Austin Bible Church
The resurrected Jesus Christ is now seated at the right hand of God the Father in the third heaven. He is in session in the place of honor in the throne room of God. He will remain there until the Rapture of the Church.
In Hebrews 1:13-14, “to which of the angels has He ever said,” means that no angel has ever been asked by God the Father to sit in the place of highest honor, His right hand. “Sit” is the present active imperative of κάθημαι (kathēmai) and refers to Jesus Christ and means You, Jesus Christ sit down and keep on sitting. “At My right hand” is the place of highest honor. “Until I make” is the aorist tense, at a point of time, at the Second Advent. “Your enemies” refers to the fallen angels of Matthew 5:35. “A footstool for your feet” is an idiom for conquest.
"But to which of the angels has He ever said, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET"? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:13-14, NASB)
"or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING." (Matthew 5:35, NASB)
No humanity was in heaven before the humanity of Jesus Christ. John 3:13.
““No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.” (John 3:13, NASB)
The issue was the acceptability of the resurrected humanity of Christ in hypostatic union to God the Father. The Lord Jesus Christ has the exact same divine essence as the other two members of the Trinity. His deity holds the universe together with the word of His power while His humanity was paying the penalty for all of our sins on the Cross.
God the Father accepted Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ’s humanity had the exact same absolute righteousness (+R). Therefore, God the Father told the resurrected Jesus Christ to sit at His right hand - the place of honor. Heb. 1:13; Heb. 12:1-2; Heb. 1:3.
“But to which of the angels has He ever said, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET”?” (Hebrews 1:13, NASB)
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2, NASB)
“And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” (Hebrews 1:3, NASB)
His acceptability indicated the completion of Christ’s work of salvation during His incarnation. Heb. 10:11-12.
“Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,” (Hebrews 10:11-12, NASB)
His acceptability indicated that humanity of Jesus Christ in hypostatic union had satisfied the righteousness of God the Father. Perfect and absolute righteousness (+R) demanded equally perfect and absolute righteousness. Rom. 3:23.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23, NASB)
His acceptability indicated that the work of Jesus Christ satisfied the justice of God the Father. Justice demanded a penalty for sin. Rom. 6:23.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NASB)
The acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ in hypostatic union meant the acceptance of His sacrifice. The acceptance of His sacrifice meant the acceptance of all those who seek entrance to the presence of the Father through faith in Jesus Christ. Through His redemptive work, His ascension and session, the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished bringing many sons into glory. Heb. 2:9-10.
“But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:9-10, NASB)
Because the God-man was accepted, every believer is also accepted by the Father. Eph. 1:6.
“to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6, NASB)
Because the God-man is seated, every believer is seated positionally, at the right hand of the Father. Eph. 2:6.
“and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 2:6, NASB)
The humanity of Jesus Christ is glorified above all angels. Every believer is positionally higher than angels so each believer has a guardian angel. Heb. 1:13-14.
“But to which of the angels has He ever said, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET”? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:13-14, NASB)