Lesson 6 – The Future Nature of Jesus Study on the Godhead Lesson 6 – The Future Nature of Jesus

5 passages indicate different aspects of Jesus’ rule: Review of Lesson 5 5 passages indicate different aspects of Jesus’ rule: Intercessor – Romans 8 High Priest – Hebrews 4 Advocate – 1 John 2 Mediator – 1 Timothy 2 Head and savior of the church – Ephesians 5 Central to each of these verses is the idea of salvation from sin – Jesus died and rules to bring about the salvation of the people of God

Review of Lesson 5 Part of Jesus’ current nature is that of ruler for the benefit of His Church But what happened when He was glorified? What is His current make-up? What does a “glorified body” entail?

Review of lesson 5 Biblically speaking, John states in 1 John 3:2 that we don’t yet know what having a “glorified body” means We know that we’ll be given one when Jesus returns, but John just kind of shrugs and says “We haven’t seen it yet” What we do know as seen earlier in Ephesians 1:20 is that He is in Heaven, seated at the right hand of God, and God gave Him charge to rule all things (for now)

The future nature of jesus Romans 8:17 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. This verse teaches us that we will be co-heirs (or joint heirs) with Jesus This indicates that whatever station and relationship Jesus has, we will also have

The future nature of jesus 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming,

The future nature of jesus 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 states that Jesus is a first-fruit This implies that there will be more fruit of the same kind to follow When will this “more fruit of the same kind” exist? What is implied in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 is explicitly stated in at least 3 other passages

The future nature of Jesus Romans 8:29-30 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; We are predestined to bear the “image of His Son” Whatever Jesus will be, so will we This makes Him the “firstborn among many brethren”

The future nature of Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:47-49 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. We are predestined to bear the “image of His Son” Whatever Jesus will be, so will we This makes Him the “firstborn among many brethren”

The future nature of Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:47-49 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Paul says that we now bear the “image” of the first body like Adam’s (a physical body) However, we will bear the “image” of the spiritual body that Jesus now has

The future nature of Jesus 1 John 3:1-2 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is

The future nature of Jesus Finally, we look again at the passage we finished the last lesson with In 1 John 3:1-2, John states that Jesus now has a body different than our current body, but when He comes again, we will shed this body and take on the body He now has So, what is the future nature of Jesus? Well, it will be the same nature as He currently has – whatever that is

The future nature of Jesus But there’s one more aspect of Jesus’ future nature that we should also consider, and it’s something many (most?) Christians consider incorrectly

The future nature of Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:23-28 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.

The future nature of Jesus I think most Christians have the idea that when Jesus comes again, He will regain His equality with God (that He “emptied Himself” of in Philippians 2:5-7) Paul states here in 1 Corinthians 15:23-28 that this is NOT the case Jesus was given all power and authority by God when He died and was resurrected (Matthew 28) He currently rules to ensure that the Church remains pure (see list at the beginning of this lesson)

The future nature of Jesus When the day of judgment comes and Christ returns, all are sent to their final place of abode (Heaven or Hell) So what happens to everything? 1 Corinthians 15:23-28 says that Jesus hands the kingdom back to God And then what? Jesus then is subjected to God, just like us (remember, we are co-heirs) Hebrews 2:11 says that He will not be ashamed to call us brethren

The future nature of Jesus This, then, is the ultimate cost to Christ of dying on the cross for our salvation When Jesus sat down to “count the cost” of coming to Earth, it meant that He could never again hold the position He held before His incarnation And He decided that we were worth that price