The power and authority of Christ the King

 Christ the King is not going to overthrow earthly rule. His kingdom is not one of swords, military or economic might or of corporate and organizational power.

His sovereign power comes from bearing the truth: The truth of salvation, the truth of love, righteousness, justice and eternal life that finally is the only power that is sustainable and lasts eternally.

 

Many of the kings of Israel and Judah failed to live up to God’s standard for a godly, truly powerful King. As a result both these kingdoms were destroyed and the Hebrew people were scattered across the “old” world.

But the true believers continued to trust the Messianic promise of a just, righteous and godly king. This promise helps our understanding of Christ as King. Whereas no human being was ever completely able to fulfil the expectations of a king (or government) that ruled completely justly, for Christians “Christ the King” is the fulfilment of all the glorious prophecies in Scripture about the coming of the divine King – Christ Jesus, our King.

 

In faith we follow the Good Shepherd, the Head of the Church with dominion over everything the Father created and owns. We do his works of love and mercy that God has prepared for us to do, and to receive the eternal kingdom God has given to us too.

 

Faith alone saves by grace, but the faith never stands alone.

It is always accompanied by the works of the Kingdom of the King that saved us. Saving faith will produce Kingdom works, the ultimate outcome of the Gospel that teaches about the return of Christ, the birth of Jesus, his suffering and death, his victorious resurrection and ascension and the outpouring of his Holy Spirit.

So the Kingdom we are called to serve show works of the Truth, the Life and the Way under the rule of Christ the King. It is the proof, that a living faith is always victoriously present in every believer, every part of the Body of Christ and in every sphere where we live, work and testify for our King of Truth, Jesus Christ.

 

Faith works.

Like a good tree, it bears good fruit for Christ the King.

  

(Ps. It is a good tradition to celebrate “Christ the King” on the last Sunday of the Christian calendar (this year on 20 November), the Sunday before the first Advent Sunday, celebrated during the 4 Sundays before Christmas. The final conclusion of preaching, teaching and celebrations of a complete Christian calendar is this:  Christ the King is the fulfilment of God’s promises and the ultimate outcome of the gospel.)