Useful Bible Studies > Philippians Commentary > chapter 2
Only in the present age can people and evil spirits join with the devil to oppose Christ’s rule. Every effort to stand against Christ will certainly fail (Psalm 2; Psalm 110). Christ will defeat all his enemies (Revelation 19:11-21) and he will be the judge of all (Revelation 20:11-15). No enemy can ever escape his power (1 Corinthians 15:25-26). Christ’s rule will never end (Luke 1:33).
Christ created everything that exists (John 1:3); and all things exist for his purposes. Therefore, everything that he created must give him honour. His authority is over all things (Ephesians 1:20-21).
Christ already has authority over all things, even in the present age (Matthew 28:18; Romans 8:28). He uses even the evil acts of his enemies to carry out his own good purposes (Romans 9:17-18). In other words, they intend to do evil things; but God uses the situation to bring about what is good (compare Genesis 50:20). Even people’s wrong and evil acts prove that God is always right and good (Romans 3:3-5).
In the future age, when Christ’s rule is complete, neither people nor devils will be able to carry out evil acts (Revelation 21:8). So, God’s people will be free from all their pain and troubles (Revelation 21:1-5).
In that age, all who love Christ will join to praise him with the greatest joy. However, those who opposed Christ must also accept his rule, and his authority over them. So they too will declare that Jesus rules over them. They too must give him the honour that he alone deserves.
Next part: Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:11)
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© 2020, Keith Simons.