Reigning in Life by Jesus Christ And now consider something remarkable. Daniel tells us that the saints shall possess the kingdom. Peter tells us that Jesus Christ has been exalted to the Father’s right hand. Paul tells us that believers have already been translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. But Paul takes us even further: “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17 Think about what Paul is saying! Through Adam’s offence, death reigned but through Jesus Christ, those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life. This is not a promise of political dominion in some future earthly kingdom. Paul is describing something far more fundamental: the triumph of Christ’s Life over the reign of sin and death. And although the fullness of our reign with Christ awaits His appearing, we already possess His Life. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Colossians 1:13 The kingdom is not only something we are waiting to enter. We have already been brought into it through Christ. Nor does this mean that every enemy has been destroyed or that every promise has reached its consummation. “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” 1 Corinthians 15:25 Christ reigns now, His saints belong to His kingdom now and His reign will continue until even the last enemy, death, is destroyed. So when Daniel declares that the saints shall possess the kingdom, we must begin with the One to whom the kingdom was first given. The saints possess the kingdom because they belong to the King. And they shall reign in Life because Christ Himself is their Life.