God had delegated the power over the earth to mankind in the beginning (Genesis 1:26-28; Psalms 8:4-8, and 115:16). When man disobeyed God (Genesis 3:1-6), that power was delivered to Satan (Luke 4:6). Therefore, the Lord did not have absolute control over the earth and its affairs. When Jesus died, He descended into hell (Psalms 16:10 with Acts 2:31, and Ephesians 4:8-10) and stripped Satan of all his power (Revelation 1:18). Now, God once again has all power in heaven and earth.
2 Corinthians 5 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
The reason we can go into all the world and share the Gospel is because Jesus now has all power in heaven and earth. And, as His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), we have that power too.
In The Believer’s Authority, Andrew challenges traditional legalistic Christianity and provides an in-depth, scriptural explanation of man’s authority, Satan’s authority, and how to apply God’s Word. God has given a tremendous amount of authority to believers in Christ, but the way spiritual authority is taught today has left many Christians feeling defeated and confused.
The term “the Son of man” refers to Jesus’ humanity, whereas the term “the Son of God” refers to His divinity. So, Jesus was saying that His physical body was what gave Him authority to execute judgment on the earth.
This goes all the way back to the creation of man when God gave mankind authority to rule the earth (Psalm 115:16). That power was given to people with physical bodies (Genesis 1:26-28). God is a Spirit (John 4:24) and did not have a physical body. Therefore, He didn’t have authority to rule the earth. He gave that authority to the people He created. So, in order to regain control of the earth, God had to become a man with a physical body. That was done in Christ. This is a very important statement. Jesus had this authority because of His humanity (see note 12 at this verse). God is a Spirit (John 4:24), and when He created this physical world and all of its inhabitants, He gave mankind authority to rule and subdue His creation (Genesis 1:26, 28; Psalm 8:4-8, and 115:16). Although God still owned the universe and all that was in it (Exodus 9:29; Psalm 24:1, and 89:11), He gave the control of the earth to man.
When mankind sinned, they began to use this power against God’s wishes. God did not ordain all the terrible things that have happened throughout history, yet He did not take back man’s right to dominate the earth. Instead, He became a man (1 Timothy 3:16) and took back that authority to Himself by conquest. After Jesus’ resurrection, He said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18), and then He gave the Great Commission to His disciples, thereby conferring that authority upon them also. Jesus becoming flesh was absolutely essential for gaining all power (or authority) in heaven and in earth.