◄ What Does Hebrews 2:8 Mean? ►

Man was commissioned to be God's representative on earth and to carry out His plan to fill the earth and subdue it. But Adam sinned, placing himself and the whole human race in bondage to sin and enslaved by Satan. Before God's plan for the earth could be completed, fallen man had to be redeemed through the sacrificial death and life-giving Resurrection of His only begotten Son. And so it was through Jesus Christ, the eternal Son and perfect Man, that God spoke His full and final message to humanity.

It was by means of Christ's sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection that He became preeminent among man. Jesus was the first-born from the dead; uniquely resurrected with a glorified body, in Whom was eternal light and everlasting life for all who would believe on His name. As such, Jesus became the federal head of a new creation of man, with the right and authority to represent everyone who would trust in Him for salvation.

Jesus was God's full and final message to mankind, and He authenticated His message through various signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts so that we might KNOW that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. The purpose of Christ's miraculous signs was to confirm that He was God's full and final message to humanity and man's only hope of salvation.

From the beginning, Scripture spoke of God's redemptive plan for mankind, which could only be achieved in and through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. And having carried out God's plan of redemption and completed His redemptive work, Jesus was crowned with glory and honour. He was given a name that is above every name. He was set over all the work of God's hands, and God has put all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, in subjection under His feet.

Having redeemed mankind, God's original purpose for the human race was also to be completed until Christ is all in all. Although Christ's finished work at Calvary accomplished all that was required to complete God's redemptive plan for mankind, the original work God had ordained for man must also be carried out. Man was made in God's image to be His regent over the whole earth. Once man's redemption had been secured, he was once again to take up his original position as God's representative on earth. Man had been given the directive to fill the earth and subdue it; to have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the face of the earth. Though God's original plan could not be completed through Adam, it is a plan that will be finally fulfilled through Christ.

Until God's original plan for mankind is finally fulfilled, we will not yet see all things subjected to Christ. It is only when God's original plan and purpose for humanity is completed that everything will fully and finally be subjected to Him. Because man fell, before he could complete God's original plan to have dominion over the earth, it was necessary for man to be redeemed first, which happened 2000 years ago on a wooden cross.

Human history is not in the grip of chance, but is established by the hands of Him who was pierced for us on Calvary, and the day is coming when Christ Himself will return to rule the earth as God's personal representative to complete God's original plan for humanity.

He will smash the rule of fallen man who is currently under Satan's authority and will rule the earth with a rod of iron as King above all kings and Lord of lords. As God's representative on earth the Lord Jesus will rule the world with equity and righteousness, and He will finally bring all things in subjection under His feet.

The day is coming when God's perfect plan for mankind will finally be achieved through a new creation where Christ is the Head, and the earth will be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea. But until that day we do not yet see all things subjected to Him.

Heavenly Father, I am amazed at Your wonderful plan and purpose for mankind and that in Christ, You will fully and finally bring to fruition Your original plan and purpose for us. Thank You that I have been redeemed by faith, have become a new creation in Christ, and am destined to be part of the perfect plan. In Jesus' name, AMEN.