Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:20-23)

The Right Hand Of God

There is no authority greater than what is possessed by God the Father, Creator of all things. He rules over the universe, and all things are subjugated to His word. Jesus acknowledged His words came from the Father, and everything He spoke was the will of the Father. The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles through the will of the Father. John describes the brilliance of the throne in the eternal as filled by One who sat upon the throne with the creatures surrounding the throne giving glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne. They call Him “Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.” Everything known to man in the universe comes from the throne of the Almighty, who rules above all humanity.

As the One who sits upon the throne as sole occupant, the Lord God exercises His authority according to His will. When Jesus offered Himself as an offering for the sin of all men, God raised Him from the dead and seated the Lord Jesus Christ on His right hand. To be raised to the right hand was significant of favor, trust, and power. Jesus lived a perfect life and died to bring men back to the Father. His love, humility, and devotion to His Father were rewarded with all authority both in heaven and earth. This authority comes from sitting at the right hand of God. Jesus was received up into heaven forty days after the resurrection and sat down at the right hand of God. He was exalted to a place of complete authority. Stephen, the martyred saint of God, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

There is no authority on earth greater than Jesus. He died, arose, and sits at the right hand of God, making intercession for mankind. The Christian lives his life with the rule of Christ as He who sits at the right hand of God. All authority was given to Christ when He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever. Jesus has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. Ruling at the right hand of God shows His preeminence, dominion, and power. There is no greater authority in the church than the head, Jesus Christ. His rule is one of a groom adorned for His bride cherishing her with the loving grace given to Him by His Father. As the church submits to Christ, they recognize He sits at the right hand of God. All authority in the church comes from Jesus Christ.

Sitting at the right hand of God shows the relationship of Christ with the church. He dominates by the authority granted Him by the Father. Everything flows from that headship as one who sits at the right hand of God. Members of the body are subject to all things under the headship of Christ. There is never a question of what a man must do to be saved. The word of Christ establishes the will of the Father. Jesus told His disciples when a man believes and is baptized, he will be saved. If a man refuses to believe, he will be lost. The authority of salvation comes from the mouth of Jesus, as one who sits at the right hand of God. To dismiss baptism as nonessential is to deny that Jesus is at the right hand of the Lord God. Denying the teaching of Jesus is rejecting the authority given to Him by the Father. All the Lord’s commands rest upon the authority of the One who sits at the right hand of God.

Jesus will relinquish the authority given to Him when all things are completed, and He Himself will be subject to the Father. Until that time, Jesus Christ rules at the right hand of God with all the authority granted Him by His Father. When men deny the teaching of Jesus, they deny His authority. Rejecting the authority of Jesus is to deny God. Accepting the rule of Christ is to follow the will of the Father and to be found pleasing in His sight. Sitting at the right hand of God impresses upon all men to listen to Jesus Christ as One who has all authority. Thank God for He who sits at His right hand.