THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN TRADITION

 

Chapter 29

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Defending Our God-Given Crown

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Text

Heb. 2:5-9 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honour, and set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

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For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

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Memory Verse

2 Tim. 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

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​​​​​​Introduction

You are royalty, acting as God’s representative on earth.

 

Before you were born, you existed in God’s plan like the angels in heaven. God put you on earth to represent Him, to run things His way here.

 

That is huge. It means that you are supposed to think, speak, and act like God. To represent the God of heaven on earth is honour and glory. In other words, God put a crown on you.

 

Everything needed for heaven’s government to run on earth - security, provision, order - God has already supplied. Your job is to superintend it under Christ (Heb. 2:5-9).

 

Objectives

To see yourself in your royal position in Christ.

 

To understand that you are the head of heaven’s embassy on earth.

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To learn how to guard that position from spiritual attack.

 

Presentation

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1. Christ Put You in a Royal Position

 

(1) By defeating death, Jesus put believers in Him into royalty (1 Pet. 2:9, Rev. 5:9-10). You are not a servant trying to earn your way in. You are family.

 

(2) Because of that, there is a “crown of righteousness” waiting for you (2 Tim. 4:8).

 

(3) Anyone in a royal position has the status of a king, queen, or royal family member. That is you in Christ.

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2. You are the Head of Heaven on Earth

 

(1) Think of it like an ambassador. The Nigerian ambassador to the US is the head of Nigeria there. In the same way, the Christian is the head of heaven on earth.

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(2) Heaven’s embassy on earth is called the Church, the Temple of God (1 Cor. 3:9, 16).

 

(3) You and other believers are the “living stones” building that embassy (1 Pet. 2:4-5, Heb. 3:4-6).

 

(4) This is where God’s seat of power is located on earth right now (Eph. 1:20-23, 3:10-11).

 

3. Everything is Set for Heaven’s Government to Run

 

(1) Elect angels are on assignment. They go up to report to God and come down to bring support to you (John 1:51, Heb. 1:14).

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(2) They are ministering spirits sent to help those who will inherit salvation. They are making sure nothing blocks heaven’s government from running through you.

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4. Your Crown Stays Secure in Righteousness

 

(1) God gave you a crown of righteousness because He is righteous (2 Tim. 4:8).

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(2) Righteousness exalts, sin tears down (Prov. 14:34). That is why God calls you to be holy as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:16, Heb. 12:14).

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(3) The practical details of living that out are in Eph. 4:17-32: put off lies, anger, stealing, and put on truth, work, kindness, forgiveness.

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Conclusion

You are not trying to become royal. You already are in Christ. The issue is whether you will live like it and defend it. Your crown is secure in Christ, but you have to live in righteousness to keep functioning in that authority on earth.

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Evaluation Questions & Answers​

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1. From Heb. 2:5-9, all is yet to come under the Son of Man’s feet. What remains?

   • Right now, “we do not yet see everything subjected to him” (Heb. 2:8). Death has not yet been “swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:54), and we still see decay and sickness, pending the full restoration of creation. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

2. What is the guarantee it will surely be his, reading (Eph. 1:13-14)?

   • The Holy Spirit is the guarantee, the “seal” and “down payment” of our inheritance. God has already given us the Spirit as proof that He will complete what He started and bring all things under Christ’s feet.

3. What kind of crown are believers given, and why can they not get it now?

   • It is the ‘crown of righteousness’ (2 Tim. 4:8). We do not get it now in full because it is awarded by Christ “on that day” - at His appearing and judgment. Right now we live it out, but the full reward comes when He returns.

4. Who works tirelessly to ensure heaven’s government on earth is not interrupted?

   • The elect angels. They are ministering spirits sent to serve those who inherit salvation (Heb. 1:14). They report to God and bring support to believers to keep God’s purposes moving.

5. Where is the seat of power of heaven’s government on earth?

   • In the Church: the body of believers. We are God’s temple, and God’s power resides in us by the Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16, Eph. 2:22). It is not a building, it is people.

6. Give a brief history of how man emerged as head of God’s government on earth.

   • God created man in His image to rule the earth under Him (Gen. 1:26-28).

   • Man lost that position through sin and gave authority to Satan.

   • Jesus, the last Adam, came, obeyed perfectly, defeated death, and recovered that authority (Rom. 5:12-15).

   • Now every believer in Christ is restored to that royal position and shares in His rule.

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​​Prayer

Father, thank You for crowning me with honour and glory in Christ. Forgive me for living below what You have called me to. Help me to walk in righteousness so that I can defend and function in the authority You have given me. Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth through me, as it is in heaven. Amen.