My fellow Christian,

Christians are often taught by well-meaning ministers that we will all rule with Christ in the next life. However sincerely spoken, this is a false, unbiblical assumption. Shocked?

Let me explain. It is true—blessedly true!—that all Christians will enjoy the awesome wonders of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. And even more, the amazing wonders of the new heavens and earth, and the glorious eternal city Christ has prepared for us, New Jerusalem. But all Christians will not rule and reign. Many will rule with Christ and many others will be subject to their authority. Why the difference in kingdom status?

Conditions for Ruling With Christ

God's inviolable Word places distinct conditions on His gracious offer of co-rulership. If any believer desires to assist Christ in ruling His kingdom, he must meet one or more of the following biblical conditions:

• FAITHFULNESS in our present responsibilities and positions of authority, large or small (Matt. 25:21, 23; Lk. 19:16-19)

• FAITHFULNESS in ministry or leadership during a season when other ministers or leaders turn away from God to unfaithfulness and / or idolatry (Ezek. 44:9-16)

• FOLLOWING Christ wholly, all the way through life (Num. 14:24; Matt. 19:28; Lk. 22:28-30), rather than following Him afar off (Lk. 22:54), or going back (Jn. 6:66)

• SUFFERING WELL for Christ's sake (2 Tim. 2:12), maintaining fellowship with Him, through trust, thanksgiving, and praise, rather than rebellion, self-pity, and denial

• OVERCOMING long tests in persevering, enduring faith (Gen. 41:14, 37-41; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:10, 12, 21)

• SERVING God's present will for, calling on, and gifting in our life in a very humble day of small things (Lk. 14:10-11; 18:14; Matt. 23:12; 1 Pet. 5:6; Rev. 22:3-5)

• SEEKING NOT to be served by God’s people but, forsaking all ambition for higher office, serving, feeding, and ministering to them (Matt. 20:28; Mk. 10:43-45; Jn. 13:12-17; 21:15-17; 1 Pet. 5:1-6)

• SACRIFICIAL or UNCOMPROMISING obedience, or obeying God’s call to biblical righteousness or holiness when it costs us dearly (Exod. 32:25-29; Deut. 33:8-10; Est. 2:1-6; 10:3; Dan. 3:16-18, 30)

• OBEYING Christ's direct and delegated authority, for only if we live under authority will we be placed in authority (Est. 2:17, 20; Matt. 8:9; Rom. 13:1-7)

• MARTYRDOM for Christ's sake (Matt. 20:21-22; Rev. 20:4-6)

Whether familiar or new to us, these are the timeless, enduring conditions God’s Word attaches to rulership. They are all promises or principles that qualify any Christian of any era, nation, culture, or socioeconomic status to receive the immense privilege of being appointed by the King of kings to a position of authority in His kingdom. And there is more.

Two Fundamental Biblical Principles

Each of these conditions are based upon two monumental biblical principles:

1. “Those who honor me, I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed” (1 Sam. 2:30, NKJV), or “considered insignificant” (GW), or “disdained” (NIV).

2. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Gal. 6:7-8); or, “You will always harvest what you plant” (6:7, NLT).

These key scriptures are played out time and again on every page of our Bible, Old Testament and New. They are also being fulfilled every day all around us, though we often fail to discern their fulfillments. Why are they so universal and ubiquitous? They reflect God’s very nature, which is unchanging. Why then should we expect God to act differently in the coming Millennial age and eternal world? He will not because He cannot. Why? To do so, He would have to change His very nature and characteristic ways and acts. And He has made it clear that will never happen: "I am the Lord, I change not" (Malachi 3:6).

So, let it be known now, and shouted loudly throughout every Christian assembly, if we do not honor God in our life in this world, we should not expect Him to honor us with leadership in the next. And if we sow to the flesh instead of to the Spirit in this world, we should not expect to reap a harvest of the Spirit, specifically the privilege of ruling with Christ, in the next. And one more thing.

In Galatians 6:7-8, “flesh” refers primarily to our old sin nature, or self-life. Thus, it refers to more than Christians turning aside to the grosser sins of immorality cited earlier by Paul (Galatians 5:19-21). A "flesh" life is more broadly one that simply chooses to live a self-ruled, self-led, self-serving life modeled after this world’s ways and ends which, sadly, many Christians do. Put differently, living after the "flesh" is simply not seeking to grow and become spiritual, or spiritually minded, spiritually motivated, and Spirit-led (Rom. 8:14).

More Biblical Evidence

The pastoral epistles offer more evidence. They place clear conditions on who may and may not assume positions of leadership in our churches. Even a superficial reading of these passages (1 Tim. 3:1-13, 17, 22; Titus 1:5-10; 1 Pet. 5:1-6) makes it unmistakably clear that God does not arbitrarily appoint Christians to positions of authority in this present age. They must qualify for them. And if so in this life, how much more in the next?

A Personal Appeal

Please do not reject this message out of hand. Rather, take time to prayerfully ponder it. Grasp the clear distinction between being in the kingdom, safe and saved by God's grace alone, and partaking of the general "inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Pet. 1:4) . . . and, additionally, receiving the reward of ruling in the kingdom under Christ. The former is the wonderful benefit of salvation received by all Christians; the latter is an enviable honor received not by God's grace but by our works, or personal life decisions and acts of cooperation with God’s grace. Our rewards will be given immediately after the rapture of the church at the Judgment Seat of Christ, in accord with the inspired teaching of the apostle Paul (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 22:12).

And may I add, not for controversy - as I don't care to try to prove myself right or wrong - but for clarification: if you find a New Testament text promising us that we will rule and reign with Christ solely because we are Christians, by all means, share it.

I am well aware of Paul's prophecy that "the saints shall judge the world" and "we shall judge angels" (1 Cor. 6:2, 3). But, again, the context (1 Corinthians) plainly and repeatedly shows Paul correcting all kinds of sin and folly among the Corinthians. So, I believe any reasonable assessment would conclude Paul was assuming they (and we) would respond to, not reject, his apostolic corrections. If so, they would subsequently live humble, faithful, God-honoring lives under Christ's authority and thus be fit to be seated in His authority.

If you feel disillusioned by this message, let me encourage you. Disillusionment is a good thing. It means having one’s illusions, or false views, exposed and dashed, so one can return to a sober, accurate view of things.

Aren’t you glad, then, that you have discovered the truth about kingdom rulership now, while you are alive and can do something about it? Surely, this is infinitely better than discovering it when you stand before Christ’s Judgment Seat, ready to give account of your life.

So, from this day forward, may you so walk with Christ that you qualify for kingdom leadership. And help many others do so!

For the King, and kingdom,

Dr. Greg Hinnant

GREG HINNANT MINISTRIES