginning, God has made us understand that there are no two compartments to life but one, which is sacred.
We then read about the creation mandate in Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Here we see that the roadmap has been provided for us by God as to how we are to execute His purposes here on earth.
The man was made to be a regent and a viceroy in the plan of God over all of God’s creation. Psalm 8:4-8 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? (5) For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honour. (6) You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, (7) All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, (8) The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas.
The plan of God was that man would have dominion, on His behalf, not just here, on this creation but also in the world to come. This position was not given to angels, though man was made little lower than them. Hebrews 2:5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.
Though the man was created with this high mandate of being regents with God, over His creation, sin entered the human race. This caused us to be delinked from God and also become vassals of the devil. This is how satan is bringing about destruction to the creation of God, by executing his agenda through man. This was rectified at the cross and so when we come back to Jesus in true repentance and faith on His finished work on the cross, we are reinstated as regents and viceroys.
II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. We are now the saints of God, released from the grip of satan, reinstated to be God’s regents.
I Corinthians 6:2-3 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (3) Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
Psalms 149:5-9 Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. (6) Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, (7) To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; (8) To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; (9) To execute on them the written judgment— This honour have all His saints. Praise the LORD! This task to execute the purposes of God, here on earth, has been given to His saints.
The task of being executives of God has been extended for the saints beyond the present time, into the time when Jesus will set up His everlasting kingdom. Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.' Daniel 7:22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favour of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. Daniel 7:27 Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'
Revelation 2:26-27 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— (27) 'HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; THEY SHALL BE DASHED TO PIECES LIKE THE POTTER'S VESSELS'— as I also have received from My Father; Revelation 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Ephesians 2:5-7 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), This is where we usually stop. We are very happy and thankful to the Lord that He has made alive and we are saved by His grace. We are not willing to go further and take up our position as regents. (6) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (7) that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Thought to ponder
We cannot stop at being saints, we are saints in order to be regents, to rule with God both now and also in the hereafter.