God's Word For You is a free Bible Study site committed to bringing you studies firmly grounded in the Bible – the Word of God. Holding a reformed, conservative, evangelical perspective this site affirms that God has provided in Jesus Christ his eternal Son, a way of salvation in which we can live in his presence guilt free, acquitted and at peace.

 
 

#46 JESUS CHRIST - AT GOD’S RIGHT HAND

In this meditation our focus is on the fact that Jesus Christ is seated at God’s right hand in a position of extreme power and authority. This ascension and glorification are just as essential a component of salvation as Christ’s death and resurrection.

Peter lists a sequence of events –

Jesus was put to death in the body [1Peter 3:18].

He was made alive by the Spirit [verse 18], (that is, his resurrection [verse 21]).

He has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand [verse 22].

Notice the significance of each of these events –

His death was a substitutionary death for our sins [3:18].

His resurrection is the essential validation of his saving death [3:21].

Angels, authorities and powers are in submission to him [3:22].

The death, resurrection and ascension of Christ together comprise our salvation.

His death is deemed our death [Romans 6:1-11; 2Corinthians 5:14].

His resurrection is deemed our resurrection [Ephesians 2:4,5; Colossians 3:1].

His position at the right hand of God is deemed our position [Ephesians 2:6].

The significance of the ascension of Christ and his present position at the right hand of God is further described by other New Testament writers:

His presence at the right hand of God is a permanent mediation/intercession for us that renders illegal and impotent any accusation and condemnation raised against us [Romans 8:33-34]. Our lives are now hidden with Christ in God [Colossians 3:1-3] so that those who believe in Christ are just as safe from God’s judgement, condemnation and rejection as Jesus Christ.

The fact that he is seated affirms that his substitutionary death and representative priesthood have been completely accomplished [Hebrews 8:1; 10:12; 12:2]. Not only did he die for us on the cross, but he also entered into the presence of God for us, with his atoning blood. Because of this, the throne of God is for those who believe in Christ always a throne of grace, never again a throne of judgement [Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-22].

The power of God by which Christ was raised, glorified and seated at God’s right hand is the same power that raised us up out of spiritual death and seated us at God’s right hand [Ephesians 1:18-2:7]. We did not save ourselves. We could not save ourselves. It took the same power of God to save us and bring us to God as it took to raise Jesus from the grave and reinstall him on his throne. Seated at the right hand of God, Christ is ‘far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in this present age but also in the one to come’ [Ephesians 1:21]. In this position, everything is under Christ’s feet and he is head over everything [Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 2:10].

‘God exalted him to the highest place and gave him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord’ [Philippians 2:9-11].

This exaltation and this authoritative position of Christ are expressed in Revelation, where we learn that the throne of God is also the throne of Jesus, the Lamb of God:

‘... I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne’ [3:21].

‘... the Lamb at the centre of the throne ...’ [7:17].

‘... the throne of God and of the Lamb ...’ [22:1].

Tucked away among all of these references to this glorious, exalted position of Jesus Christ are two amazing and overwhelming truths:

That those who believe in him are even now seated with him in the heavenly realms – already safe and secure in the presence of God [Ephesians 2:7].

And that those who believe in him will appear with him in glory when he returns [Colossians 3:4], and will sit with him on his throne [Revelation 3:21].

© Rosemary Bardsley 2018