He died for man's salvation, rising again to ascend into heaven where He is now interceding for us. Man has been provided with ample ev idence that these things are so. Still many will refuse to admit what God has demonstrated clearly. All of us have received so many bless ings and mercies that we should be ashamed when we begin to feel sorry for ourselves and even com plain about God. There are those of the world, un regenerate men and women, who refuse to acknowledge the truth of the Lord. The Word of God teaches that one day every person will have to bow his knees to Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him to be Lord. If we do not do it now in submis sion, some day it will have to be in subjugation. Yes, there is def initely a time coming when the arrogance and cynicism of men will be ended forever. Every mouth will be stopped before God (Rom ans 3:19). They will have to admit that truth is truth, even though they may hate God for it. This pas sage in Philippians 2:9-11 is in a sense a real prophecy. It is the equivalent to the Old Testament prophecy of Psalm 110:1, "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine ene mies thy footstool." Did you real ize that this verse is quoted in the New Testament directly or indirect ly at least 27 different times? First of all we see that the ac knowledgement of the ruleofChrist over this world will take the form of a verbalized confession that He is Lord. Next we learn that this confession will be made by all or ders of intelligent beings, those in heaven, on earth and those under the earth. This covers a tremendous Page 39
the minds of His enemies, that He was equal with God, being the very Son of God Himself. But, it was more than simply a claim. He was and is the Son of God. This is where we stand as believers in Him. The Saviour claimed for Him self powers and attributes which only belong to God. He declared His preexistence in John 8:58 avowing, "Before Abraham was, I am." He also underlined His omni science and omnipresence. In His final message to the disciples He promised, "Lo, I am with you al- way, even unto the end of the age." He showed His infallibility as a Teacher, saying that He alone knew the mind of God and that He alone could reveal it (Matthew 11:27). He warned that heaven and earth would pass away, but that His words would never pass away. He challenged all of His enemies to convict Him of sin. He clearly asserted that he was God. This is the wonderful Son of God whose name is above every name. In a coming hour every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Scripture very carefully looks for ward to the day and hour when our Saviour will receive His right ful honor in the sight of all men. Paul declares, "Wherefore God al so hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should con fess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil- ippians 2:9-11). When Christ came to this earth it was in the form of man, as He laid aside His glory.
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