Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(Mat 28:16-20)
Up to this point, I have shown that humanity's first calling and assignment from God is to subdue the earth and to take dominion over it. God provided the Garden of Eden as the original template for that dominion mandate.
In the last post, I also demonstrated that the dominion mandate has not passed into oblivion but is still in effect. But sin has altered man and put him at odds with God and with God's declared purposes.
Therefore, God has given dominion to Jesus the Anointed, the representative New Man. In Him, God has called and redeemed a people to share in that dominion (II Tim. 2:12).
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;
(Eph 1:10)
In order for man to exercise godly dominion over the earth, however, he must first come under the dominion of King Jesus. And please notice that the Great Commission, as quoted at the beginning of this post, sets for us the precise goal of bringing the nations under His command.
Please understand that I am not saying that God's redemptive plan merely serves the purpose of fulfilling the dominion mandate. I do not believe that redemption is in any way subservient to the dominion mandate.
I do believe that both the Great Commission and the dominon mandate have both come from God and serve to express His sovereignty over man and over creation by and through man.
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