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“Are You A King?”

[Trinidad Conference April 2015]

Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Introduction

Today’s study will continue the theme of last week’s study which was inspired by having my attention brought to the boldness that was in Christ. That boldness was founded on His Rock-solid confidence that He was indeed the Son of God, whom God had sent into this world as a witness against this world.

This talk is also inspired by detractors who have told us: “Jesus never claimed to be a king or the son of God. Even when He was asked, He did not claim to be a king or the Messiah.” More recently other detractors have condemned us for claiming that we are God’s elect.

When you and I simply agree with Christ Himself that we are “Jesus of Nazareth”, that is the equivalent today of Christ claiming that He was and is “the Son of God”. This detractor’s statement was “[neither] Christ nor His disciples ever claimed to be God’s elect, and neither should we.” Here is the reaction this very same spirit has towards you and me when it comes up against those words of the Son of God:

Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

The scriptures tell us that there were, and there still are, two primary sources of this spirit of doubt about who Christ was and who He is to this very day. Here are those two primary sources of doubt. They are exposed for us all to see and to know who they were and who they still are:

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

This trial took place immediately after Christ had been confirmed to be the Son of God by the holy spirit itself:

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And this is the second source who would have you and me to have serious doubts about who Jesus of Nazareth actually is:

Mat 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Mat 27:41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
Mat 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Mat 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

That is the two sources of doubt about who Christ is to this very day. It is the Devil himself and his children, the religious authorities of the religions of this world, who say “If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.”

So what is the truth? Did Jesus ever claim He was a king? Did his disciples ever claim to be God’s elect? Are you a king? Are you God’s elect? Your answer to those questions today will be your judge in the day of judgment:

Luk 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Luk 12:9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

Luk 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

What Christ Actually Said

Here is what Christ actually said about who He was:

Joh 8:54 Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father that glorifieth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God;
Joh 8:55 and ye have not known him: but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar: but I know him, and keep his word.
Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.
Joh 8:57 The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.
Joh 8:59 They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

“It is my Father that glorifies me of whom you say that He is your God.” Christ could not be any clearer than that in proclaiming Himself to be the Son of God. One wonders how it is possible to overlook such clear, plain statements of scripture, until the holy spirit reminds us of this still present Truth:

Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

“I Am” was the God who spoke to Moses at the burning bush:

Exo 3:14 And God [Christ] said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

This claim was not lost on those Jews to whom Christ was speaking and to whom He speaks through His elect “sons of God” to this very day. That is why:

Joh 8:59 They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

Here is what Christ told the man He had healed of blindness from his mother’s womb:

Joh 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and finding him, he said, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
Joh 9:36 He answered and said, And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?
Joh 9:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee.
Joh 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

To say that Christ did not claim to be a king or the messiah is almost inconsequential in light of these verses where Christ is claiming to be “the Son of God”, and the “I Am” of the Old Testament.

It is ever so easy to make a statement which has absolutely no basis in the scriptures and which actually contradicts what the scriptures teach. Such hasty statements come from failing to consider the sum of God’s Word and from failing to seek a multitude of counselors before making such bold and fallacious statements. We have all been guilty of teaching false doctrines, and I am chief in having made that offense against the words of my own Lord, simply because I had not yet learned these valuable Biblical principles”

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation. (CLV)

It behooves us all to get every verse touching any subject firmly in mind before proclaiming our understanding to be Biblical doctrine.

We are told how we are to go about establishing doctrine:

Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Isa 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Can we as individuals use the sum of the scriptures themselves to establish doctrine? Asked in another way, can one person alone be depended upon to tell us what is the sum of God’s word on any particular subject or doctrine? The Biblical answer to that question is an unequivocal No! No one person is ever to be considered to be inerrant in matters of Biblical doctrine. Every word is to “be established… in the mouth of two or three witnesses”, just as scriptures themselves are to be established “line upon line and precept upon precept”, never using a single verse as “it own interpretation”. (2Pe 1:20 [CLV])

All doctrinal questions are answered only with “a multitude of counselors”.

Pro 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Pro 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Pro 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

There is a reason why God has written His words in such a “line upon line” manner. Writing his instructions to us in that manner insures that we are required to search diligently and find two or more scriptural witnesses for any Biblical doctrine.

But we do not just naturally seek out the sum of God’s Word, and we certainly do not just naturally humble ourselves and seek a multitude of counselors. Instead this is what happens when, as the Lord has ordained, we first rebel against His commandments to seek the sum of His Word and the counsel of other:

Isa 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

So let’s go to the sum of God words. “line upon line, and precept upon precept to discover whether and by whom…

…Christ Was Proclaimed The Son of God:

…By Angels Before His birth

Biblically who Christ is as a historical figure has never been in question in most Christian professing organizations because of the circumstances surrounding His conception and His birth. Who He was and who He is was announced before He was even conceived:

Luk 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

…By John The Baptist

John the baptist was immensely popular before Christ came on the scene. The fact is, as John himself explained, John was sent by God to prepare the nation of Israel to hear from their own Messiah and Savior:

Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
Joh 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Joh 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Joh 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
Joh 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

…By His own disciples

Christ had make it abundantly clear to His own disciples who He was, and His disciples still know who He is:

Mat 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Peter was speaking for the other disciples when He made this confession:

Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

“The son of God [and] the King of Israel” were, and are, one and the same to Christ’s disciples as Nathaniel makes clear:

Joh 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Martha was one of Christ’s disciples, and she had no doubt who Christ was:

Joh 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

…By the Roman centurion and those with him

The Roman centurion who conducted and was the overseer of the crucifixion of Christ, did not doubt who Christ was:

Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

…The holy spirit makes clear who Christ is

At the beginning of Christ’s ministry we are told:

Mar 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

At Christ’s baptism by John:

Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And again at the mount of transfiguration:

Mat 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

…The spirit realm

The demonic spirit realm, which would have you and I to doubt who we are in Christ, has never had any doubt about who Christ was or who He is to this very day:

Mat 8:28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
Mat 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
Mar 3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

Christ’s doctrine is that He and His Father are one, and He says that we, in Him, are also one:

Joh 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

James reiterates this fact:

Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

So the scriptures make it very clear who Christ was. Our detractors would probably concede that the scriptures proclaim Christ to be the Son of God. The contention with the “flesh and bones” of Christ today (Eph 5:30), is that ‘Christ Himself never claimed to be a king or to be the Son of God, so we surely ought not to be making any such claims’. So let’s just take the time to put line upon line and precept upon precept and see who…

…Christ actually proclaimed Himself to be:

…To the man who was healed of being blind from his mother’s womb:

Here are Christ’s own words to that man about who He was, and who He still is:

Joh 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
Joh 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
Joh 9:37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
Joh 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

Do not let a lying spirit of doubt tell you that “Christ never claimed to be the Son of God”, because that is obviously a blatant lie.

…Before the multitudes

At the beginning of Christ’s ministry He charged all those He healed and all the devils He cast out of people not to tell others who He was. But toward the end of His ministry, Christ Himself confirmed that He was the Son of God as He taught the multitudes and as He spoke to His disciples. In doing this Christ not only proclaimed Himself to be the Son of God, He went so far as to separate Himself from the multitudes of “those Jews who believed on Him” and from the religious leaders of His day, who He informed directly to their faces that He was the Son of God, and they were “of [their] father the Devil”:

Joh 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son [of God] abideth ever.
Joh 8:36 If the Son [of God] therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Joh 8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Joh 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Joh 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
Joh 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Notice how Christ acknowledges the physical descent of the Jews, while at the very same time denying their spiritual position as the children of Abraham: “I know you are Abraham’s [physical] seed… if you were Abraham’s [spiritual] children, you would do the works of Abraham”.

As a side point, those who would teach us that we should never claim to be the elect sons of God will tell you that you are Christ’s “disciples indeed” as long as you simply ‘agree on the essentials of Christ’s words, show tolerance in the non essentials of Christ’s Words, and just show love in all things’. But that is actually the exact opposite of: ” If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”. That is, in fact, the very opposite of the Biblical doctrine which states, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”. What, pray tell, can be “non essentials of the doctrine of Christ” if, as the scriptures declare, we are to “live… by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”?

Here we have Christ proclaiming, “I proceeded forth and came from God… I speak that which I have seen with my Father.” Can Christ be any clearer in claiming to be the Son of God before the multitudes and before the religious leaders of His day?

…Before the chief priests and elders

Here is what Christ said of Himself before the chief priest and the elders of Israel, the religious leaders of His day:

Mat 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
Mat 26:60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
Mat 26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
Mat 26:62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
Mat 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Mat 26:65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
Mat 26:66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
Mat 26:67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

The Jewish leaders knew and understood that the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of Man and the Son of God were all one and the same person. Jesus knew the Jewish leaders were aware that He claimed to be the Son of God, and He agreed with them when they asked if He was indeed the Son of God. It was His affirming answer, “You have said”, which provoked them to declare, “He is guilty of death”, and the scriptures make that perfectly clear:

Mat 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

John chapter 5 clearly proclaims Christ’s position with His Father to the Jewish authorities:

Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Joh 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Joh 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
Joh 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
Joh 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Joh 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Did Christ claim to be Israel’s Messiah?

Here is Strong’s definition of the word Messiah:
H4899
משׁיח
mâshı̂yach
maw-shee’-akh

From H4886; anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically the Messiah: – anointed, Messiah.

The word ‘Messiah’ is not in the King James Version of the New Testament, but the Greek word ‘Christos’ (‘Christ’) is, and ‘Christos’ is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew ‘mashiyach’. Here is Strong’s definition of the Greek word ‘Christos’:
G5547
Χριστός
Christos
khris-tos’
From G5548; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: – Christ.

Is it true that Christ did not claim to be the messiah? Consider these verses:

Mat 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Mat 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Mat 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

“The Christ” is the Messiah, and Jesus had proclaimed publicly that He was the Messiah before He ever called His first disciple:

Luk 4:16 And [immediately after His baptism by John and His temptation in the wilderness] he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read.
Luk 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luk 4:20 And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Luk 4:21 And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears.

These words Christ read in the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth are taken from Isa 61:1-2. Everyone considered those words to be speaking exclusively of the Messiah of Israel. No one in that synagogue failed to understand that Christ had just proclaimed Himself to be Israel’s Messiah. That is why they asked this question:

Luk 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?

Peter proclaimed Jesus as the Christ:

Mar 8:29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

Martha proclaimed Christ to be the Messiah:

Joh 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

This is what Christ told Peter when Peter proclaimed Christ to be Israel’s messiah:
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Christ told Peter that His Father had shown Peter that Jesus was the ‘Christ’ the ‘Messiah’, the anointed of God.

It is spiritual blindness that tells us that Christ did not claim to be the Messiah, the Savior of Israel.

Christ Was Proclaimed To Be A King

…By the angels

Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Mat 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
Mat 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

…By the wise men

Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

The wise men certainly considered Christ to be “the king of the Jews”:

…By Christ Himself

Did He claim to be a king? This question is answered in the verse from which I have taken the title of this study:

Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

“I am a king, to this end was I born…” Yes, Christ claimed to be a king, and anyone who says otherwise simply does not know the Christ of the scriptures.

Matthew, who gives us Christ’s physical lineage from King David, records for us how Christ proclaimed Himself to be a king in so many of His parables:

Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

Christ calls Himself a king in all of these verses:

Mat 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

The scriptures, and even the people, proclaimed Christ to be a king at the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, just before the fickle multitudes who believed on Him decided they wanted Him crucified:

Mat 21:4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
Mat 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

It is only the spiritually blind who would ever tell you that Christ never claimed to be a king while He was here on this earth.

…By the holy spirit

As we have previously noted, the holy spirit confirmed to Christ who He was at the beginning of His ministry:

Mar 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
Mar 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
Mar 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

What does all of this have to do with us? Are we the sons of God? Are we Kings and priests?

So let’s “try this spirit” (1Jo 4:1) which confronts us and is always telling us we are being presumptuous, blasphemous and arrogant if we claim to be sons of God, His very elect, and kings and priests who will “judge the world”. Do we fear what men think of us or do we believe what the scriptures teach us about who we are in Christ? You and I are facing the very same trial Christ faced when He claimed to be the Son of God, while telling all those who claimed to be Abraham’s children that they were only Abraham’s children outwardly, and that outward pedigree means nothing more than dung to Christ and His Father. You and I must say the same things Christ had to say to those who believe . Things like:

Joh 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

If indeed you and I are “born of the spirit” then we have “proceeded and [are] come forth from God, neither came [of ourselves] but [have been] sent” by Christ to say and do the same things He did and said:

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Here is what it means to be send as Christ’s Father sent Him:

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

We are all called to follow in Christ’s steps. To fail to do so is to deny Him, and to be denied by Him.

Luk 12:9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

Is this a future state of being or are we not presently kings and priest? Kings rule over a kingdom, and priests teach others how to properly approach and worship God. This is not just a future state of being. We are all commanded to be ruling our own “kingdom of God… within [as] the sons of God” here and now in down payment form! Here is what the scriptures teach on this question:

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

When are “we… the sons of God”?

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Clearly, the scriptures teach that God’s elect are at this very moment to count themselves spiritually as “the sons of God… kings and priests” expecting that “the world knows us not, because it knew Him not”.

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

Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

It was interesting to discover that “shall be broken in shivers” is actually in the present tense in the Greek. If we are presently breaking to shivers the nations within us, we will be given power over those nations, and when that is done it will be manifested that it was all a work that God will have worked by His own sovereign will through bringing us into Himself and into His life from among the “dead [who] bury their dead”. It is all accomplished “by the resurrection from the dead… unto obedience of [His] faith” within His Christ who He Himself now calls “Jesus of Nazareth” (Act 22:8).

Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power [This includes the Christ of Christ, the “living sacrifice”], according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Rom 1:5 through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake;

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

These are not speaking only of the Christ who walked this earth two thousand years ago. These are words which apply to you and to me “through the faith of the operation of God” within those in whom that faith resides and in whom He and His Father have taken up residence.

As we have already demonstrated, we are “the house of God” and as “the house of God” we are, according to 1Pe 4:17, being judged at this very moment. Our concluding verse, which is also in chapter 4:17 of first John, summarizes everything we have learned here today:

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.