Our Reign with Christ

Paul gives us in 1 Corinthians 15 one of the lengthiest discourses on the resurrection of Christ and our resurrection found in Scripture. In expounding this eschatological doctrine, the Apostle tells us that “just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (v. 49). For believers, our bearing the likeness of Adam in his sin and frailty will not last forever. At the last day, when we are raised from the dead, we will bear the likeness of the glorified Jesus Christ, our flesh no longer corruptible. We will be like the God-man in every way possible for those who are mere men.

In Scripture, part of what it means for human beings to bear the image of someone else involves our acting in some ways like that person. So, for example, our being made in God’s image means that like our Creator, we communicate with words, exercise dominion, create things, and so forth (Gen. 1:26–28). Therefore, as Jesus reigns over all as the incarnate Lord (1 Cor. 15:25), we are also promised a share in His reign because in our resurrection we will bear His glorified image. Today’s passage tells us as much. All those who persevere, enduring in service to Christ through trials and tribulations and dying in faith, will reign alongside Him (2 Tim. 2:12).

Our consummated existence in the new heaven and earth will be marked not only by freedom from pain and death and the vision of God Himself but also by our sharing in Jesus’ rule over creation. In fact, this has already begun in a positional sense, for we are seated with Jesus in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6), enjoying a title to reign over all, as it were, even if in our experience before death no one recognizes our right to rule. We enter a new stage of this reign and begin its exercise when we die and pass into the intermediate state of heaven (Rev. 20:4). At the resurrection, we will enjoy the fullness of this co-reign with Jesus over all.

As with other aspects of the consummate state of creation, Scripture does not tell us everything about what this reign will look like. Because it is a reign, we know that it will involve our exercising some kind of authority over creation. Perhaps we will receive charge over cities, if the parable of the ten minas is to be read literally (Luke 19:11–27). We do know that we will judge angels (1 Cor. 6:3). Whatever the extent of our rule will be, it is an amazing sign of the grace, mercy, and love of God that He will grant us a part in it.