Christ Wins Down Here: A Theology of Hope
Our current media landscape, especially social media, lures us into constant discontentment and despair. Bad news sells. We live in strange and tumultuous times. Darkness and evil appear so strong and seem to be advancing. This has led to no shortage of Christians panicking. Such panic is expressed in everything from online comments to people picking up and moving across the country to a start-up commune in an effort to hide. Many of us feel a temptation toward giving up. The challenges of life and ministry in our day are many, but we cannot let them blot out the hope found in Scripture.
This malaise is prominent across American evangelicalism. The words of John MacArthur summarize it well: “We lose down here.” While I am very grateful for the life and ministry of MacArthur, here I believe he not only errs, but such thinking only furthers this culture of despair.
I’ve pastored for over a decade, teaching the Bible in various settings, often multiple times a week. The more I teach Scripture, the more hope-filled I become. The story of Scripture is that Christ has conquered, is conquering, and will conquer all things. Shockingly, his main appointed way of conquering (in this age) is the church.
History bears out this reality, as the church, despite facing opposition in many and menacing forms, has not only survived, but continues to overcome and spread. This shouldn’t shock us because the message of Scripture is that Christ wins, not just in heaven, but everywhere (Col. 1:20; Eph. 1:10, 20–23).
Currently, I’m teaching through Ephesians. The book is full of hope and the promise of victory. God’s sovereignty over our salvation, his eternal plan to unite all things in Christ, Christ’s uniting of Jew and Gentile in the church, the surpassing riches of God’s power and love, and Christ’s conquering and giving of gifts to the church all mark the first four chapters of this book. The message is clear: God has a plan and he will ensure its success. Consider Ephesians 1:20–23. Paul writes:
that 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 rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Christ currently possesses all authority in this age and the one to come, and he is enthroned above all things in heaven. This is not some escapist message that Christ rules “up there” detached from his people “down here.” No, Christ is the head over all things “to the church.” All his authority, power, and glory are directed to the good of the church in order that all things might be filled with the knowledge of Christ.
It gets better. Believers, as they are united to Christ, are likewise seated with him in heaven (Eph. 2:6). This Christ has taken captives, and he gives gifts to the church to ensure its success over the hordes of Hell (Eph. 4:7–10; Matt. 16:18). By his strength, and through his people, Christ wins down here. This is his world. He bought it with his own blood, and thus all things shall be reconciled to him (Col. 1:20). No power can prevent this from happening.
Examples in Scripture of the good news of God’s power through Christ and how this guarantees victory are too many to mention. Now, some will read this and think, “Levi, you sound like you’ve converted to post-millennialism.” No. It is true that far too many pre-millennialists are pessimistic, but they shouldn’t be. No matter when you think Christ will return, every Christian must affirm that his return is one of victory and that this return means that all things (including down here) will be made new (Rev. 21:5). Jesus defeated death, he is (through his church) conquering this world, and he will finally remake the whole of creation. In short, Jesus wins down here.
Christianity is inherently an optimistic religion. No matter our eschatological views, we must never forget that. Of course, Christ’s conquering does not mean we will not face opposition, nor does it mean that we will “win” every battle.
For example, the West may fall into complete and utter apostasy, your church may shutter its doors, and we may not live to see revival. The Bible is not Pollyanna in its view of the real threats we face. Rather, it calls us to face these trials with courageous faithfulness.
Even more than that, it calls us to do so with a fixed hope, knowing that nothing we do is in vain because Christ has, is, and will conquer (1 Cor. 15:58). Even our apparent defeats are part of God’s plan to unite all things in Christ.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, put your phones down, stop doom scrolling, and remember that Christ is greater than all the challenges we face. Remember that the power of the gospel shatters the darkness of this age. Be resolute and hope-filled because Christ has risen, he has ascended, he is reigning, and he will return to set all things to right. Until then, know that he gives good gifts to his people to guarantee that this world, and all the elect, shall be his. Christ wins down here, and because he does, so do his people.
