“All things” are to be eternally subjected to the Son! This eternal supremacy of the Son in subjection to Him “who put all things in subjection to Him” is beautifully shown in 1 Corinthians 15:28. It could hardly be called a new supremacy, for Colossians 1 shows that “all things” were “by” as well as “for” the Son of the Father’s love. Nevertheless it is His in a new way, for, having glorified God as Man on earth, He is thus glorified in God on high. No one had seen God at any time till “the only-begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father” declared Him here below (John 1:18). The subjection of all things to the Son, and Himself also placed in subjection to Him who “put all things in subjection to Him” is the divinely glorious way taken “that God may be all in all.” This is the result of eternal counsels and Godhead love and wisdom, wrought out in grace and power and righteousness, for the eternal blessedness of men and God’s glory and infinite satisfaction for ever.
Satan the tempter sought to destroy the work of the Son of the Father’s love, and to degrade man,—the highest of the Son’s creation—made in God’s image and likeness. With deception and violence, with lying and destruction of life, he has pursued his evil way ever since against the Son and His works of grace and glory. But through the death of the cross the Son has become the gathering centre for men, and by His work of power from the throne, He victoriously brings man in Himself to higher glory than creation gave him, and He brings a holy God blessedly into His own creation, “that God may be all in all.” Mark, not “all” only but “in all.”
How eloquently then does baptism even now speak of “THE NAME” (singular) “of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19), for so it reads. Baptism is to “the Name.” That gives weight to the word in the 3rd Epistle of John where those who honour the Name are specially spoken of.
The specially selected signs given in John’s Gospel are that “we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing we might have life through His Name” (20:31); while what is written in his first Epistle is that we may know that we have “eternal life who believe on the Name of the Son of God” (5:13).
It is said of Him as the Christ, He came of the Old Testament fathers according to “flesh” (Rom. 9:5); but divinely He is “over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” What wondrous grace we behold in the way He came down! What glorious greatness and majesty we behold in His supremacy! What holy rejoicing and loving devotedness become believers whose faith embraces such a Saviour!
Through His first appearing, life and incorruptibility were brought to light (2 Tim. 1:10), His second appearing will show “the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us” (Titus 2:13). First “the kindness and love to man of our Saviour God appeared” (Titus 3:4); second, the Son’s great glory and kingdom, majesty and dominion will appear.
We read of those who “love His appearing”; and what good reason His loved ones have so to do!
It is said “as to the Son, Thy throne, O God, is to the age of the age” (Heb. 1:8). The Holy Spirit records concerning the Son, “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things (to be) in His hand. He that believes on the Son has life eternal and he that is not subject to the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:35-36, N.Tr.) The Father has given all judgment to the Son; that all may honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He who honours not the Son, honours not the Father who has sent Him (5:22-23).