EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW

PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The name which is above every name is that Jesus Christ is Lord.  The word for “Lord” here is a name for God, “Adonai,” which implies His sovereignty, His right to rule as God; and acknowledges, as a Sovereign, that He has that right.  It is an acknowledgment to the truth for it takes the form of a confession. (verse 11)

Note the language, “God hath,” He already has given Him the name.  It is yet to be acknowledged by all, but they all will.  “Things,” which means beings in Heaven, in earth, under the earth, will do so, some gladly, some grudgingly.  Angels will do so gladly to the Glory of God the Father, men who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior will also gladly do so. 

Those who are redeemed do so today in a measure.  Our voice may be very weak in the earth, but it will gain momentum on that day when “every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess.”  We need to be challenged to let our voices be heard more often and more emphatically now. 

“Those under the earth,” demons will acknowledge it.  Many did so while Jesus walked among men.  Demons are not atheists.  Satan deceives men into becoming atheists, but neither he nor his demons are.  They “believe and tremble.”

It will be so with Christ rejecters also.  They who have refused to honor Him, will do so, but not so gladly.  It will be a verbal confession of the truth as well as the bowing of the knee in reverence.  To confess means to acknowledge the truth, whether it is done so with thanksgiving or just to acknowledge it as a fact.  This is used eleven times in scripture.  Once by Judas when he agreed to betray the Lord.  An agreement must be reached and acknowledged in the heart, not just saying something, but giving it full agreement in the heart and soul. 

We need to do now what we will do on that future day.  We need to do it daily and often each day of our lives.

In His Amazing Grace,

Pastor Ed Bowen