All around us we see what sin does to our world. Nations wage war. Tribes and factions fight. Rivals clash. Homes break up. Children that play together later “grow up” to hate, despise and divide like their parents. Within each adult a civil war rages, and the bad desires often cast out the good. Confusion and strife tear individuals and societies apart. Think of what you personally see, then multiply that across the entire earth. Then add what fleshly eyes cannot see, the spiritual war in the heavenly realms.3
All these battles are the result of fallen leadership, whether human or satanic. Humans are the rightful rulers of earth.4 Their rule should bless creation and help it to fulfill the description, “It was very good” (Genesis 1:31). But sin ruins human rule. Sin, in effect, hands over control to Satan. Today’s newspaper reports of crime, conflict and cruel oppression might as well just say, “It was very bad.”
Now God gives the leadership to the new Human, Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice reverses the dividing effects of sin. God enthrones Him as the one Head under whom God can “bring all things in heaven and on earth together.” The Son reigns until He destroys all His enemies.5 Already, while His enemies yet rage, He does the greatest work of His reign: He transforms broken sinners and gathers them together as one loving family, “one body” (Ephesians 2:16; 3:6; 4:4,25; Colossians 3:15). This body’s members come from all nations,6 even the nations most hostile to each other.
1. Research subject – “One” in Ephesians: 2:14,15,16,18; 4:4-6,25; 5:31 cf. 1:10; 2:19-22; 3:6; 3:3,13
2. Ephesians 1:10 literally says, to head up all things in Christ.
3. Ephesians 6:12; 2:2; Revelation 12:7-17
4. Genesis 1:26,28; Psalm 8:4-6
5. Research subject – Christ reigns among enemies: 1 Corinthians 15:25-26; Revelation 20:10-15; 21:8,27; Psalm 2:1-12 with Acts 4:25-28; Psalm 110:1-2 with Acts 2:34-36
6. Matthew 28:18-19; Revelation 5:9; 7:9 cf. Isaiah 2:1-4; 11:1-10
Picture: Sculptured stone blocks in Ephesus show warriors (probably gladiators) with swords drawn in combat. Violent conflict began with the coming of sin, and has continued ever since.