Peter the
apostle told the “scattered” Christians that“baptism”
was “the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ” and he likened it to the ark of
Noah where only “eight people were saved”. Jesus came to
save people from their sins, and Peter knew if people believed in
Jesus the “suffering” He endured on the cross they in like
kind would suffer. In chapter three and verse twenty-two Peter shared
how Jesus now “is gone into heaven” and all “powers”
are “made subject to him” where we read:
Who is
gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God;
angels and
authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
The
verse begins, “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the
right hand of God;” Peter
began with the word, “Who”
which refers to Jesus Christ “is gone”
or “lead over, carried over and transferred” “into
heaven” which is “the
region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things
eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly
beings”, “and is on”
or “by and with” “the right hand”
or “the place of honor and authority” “of God”
which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised
of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Jesus now
sits in the position of power and authority at “the right
hand of God”.
The
verse goes on to say, “angels and authorities and powers
being made subject unto him.” Peter
added, “angels” who
are “messengers, envoys and ones who are sent”
“and authorities”
or “the power of rule or government or the power of him whose will
and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed” “and
powers” which refers to
“inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature,
or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth, ability, abundance,
meaning and might” “being made subject”
which means “subordinate or obedient” “unto him”
which refers to Jesus Christ.
With Jesus' position of authority came His rule over every other
power that exists.
When
we think through these words of Peter, we only begin to understand
the position of authority that Jesus holds. He who “suffered”,
“died” and was
“resurrected” for the
salvation of people from their sins now sits at “the
right hand of God” and is the
ultimate authority over all other powers in existence. May the Lord
Jesus help us through His Holy Spirit to know just how powerful a
Savior to whom we submit ourselves.
Next
time we begin a new chapter where Peter shared even more about Jesus
suffering, 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, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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