LECTURE LXXXIX.

THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST DELIVERED UP TO THE FATHER.

1 COR. XV. 20-28.

20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.

21. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

We are told in the epistle to the Romans, that Adam was "the figure of him that was to come." Jesus Christ, who "was to come," and the first man, Adam, were alike the authors of vast results to the world. By the first Adam "sin entered into the world, and death by sin:" so that in Adam all die. By Christ, the second Adam, shall all be made alive. "I am the resurrection and the life," saith the Lord: "he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die." Thus the resurrection of the dead came by Christ as its author. The harvest is due to him, which "when the end cometh," shall be gathered into the garner of the heavenly

1 Rom. v. 14.

2 Ib. 12.

3 John xi. 25, 26.

husbandman. And of that harvest for which he laboured, he is himself the first-fruits: his own body, raised from the grave in which it lay, and afterwards ascending up to heaven, is as it were "the sheaf waved before the Lord:" and like that sacred sheaf is a pledge of the whole harvest which is to follow. For it assures us that "the hour is coming, when all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of man, and shall come forth," and shall "stand before the Son of man."6

24. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

25. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

27. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when

he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

28. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

A great mystery is here touched upon, which we may attempt to illustrate by example.

Among the rich dominions of a mighty king, a province is in rebellion. The end of such rebellion, must be destruction.

This it is easy to figure to our minds. And it is

4 Levit. xxiii. 10. "When ye shall reap the harvest, ye shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest unto the priest and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you."

5 John v. 29.

"Luke xxi. 36.

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the case of our world. As the prophet says, " All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way." They are all together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no not one: there is no fear of God before their eyes."8

But before judgment is inflicted, the King in mercy empowers his Son, his only Son, "his well beloved," to offer terms of pardon. All who hear his voice, and commit themselves to him, shall be formed into a separate kingdom, be saved from "wrath and indignation," and inherit everlasting life. "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son."9 "All things are delivered unto him of the Father."1 "All power is given unto him in heaven and in earth." God "hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”3

Between this new kingdom of the Son, and the "power of darkness," "the prince of this world," the leader of God's rebellious subjects, there is perpetual enmity and opposition. Satan, like "a strong man armed," strives hard to maintain his power. In the end, his head is to be crushed: but meanwhile he sorely" bruises" all that contend against him.* "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of

7 Isa. liii. 6.

9 John v. 22.

2 Matt. xxviii. 18.

8 See Rom. iii. 12-18.

1 Matt. xi. 27.

3 Eph. i. 22.

4 See Gen. iii. 15.

darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."5

But the Son must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. God hath put all things under him. The word has gone forth," "Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."

And at length, when all things are subdued unto him, and he hath put down all rule, and all authority and power, when his kingdom is completed, and the "number of his elect made up," and Satan, the deceiver, "cast into the lake of fire," death itself shall be destroyed; the last enemy that shall be subdued is death-for in the heavenly kingdom "there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away."

And now the Son's commission is at an end. He has "glorified God on earth, and finished the work which was given him to do." Therefore he delivers up the kingdom to God, even the Father. For when “all power was given him, it is manifest that he is excepted who did put all things under him. So that resigning the office which for a special time and purpose he had held, the Son shall also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. No man now "knoweth the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the

5

Eph. vi. 12.

7 Rev. xx. 10.

9 John xvii. 4.

6 Psal. cx. 1.

8 Rev. xxi. 4.

1 Chrysostom asks, "Why nothing here of the Holy Ghost?" And answers: Because Paul having one matter in hand, would not confound all things together.

Son shall reveal him."? But then "we shall know, even as also we are known:" it will then not be

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through a mediator only, that there is access to the Father: but God will be all in all. "And his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun: for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign for ever and ever."

This is the description of those who are Christ's, at his coming. It is not the description of all who shall rise again. Some "shall awake to shame and everlasting contempt."5 Some are "without." "Into the city of the Lord there shall in no wise enter anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Who then will not pray, that he may "die the death of the righteous?" Who will not say, like Paul himself," I desire to be found having the righteousness which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith that I, being made conformable unto his death," may know him, and the power of his resurrection.

2 Matt. xi. 27.

4 Rev. xxii. 3-8.

6 Rev. xxi. 27.

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3 John xiv. 6.

5 Dan. xii. 2.

7 Phil. iii. 9-11.