The Two Administrations of Jesus Christ
By William Handschumacher
Rock of Offence Special Commentary
Respecting Biblical Context:
Christ's Two Administrative
Roles in the Bible
Once again, Jesus operated in two different roles (or Administrations) separated by the cross, which must never be mixed together or treated as being interchangeable.
His first role is "The Messiah
of the House of Israel"
And...
His second role is "The Lord
and Head of the Church",
which did not begin until
after His crucifixion,
resurrection, ascension and
the coming of the Holy Spirit
on the day of Pentecost. These
events had to happen first
before the New Covenant of
Christ could begin its
spiritual government.
"For the husband is head
of the wife, as also
Christ is the Head of the
Church; and He is the
Savior of the body.
"
(Ephesians 5:23)
During the Last Supper, shortly
before the cross, Jesus said...
"This cup is the New Covenant
in My blood, which is shed
for you."
(Luke 22:20)
The words Jesus spoke before the
cross as Israel's Messiah (His
first role) fall into three
different categories:
FIRST:
Specific intructions and commandments
that govern how salvation is obtained,
which were only directed at the House
of Israel.
SECOND:
Universal truths and instructions
intended for everyone
THIRD:
Prophecy concerning future events
intended to be studied and under-
stood by everyone.
Jesus taught 'universal truths' and spoke about future events (known as Bible prophecy) ... which are things every Christian should study. But, contrary to popular church teaching, much of what Jesus taught during His earthly ministry about how salvation is obtained and kept, was directed only at Israel as their Messiah (as stated in Christ's original mandate). As a result, these teachings were governed by the religious tenants of the Old Covenant (also referred to in Hebrews chapter 8 as "the first covenant") ... where "keeping the Commandments of the Law" was a requirement to obtain salvation. It is important to remember that the Old [or first] Covenant (also known as the Mosaic Law) continued to govern until the crucifixion of Christ, and remained in force during His entire earthly ministry.
"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, BORN UNDER THE LAW, to redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4-5)
But, following His crucifixion, resurrection, ascension--and the day of Pentecost, the Old [or first] Covenant - also known as the Mosaic Law - WAS OFFICIALLY CONSIDERED BY GOD TO BE "TOTALLY FULFILLED AND NOW OBSOLETE" ... AND WAS "TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY AND NAILED TO THE CROSS" (SEE HEBREWS 8:6-13 AND COLOSSIANS 2:13-14). In the Law's place, God sent His Holy Spirit to indwell all true belieivers. The Holy Spirit is the embodiment of everything the old written Law represented ... except for its condemnation. This Divine act of "taking the Law out of the way" allowed the New [or second] covenant of Christ to begin its Grace-based spiritual government.
All of these things represent a crucial Biblical truth - because the New [or second] Covenant radically changed many of the Old [or first] Covenant's rules and tenants concerning righteousness and salvation ... which Jesus previously taught during His earthly ministry as Israel's Messiah. This is why the second covenant (or New Covenant of Christ) is said to be established on "better promises" (See Hebrews 8:6-7).
What most Christians fail to
respect is that Jesus continued
to speak from heaven after his
death, resurrection and
ascension. This required an
earthly human vessel to
communicate His words so that
they could be understood by the
masses. God chose the Apostle
Paul for this mission.
The following Scriptures
speak about these changes:
"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES, HAVING WIPED OUT THE HANDWRITING OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WAS AGAINST US (OLD TESTAMENT LAW), WHICH WAS CONTRARY TO US. AND HE (JESUS) HAS TAKEN IT OUT OF THE WAY, HAVING NAILED IT TO THE CROSS." (COLOSSIANS 2:13-14)
"But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as HE (JESUS) IS ALSO MEDIATOR OF A BETTER COVENANT, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED ON BETTER PROMISES. FOR IF THAT FIRST COVENANT HAD BEEN FAULTLESS, THEN NO PLACE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOUGHT FOR A SECOND." (HEBREWS 8:6-7)
"IN THAT HE (JESUS CHRIST) SAYS, "A NEW COVENANT," HE HAS MADE THE FIRST OBSOLETE. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8:13)
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