Paul the apostle told the
Philippian church because Jesus humbled Himself, came in the form of
a servant, and made Himself as a man, that God has given Him a name
that is above every name. He also told them that every knee shall bow
in heaven, the earth and under the earth. In chapter two and verse
eleven of his letter to the Philippians, Paul adds another action
that shall be employed by everyone where he wrote:
The verse begins, “And
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord,...” In addition to every
knee bowing, Paul told the Philippians, “every tongue
should confess” which means
“to profess, acknowledge openly and joyfully” “that
Jesus Christ is Lord” or “the possessor and disposer of a
thing, the owner; one who has control of the person, the master, in
the state: the sovereign, prince, or chief”. Once again let us be
reminded that Paul employed the word “should” which means
“shall” in this case, and there is no exception given to everyone
confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord.
The
verse goes on to say, “to the glory of God the Father.”
We might wonder why every knee
shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord? Paul
answers that question by writing, “to the glory”
or “splendor, brightness, a most glorious condition, or most
exalted state” “of God the Father”. God Almighty,
creator and ruler of the universe is glorified through the exalted
state of His Son Jesus Christ, and everyone who has lived, is living
or will live will unite in confessing with their tongues that Jesus
Christ is Lord.
As we think about all the
people who have ever lived, all who are living, and those who will
live confessing this one thing, “that Jesus Christ is Lord”
we may be inclined to wonder just how that will take place? So many
people do not confess Jesus Christ as Lord today, but this verse
tells us that they will. No matter how opposed or contrary they are
to Jesus, one day their knees shall bow and their tongues shall
confess that He is Lord. When we consider this, God Almighty saw to
it in advance to give this as an encouragement and a warning about
future events. Either we confess that Jesus is Lord while we are
living, or we shall do it after we die. There are no exceptions.
Everyone will participate. The question is, “When?” Now, or in
the future? May the Lord Jesus help us to confess Him now.
Next
time Paul tells the Philippians to work out their salvation, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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