در پادشاهی عیسی ما می توانیم به عنوان پادشاه بر گناه سلطنت کنیم!

“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelations 1:6)

As already stated earlier, Jesus is the “King of kings and Lord of lords.” In fact, Jesus is not only King, but also the only High Priest accepted by God the Father for leading his servants in worship (see Heb 9 and 10). So if all his servants are kings and priests also, it can only be by operating under total submission to the “King of kings” and the great “High Priest”. Jesus has given to his servants kingly power over all the power of the enemy (the devil) to enable them to live holy and true to Jesus in this life (Luke 10:19).

In Luke 22:29 we read: “And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me” (see also: Romans 5:17 و I Cor 4:8). Also in Revelations 3:21 Jesus also tells us “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

Jesus did not overcome as an earthly king. He overcame as a spiritual king. He suffered at the hands of men, but yet was holy and true to his Father in heaven all the way. So his expectation is for us to do the same and follow his good example, by his help and grace.

“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:12)

The intention is for us to reign as kings over the power of sin in this life so that we can fully obey God now:

• “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:12)
• “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelations 5:10)

The carnal (fleshly) minded individual will claim that this kingdom and reigning is for a future time during a “millennial reign” where Jesus will set up an earthly kingdom hear on earth and so called “Christians” will be as kings under him. But Jesus himself said: “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” (John 18:36) Jesus also said “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21)

It is rather a spiritual kingdom, (not a physical, earthly one) where people, while still on earth, reign with Jesus over sin and over all the evil powers of the Devil. The Apostle Paul stated it this way: “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink (not in physical things); but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:17)

We (the true servants) are spiritual kings and priests today, to have power over temptation and sin, and to offer spiritual sacrifices as we worship the King of kings.

• “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5)
• “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)