Joshua and Judges: The allotment of the land, part 11 - Predestination; Jos 14-17.

Title: Joshua and Judges: The allotment of the land, part 11 - Predestination; Jos 14-17.  

 

Announcements / opening prayer:  

 

It is clear that when we fell we were definitely under the dominion of Satan, HEB 2:14-15; EPH 2:2.

 

Our status as slaves who were originally designed to be rulers was not ever to be a final status in the purpose of God. He did the unthinkable and became a man.

 

He Himself became a man and as a man alone, with deity set aside, He crushed the neck of Satan, and in doing so, ascended to the right hand of God thus regaining what man had given away. The plans of God will not be usurped by anyone.

 

HEB 2:6 But one has testified somewhere, saying,

"What is man, that You remember him? Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him?

 

HEB 2:7 "You hast made him for a little while lower than the angels; You hast crowned him with glory and honor, And have appointed him over the works of Your hands;

 

HEB 2:8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet."

For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

 

God gave authority over the earth to Adam. Man lost his dominion and the right to rule when he sinned. Satan usurped man’s authority over this earth, and presently this earth is being ruled by fallen angels: Satan, the prince of this world, and his demons. They rule, not because God gave it to them but because they usurped the authority from man when he fell, yet this would only be for a little while.

 

God's original purpose for man was that he be created a little lower than the angels as far as his being is concerned yet crowned with glory and honor. God crowned man the king of nature, and He gave to him authority over the physical world. He put all things in subject to him. Yet man never really had the chance to practice that authority because of his fall.

 

God will not be usurped. Man will have dominion, but fallen man cannot reclaim it. God Himself became a man to reclaim it.

 

Man's dominion over the earth is not yet a clear reality as it will be at the return of Christ. Yet, the church-age believer is the whole reason for the continuation of the earth.

 

Christ does not yet sit on His earthly throne and rule with His brethren, but the believer in this age is preserver of this earth. It exists for them.

 

MAT 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again?"

 

Salt was extremely valuable during that time and it was necessary for life, as of course it still is. The disciples are the supreme value that the earth possesses. It is for their sake that the world continues and so in essence, it is theirs. They hold the gospel of Christ. They are the light of the world. Jesus' entire work rested with Israel and the world became the responsibility of the disciples. Jesus doesn't call Himself the salt since it is the disciples that are left behind to spread the light of Christ throughout the world. They must remain salt and not let the exposure of the light within them be washed away. It is they who are the salt and not even their preaching. The word of the gospel is stifled without them. God didn't just drop leaflets or Bibles from the sky. He entrusted the treasure to within all the disciples of the church and they themselves must release it. So, we do not yet hold a physical dominion over the earth as we will at the Second Coming, but in a quiet and invisible way, the earth continues to exist because of us. When the people of the earth and Satan himself seek to cast out the disciples of Christ, the earth is destroying its very life.

 

Therefore, the disciples must not only think of heaven; they have an earthly task as well.

 

The dominion given to man is not yet openly fulfilled, but it will be fulfilled in the Millennium through the Ideal Man, Jesus Christ, in which the church age overcomer will rule with Him and in eternity, saved man will rule over servant angels forever.

 

The first miracle that Christ does reveals this dominion over Satan's rulership. He cast out demons.

 

MAT 12:28

"But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."

 

MAR 1:21 And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach.

 

MAR 1:22 And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

 

MAR 1:23 And just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

 

MAR 1:24 saying, "What do we have to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are —  the Holy One of God!"

 

MAR 1:25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" 

 

MAR 1:26 And throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice, and came out of him.

 

The demon must abide by His command, for He is the King of kings and Lord of lords and all dominion and authority had been given to Him. At Calvary He would return this dominion to us.

 

MAR 1:27 And they were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."

 

For the same reason, His teaching is with authority, unlike anyone had ever heard.

 

MAR 1:28 And immediately the news about Him went out everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.

 

God's original goal for Adam will be fulfilled by the Last Adam.

 

HEB 2:9 But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus [emphasizing His humanity], because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

 

There are five lessons in this verse that give great importance to our predestination as sons:

 

1. His humiliation is becoming humanity.

 

He did this so that we would be restored to rulership. Our plan, our predestination is conforming us to Him and His way of rulership in grace, mercy, and love. We leave all judgment and discipline to Him while we rule in this life by living His life, which He became a man so that He could give it to us in grace.

 

2. The extent of His humiliation is that He became lower than angels though He is far superior to them.

 

He became subject to the temptations of Satan and the attacks of demons, so that as inferior to them for a time in humanity, He could win victory over them for us. We are no longer under their rulership. We walk free in the prison of this world and the warden can do nothing about it.

 

3. The purpose of His humiliation was to taste death for everyone. The word "taste" does not mean nibble but to appropriate.

 

He feasted on the fullness of death, first spiritually and then physically, for every man. His physical death meant resurrection which every believer now owns. He has dethroned the one who had power over death and the fear that comes with that slavery to it (vs. 14).

 

HEB 2:9 But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus [emphasizing His humanity], because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

 

4. The motive of His humiliation was the grace of God. God had a desire and He became a man in order to complete it fully.

 

The Trinity had a desire for man, and man through his carelessness let that desire glide by him. But God gets what He desires and He did what needed to be done in order to give that desire to man in grace. Man was never to work for any of it. He was to receive it, and as fallen man, he can only receive it fully through the blood of Christ.

 

5. The result of His humiliation is that He eventually was crowned with glory and honor in His exaltation when He ascended to heaven.

 

Because of His resurrection, ascension, and session, eventually all things will be put in subjection under His feet.

 

HEB 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.