The Supremacy Of Christ: Now and Forever

This note is going to be about Christ’s Supremacy. That title alone of course could not even begin to describe my topic specifically, but the idea behind my note is most definitely about Christ’s Supremacy in His fulfillments of Old Testament types and shadows. This note is not meant to be an apologetical note, but it will also serve that purpose. This note is going to make clear reference to Christ’s Supremacy Now as he currently stands because of His work on Calvary and how that work was finished in his life, death, burial, and resurrection. That completed and fulfilling work is not a future eschatological occurrence that represents the climax of redemptive history, but Christ’s work at the cross which is the climax of redemptive history. Christology is the core and center of all Biblical sciences and the ground in which this note will stand is in opposition to other theological systems that deny such a Christology. It is NOT a small matter, nor is it one that is really debatable from Scripture, either you are for us or against us ( “us” being covenantal reformed) after reading this note, but the words of the Prophets, Christ, and the Apostles are clear.

The First part of my note will be broken into Four sections:
1. Christ is the Final Sacrifice for sin: Now and Forever.
2. Christ is our True Temple: Now and Forever.
3. Christ is our High Priest: Now and Forever.
4. Christ reigns as King: Now and Forever.

This note is already going to be huge, so I recognize the difficulty in attempting to put all of the Scriptures together that speak of this first part. Also there are many other fulfillments Christ has made (Prophet, Jerusalem, Land, Manna, etc) that I am not going to go into in this note, for the sake of length. My first part therefore, though being the most central, will probably be shorter than I would like.

1. Christ is the Final Sacrifice for Sin: Now and Forever:

“Heb 10:1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
Heb 10:2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?
Heb 10:3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
Heb 10:4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Heb 10:5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
Heb 10:6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
Heb 10:7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'"
Heb 10:8 When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law),
Heb 10:9 then he added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He does away with the first in order to establish the second.
Heb 10:10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

“1Co 5:7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”

What amazing Scriptures we have here, (like I said before they are only a drop in the bucket) These texts make a clear statement about Christ’s work on the Cross. He was a sacrifice that fulfilled the ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant era.

“Heb 10:1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.”

What is the true reality that fulfilled these shadows? Christ.

“Heb 10:8 When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law),
Heb 10:9 then he added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He does away with the first in order to establish the second.
Heb 10:10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Christ fulfilled these sacrifices which were only shadows or ‘ante-types’ that look forward to the work of Christ on the cross. God took no pleasure in burnt offerings or the shedding of the blood of bulls or lambs, rather all this was meant as a sign pointing forward to Christ; however, let me make clear to my Dispensational brothers an important point to ponder on. If we were to read the Old Testament Law with its institution of these ceremonial laws as a closed entity, would we have immediately thought of Christ? No of course not, but later I will show this is not limited to Christ’s sacrifice. The New Testament is of the better covenant (Hebrews 8) which is better revelation after Christ, which reinterprets the Old Testament’s law and prophecies. If we were to read the Old Testament’s Sacrificial laws as a closed entity we would be still immersed in Judaism believing that these sacrifices did something that Hebrews claims they NEVER did. Sacrifices NEVER cleansed us from sin, only regeneration by Grace through faith alone could do that whether it was like Abraham looking forward to Christ or Paul looking back.

“Joh 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

“1Co 5:7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”

Christ is our Passover lamb, He is our eternal sacrifice, no more do we have to offer up sacrifices to God which serve as shadow of the things to come. To even argue so is blasphemous against God. Its over, its finished. One of the biggest problems we face through dispensational thinking again is the idea that sacrifices will be one day be reinstituted in their “pre-millennial era.” The problem with a system that sees Jews (ethnical) as distinctly different from God’s redemptive plan for His people (non-ethnical) is seen clearly on the issue of Christ’s atoning work as a FULFILLMENT OF OT SACRIFICES!!! An accurate dispensational deduction would be that: “Well the Church does not have to offer up sacrifices, but in the premillennial kingdom, the Jews will have to offer up sacrifices because Ezekiel speaks of a reinstitution of such sacrifices.” I will delve into that later with a quote by a prominent dispensational theologian, but quickly in one section of Scripture I can say that we do offer up sacrifices, say what?! Look and see:

“Rom 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”


2. Christ is our True Temple: Now and Forever

In the next to points I am going to tie in what my first point was about with the concept of a temple and priesthood. These concepts are NOT disconnected from one another, if you remove one, you remove them all. If there are NO MORE sacrifices, then there can be no temple and priesthood either reinstituted in the future. Hopefully I will be able to make this abundantly clear in my next two points. First for this I must reveal their intertwining as concepts based on Old Testament Prophecy.
This can be done by reading restoration verses in Isaiah 2:2-4, Micah 4:1-5, Isaiah 56:4-8, and of course Isaiah 66:20-21 which discusses sin offering, the temple, and the priesthood being renewed and that sacrifices once again, according Zechariah 14:16-19, will one day be acceptable to the Lord God.

All of this prophecy created an image in the minds of the Jews when Christ came, but did Christ reassure them? Did Christ tell them what they were expecting when it came to fulfillment of these prophecies? Absolutely not, the Jews did not expect Christ!

Joh 2:17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
Joh 2:18 So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?"
Joh 2:19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
Joh 2:20 The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?"
Joh 2:21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
Joh 2:22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

“Heb 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”

I wonder what this could mean? could it be anymore clearer who the Temple is? Christ who died and rose on the third day is the Temple of God. Then through him we have all become temples of the Holy spirit, that Spirit once dwelt in the physical temple behind the veil in the holy of holies, but upon His crucifixion with the veil being torn in two, all those in Christ can now, though the holy spirit dwelling within them, come before God and His Glory through Christ our only mediator, the True Temple, our heavenly temple Now and Forever.

“2Co 6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

I wonder how anyone could ever say that the Jewish physical temple could ever be rebuilt, and how such a rebuilding could ever be considered honoring to God?! It has been torn down and rebuilt in Christ and his work on the cross. For His own Glory and For the benefit of all those who were to believe in Him for Eternal Life.


3. Christ is our High Priest: Now and Forever.

This will hopefully wrap up this entire first part of Christ’s fulfillment of the specific shadows and ante-types relating to His work on the cross as a sacrifice, His work as our mediator, and the worship of Him NOW by His own people based once again, on his work at the Cross.

Christ is our High Priest who fulfilled the flawed and completely inadequate levitical priesthood which was finite and flawed by sinful man. In this next point it must be made clear once again the New Testament will reinterpret the old in order for this doctrine and concept of Christ’s work as our mediator now and forever to make sense.

The only way one will truly understand the depth of the Priesthood of Christ would be to read all of Hebrews 7, but for sake of space I am not going to quote the entire chapter.


“Heb 7:21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'"
Heb 7:22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
Heb 7:23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,
Heb 7:24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.
Heb 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Heb 7:26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
Heb 7:27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
Heb 7:28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.”

Heb 9:24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
Heb 9:25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,
Heb 9:26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Heb 10:10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Heb 10:11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
Heb 10:12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,


After reading this I do not think there can be any doubt that Christ utterly and completely fulfilled what had been laid out in the Old Covenant. His authority is completely guaranteed. He was The Temple torn down and rebuilt in three days, the final sacrifice to end all the old covenant bloodshed, and the Priest that offered that sacrifice who now makes intercession on behalf of His people.

Now let me get to the Dispensational hope that lies in total contrast with this concept:

J Dwight Pentecost is a prominent dispensational author and theologian who’s works are highly circulated at Word of Life Bible Institute. In his own words he reveals the blasphemous position that is in TOTAL opposition to the texts of Scripture we just went through:

“The glorious vision of Ezekiel reveals that it is impossible to locate its fulfillment in any past temple or system which Israel has known, but it must await a future fulfillment after the second advent of Christ when the millennium is instituted The sacrificial system is not a reinstituted Judaism, but the establishment of a new order that has its purpose the remembrance of the work of Christ on which all salvation rests. The literal fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy will be the means of God’s glorification and man’s blessing in the millennium.”

A LITERAL fulfillment! How literal can a biblical interpretation be if it stands in contradiction to the idea that CHRIST is the fulfillment of sacrifices. When the Prophets speak of a restoration of the Temple, Sacrifices, and a Priesthood, they speak of Christ Himself! This of course also effects our view of the millennium which I will now get into:

4. Christ is our currently reigning King: Now and Forever.

The question really comes down to this, Is Christ’s Kingship as a fulfillment of the Davidic covenant occurring now, or is it yet to come?

“2Sa 7:12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
2Sa 7:13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
2Sa 7:14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,
2Sa 7:15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.
2Sa 7:16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'"

Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Psa 2:7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
Psa 2:8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
Psa 2:9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

This is the Prophecy of David’s Kingdom yet to come, but was it fulfilled in Christ completely in His life and death? You tell me after reading the following:

Luk 1:30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Luk 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
Luk 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
Luk 1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Act 2:29 "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Act 2:30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,
Act 2:31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
Act 2:32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
Act 2:33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
Act 2:34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand,
Act 2:35 until I make your enemies your footstool.'
Act 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

1 Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
1Co 15:24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
1Co 15:28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

How could anyone say that Christ did not totally fulfill the Davidic Covenant in his life, death, and resurrection? The Apostles themselves interpret it to be so, for Christ’s Kingdom has been ushered in, and is now in authority over all nations and peoples. Is there any doubt? What does Christ Himself say?

Mat 12:28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Mat 12:29 Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.

The Kingdom is upon us NOW! Christ Jesus reigns now and forever at the Right hand of God, after making his eternal sacrifice he sat down beside the Father and continue to make intercession for His people. Who are His people? Those who are Saved by Grace through Faith.

Mat 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

“Gal 3:6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?
Gal 3:7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
Gal 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed."


Did you not realize that the Power of the Gospel is the administration of the Kingdom, only with Satan currently being defeated and Christ reigning can the Gospel go forth out from the land of Canaan to the outermost parts of the Earth, it is the power of the Kingdom that causes this only with the Lordship of Christ and Defeat of Satan. Satan was defeated at Calvary and his kingdom rule was abolished so that the Kingdom of Christ would commence over the Gentile nations. In fact the preaching of the Gospel is made contingent on the fact that Christ is currently reigning as King.

Right after Peter speaks of Christ’s fulfillment of the Davidic covenant, he goes on:

Act 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
Act 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Act 2:39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

Did you catch that? 1st Christ is NOW King in fulfillment of the Davidic covenant, 2nd is the transition to the application = “BROTHERS, WHAT SHALL WE DO?” 3rd is the application based upon Christ’s Kingship= "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Act 2:39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

Brothers in Christ can it be anymore clearer? Christ is reigning now as King over this world which does not await some distant future millennium, Christ is King Now and Forever and this fact is integrally tied with the idea of Him being our Great High Priest, our Heavenly Jerusalem, our Temple, our Eternal Sacrifice for the our own sins, our prophet better than Moses, and our Promised land ALL because of His work on the Cross and ALL as a fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy.

The Commission to go out and make disciples of all nations and peoples is based strongly on the idea of Christ’s current kingship, the idea that we do not have to make sacrifices etc etc etc, all because of Christ’s complete victory at the cross!!! How can there be any doubt? How can a dispensationalist say that sacrifices will be reinstituted in any manner later on? How can a person say they seek to preach the gospel if they deny the current power of the kingdom which grants them authority to do so? If you do not acknowledge the current Kingship of Christ you cannot preach the gospel, if you deny His final sacrifice you speak blasphemy against His own flesh and blood, If you deny His one true people then you deny the power of His atoning grace, If you desire a rebuilt temple in a false future then you deny the destruction of his body and resurrection.

This is a serious matter brothers, do not be hasty in your responses. meditate on the things of God i have presented before you.