The Fall of one King and the Promise of Another
The Coming of the King • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Church series
Foundation is Christ
Marks of a true church
Marks of a healthy church
The mission of the church
The end of the church
Know as we prepare for Christmas and think toward the celebration of the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior I want us to think about the coming of our Lord in the light of the Biblical truth that He is the Promised King
He is the King of kings
The Promised King has been born
Reminds me of the Christmas Musical, The King is Here that will be sung by the choir next week at 5:00
I encourage you to come an to support the Kenny, the choir, and the orchestra in this.
Your coming will be an encouragement to them and no doubt you will be blessed for being here as well.
Also we will meet this evening as well, encourage you to come this evening
It is a privilege to begin and to end the Lord’s Day with the Lord’s people.
Today as we begin to think of the coming of our King and what His birth means for us one of the things that I hope happens is that you leave from here with a better picture of the overall story of Scripture, this store of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration and how the Kingship of Christ fits into all of this.
Today as we begin to think of the coming of our King and what His birth means for us one of the things that I hope happens is that you leave from here with a better picture
If we are going to understand the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and all that this means for us then we must begin at the beginning of the story and this story begins in the book of beginnings, Genesis
I. He was Created to Rule
I. He was Created to Rule
we begin with God speaking things into existence.
One of the things that one will notice on just a surface level reading of is that there is a certain day that is emphasized.
In other words we see what is central in Creation.
Day 1 there is somewhere around 30 words
We are told
Day 2 close to 40
Day 3 about 70
Day 4 about 70
Day 5 close to 60
Day 6 there are over 140 words. 2 times the amount used in any of the previous days.
is a beautiful piece of literature and not only that we have here the beginning of everything outside of God. The beginning of time, space, all of creation.
Yet for all the concern with the creation of the universe and its creatures this text clearly has a goal to which everything in it is directed, and that is the creation of humanity on the sixth day.
Listen to Stephen Dempster
“Thematically as well as verbally, humanity is crowned the royalty of creation. Whereas other creations come about by the divine word in a predictable manner (Let there be… and it was so), there is a pregnant theological pause before the creation of humanity. God takes counsel with himself before speaking.
As von Rad remarks, the origin of humanity springs from the world above in absolute immediacy from the depths of the divine heart. Human beings have a heavenly origin. The use of poetry, as well as the threefold repetition of the Hebrew verb for create in verse 27 indicates the importance of humanity.
We see the sacredness of human life, the uniqueness of humanity and you especially see that in v.26 and 27
God created man in His own image, in His likeness.
Man is given dominion over creation
Notice v.28
Man is to fill the earth, to subdue it, to rule over creation.
The terms image and likeness stress the unique relationship humanity has to its Creator but also indicate the exalted, regal role humanity plays in creation.
The man and the woman as king and queen of creation are to exercise rule over their dominion, which is the entire earth.
Words like dominion and subdue clearly are associated with power and authority that man is given over creation
Humans are God’s vicegerents of creation.
The Hebrew word for dominion “rada” is used to describe Solomon’s shalom producing rule
For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. And he had peace on all sides around him.
This word is also used to speak of the Messianic King who will emerge from Israel and exercise rule over the Kingdom
I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the forehead of Moab
and break down all the sons of Sheth.
Edom shall be dispossessed;
Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed.
Israel is doing valiantly.
And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion
and destroy the survivors of cities!”
Num.
We are told that an Israelite King will one day rule from sea to sea from the Euphrates river to the ends of the earth and all of his enemies will lick the dust
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth!
In his days may the righteous flourish,
and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth!
May desert tribes bow down before him,
and his enemies lick the dust!
May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
bring gifts!
May all kings fall down before him,
all nations serve him!
May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth!
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the war horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and he shall speak peace to the nations;
his rule shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
There is more that we could look at here and we will look at some more passages like this a little later,
I am simply trying to prove the point that Genesis paints a picture of Adam and Eve being King and Queen over creation,
They were to rule and reign.
They were to fill the earth and subdue it “cabash” that is they were to bring all creation under control, they were to rule over it.
Psalm 8?
But let’s be clear on this point, they were not to fill the earth and subdue it, to have dominion over creation as independents, filling it with their own kingdom, their own glory, their own laws, their own ideas
They were kings and queens but they were created in the likeness of the great King, they were His representatives
And as His image bearers, as His representatives they were to fill the earth with His glory, they were to advance His Kingdom, His law, His rule, the knowledge of Him as the great King was to fill the land.
So the first point is simply this, as humans we were created to rule over creation, to have dominion over creation
A couple of points here, I listened to a podcast that Kenny mentioned to me last week and in the podcast as they were talking about these very things one of the individuals said that they original readers would have wandered within the context here, if Adam and Eve are royalty where are their royal garments?
As King and Queen they need royal robes, royal robes of righteousness to cover them but they do no earn the royal robes of righteousness and instead they try to cover themselves with leaves.
Another interesting thing that I have read about and noticed before is that we see in the first six days this phrase again and again
And there was evening and there was morning the first day and the second and so on until the sixth
But notice in chapter 2:1-3
There is this open ended rest that man is invited to enter into.
The question is there, will man obey? Will he enter into the rest of God?
II. He Chose to Rebel
II. He Chose to Rebel
The second point simply carries the story along.
Created to rule but what happened?
He chose to rebel
There are many theological and philosophical questions that we could get into here but now is not the time.
Let’s just understand the event because that is what Genesis presents to us in chapter 3.
As the king of creation who is given the task of ruling and reigning to advance God’s Kingdom through the earth there is this desire to be independent
Look at
For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
What is the heart of the rebel?
What is the heart of the rebellious teenager?
I am ready to get out of this house so that I can do my own thing. Right?
I know what is best for me and my parents don’t.
Rebellious teenagers think that they know everything, right?
They don’t want someone over them telling them what to do and telling them what is best for them.
That is what we see here in
This desire to be independent, to be out on their own, to have their own kingdom and to make up their own rules.
Instead of advancing God’s Kingdom and enjoying God’s rest man is exiled.
To the woman he said,
“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be contrary to your husband,
but he shall rule over you.”
And to Adam he said,
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.”
The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
Cast out of God’s Kingdom and into the wilderness.
There is no rest, there is no enjoyment of the kingdom instead there is toil and heartache, there is bondage, there is slavery.
The interesting thing is that this is a theme that we see through the scriptures
When Israel disobeys God where do they have to wander?
In the wilderness
Where does Jesus go when He is tempted?
In the wilderness
This theme that man has been cast out of the Kingdom of God, He is in exile.
Again and again as we see the disobedience of Israel in the OT and Israel being taken into exile because of their disobedience that is a picture for us of all of humanity who has been sent into exile because of rebellion.
This gives us the reason for all that is wrong in humanity and in our lives
Humanity has been cast into exile, we are outside of God’s Kingdom, God’s gracious rule, God’s blessing and instead man lives in a wilderness.
We look all around us in America and all of the civilization that we see, the technology and all of these things and maybe we don’t realize it but this is the reality that the Bible teaches us that the world lies in a spiritual wilderness, outside of God’s Kingdom, under the rule, under the sway of the serpent.
But the curse of is not all that we see
We also see what theologians have referred to as the protoevangelium, the first gospel promise
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
This promise that One will come who will battle the serpent and his kingdom and in this promise of there is seed of hope that there may be one who will come and be a King who will rescue us from serpent.
III. Another is Chosen to Restore
III. Another is Chosen to Restore
As I said there is this seed of hope in and this gets developed as we walk through the Bible.
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Gen
In this promised King, we are told, will come from the tribe of Judah
Many more places where we could look but
we are told that this promised King will be a Son of David
And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ” In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
teaches us that this King will be a perfectly righteous King
My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your splendor and majesty!
In your majesty ride out victoriously
for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king’s enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
this King will bring blessing.
Blessings will flow to the nations from this King
Read from
We are told that this King will be a Priest King.
The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”
The Lord is at your right hand;
he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”
The Lord is at your right hand;
he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
Psalm 110.
And again we are told that this King will rule, He will have dominion “rabah”
But another cool thing is that this King will rule He will have dominion “rabah”
The Lord sends forth from Zion
your mighty scepter.
Rule in the midst of your enemies!
Psal
So when we come to the Gospel of Matthew and we are told that Jesus Christ
This King would be greater than the first
Is the son of Abraham, the son of David, those are loaded statements.
We are being told that this is the promised King
We are told that this is the obedient King who will deliver His people from their bondage to demon kings who rule and reign in their hearts
He will deliver them from the chains of sin
This is the King who has come to deliver His people from the prison of darkness, to clothe them with His royal robes of righteousness and to bring them into God’s Kingdom.
I love this line from Joy to the World
So when Jesus says in Matthew 28
No more let sins and sorrows grow
nor thorns infest the ground
he comes to make His blessings low
far as the curse is found
far as the curse is found
far as, far as the curse is found
Jesus is the King who came to crush the head of the serpent and make His blessings flow to the nations.
Application
we are reminded of the dignity, the worth of every human life, created in the image of God
We are reminded that we are created to live in submission to our Creator, to live in obedience to His law, His rule
We are reminded that the sorrow and the pain, the difficulty of life is there because of the ruin of mankind in Adam
We are reminded of the hope that we have in Christ
Speak on this hope
This is a hope that cannot be taken away from us
This is a hope that is secure
There is coming a day when we will enjoy eternal rest because of the obedience of our King
We will be safe in this eternal kingdom
But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.