RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-04-12	What Does It Mean, 'God May Be All In All' (1Co.15:28)
		1Co 15:25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 1Co 15:26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 1Co 15:27 For "HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 1Co 15:28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. The phrase, “God may be all in all” is rooted in the fact of the resurrection of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15 opens with a discussion of the gospel message. Specifically, that Jesus died, was buried, rose again from the dead, and was seen by many witnesses (v.1-11). Some Corinthians claimed the resurrection of Jesus was not true (v.12). Paul responds by expressing how critical the resurrection really is. Our holy life now and our future glorification are based on the reality of Jesus' resurrection. Without the resurrection of Christ, the Christian is, “we are of all men the most pitiable” (v.19). Paul begins a clear defense of the resurrection of Christ (v.20). The resurrection of Christ leads to a resurrection for all believers. Jesus was the first man to be resurrected from the dead, never to die again (v.20, “firstfruits”). Believers who have died before Jesus comes again will be resurrected when He comes (v.23). Those still alive when He comes will be made incorruptible in an instant (v.50-58). After Jesus comes again, He will bind Satan and set up an earthly kingdom (Re.20:1-6). After the kingdom on earth, Satan will be temporarily released and will deceive some people (Re.20:5-10). The rebels will be destroyed, and Satan is then cast permanently into the lake of fire (Re.20:10). At this time Jesus will give authority back to the Father. The Son will be in subjection to the Father. It is this event of giving authority back to the Father that Paul makes his statement, “God may be all in all.” Ultimately, all in all is an expression of the rightful authority that God the Father possesses. In the future, when evil has been eradicated forever, God will reign as the unchallenged Supreme over all the universe. When God is all in all, our redemption will be fully accomplished, and God’s glory will fill all creation (Ps.72:19). God has always had complete authority over His creation. Yet, in this present world, His rule is not as evident due to the presence of His enemies. One day, all of God’s enemies will be vanquished. Not even death can last (v.26). Ontologically, Jesus is equal with God as the Second Person of the Trinity (Jn.8:58). Just as God has absolute authority as Creator, Jesus has absolute authority as Creator (Cl.1:15-16; 3:11). Paul is giving us the implications of God being all in all. Those who are to be resurrected need to lead holy lives, fulfilling the purpose of bringing God glory. In light of this future, let us obey Jesus, stop sinning, and enjoy the grace of God (v.32-34). Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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