Intercessory Work of Christ

The Intercessory Work of Christ

I Timothy 2:5;  I John 2:1,2

April 12, 2015

 

What is Christ doing since He returned to Heaven in Acts 1:9?  Is He idle? Does He spend all His time preparing mansions for the redeemed? (Jn. 14:2)  He is preparing a place for  us, but this is just one of His important tasks. 

 

In addition to this Jesus is actively engaged in the ministry of intercession, or praying to God the Father for us.

     Heb. 7:25...he  (Christ) is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

 

     Also Heb. 9:24...teaches that Christ has entered into heaven itself to appear in the presence of God for us.

 

     A priest is defined as someone who intercedes with God on the behalf of others. 

 

     A mediator is someone who faithfully represents both parties in a dispute.  The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is our great high priest (Heb. 4:14-16) and our only mediator before God the Father, I Tim. 2:5. 

     This was Job’s great desire in his day, Job. 9:33.

 

We often thank God for what happened at Bethlehem, Calvary, and the Garden Tomb, but how often to we remember to thank God for the ascension and what is happening right now before His throne as Jesus prays for us faithfully and mightily?

     (By the way, Ascension Day is May 15, 2015)

 

I Tim 2:5...According to our text Jesus still has the human nature, the man Christ Jesus. 

     Only Jesus qualifies to be the only Savior and the only Mediator because only Jesus possesses the divine and human natures  Our salvation is dependent on the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, but our eternal security is dependent on Christ’s intercession daily for us. 

     We persevere in the faith because Jesus is faithful in persevering for us.

 

In the incarnation, Jesus Christ took on a human nature.  Without ever ceasing to be God He became a man.  He temporarily laid aside His glory but not His deity in order to do the Father’s will:  fulfill the law and die on the cross.       

 

Lk 22:331,32...Peter was already secure in Christ’s grace.

     Vs. 28-30...Jesus had already appointed to Peter a place in the future kingdom.

 

     I Jn 1:9...John includes himself in recognizing that even well meaning Christian will sin from time to time. 

 

I John 2:1,2...The good news is that we don’t have to live in sin. 

     I Jn 1:7...we can walk in the light.  We can be sincere.

Sine cere...without wax.  A dishonest potter would sometimes fill in cracks with wax before selling pottery.  It would hold for a little while then leak.

     Or a sculptor would fill in defects of his work with wax and the sun would cause it to melt revealing the inferior work.

 

To walk in the light means we will be honest with God, others, and ourselves. 

     When the light of God’s word reveals our sin to us we don’t try to hide it, but we confess it and get God’s forgiveness.  The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin, but not one excuse.

 

Obedience takes three forms: We can obey because we have to, because we need to, or because we want to.

     A slave obeys his master because he has to for fear punishment. 

     An employee obeys his boss because he needs to and wants a paycheck. 

     A Christian obeys God because he wants to do the things that please Him,...the fellowship is that important.

 

Christ is our Propitiation...or, satisfaction for sin.  That is, the death of Christ on the cross satisfied completely the wrath of God on sin. 

Christ is our Advocate (additional voice) our lawyer pleading our case before the righteous judge, and He gains our acquittal.   Not because we’re innocent, but because He is gracious.  

 

 

 

 

After the Resurrection

After the Resurrection

(The Ascension of Jesus Christ)

Acts 1:1-11

April 12, 2015

There were four great miracles in the life of Christ:

     Incarnation, resurrection, ascension, and the second coming which is yet to occur,...but will.

    

The ascension is that miraculous event which happened 40 days after the resurrection when Jesus returned to Heaven to be enthroned at the Father’s right hand.  The event was bodily, public, and visible to all, and with the clouds.  His return will be in the same way, Rev. 1:7.  

     It was foretold in Psalms 68:18 and 110:1

     It was spoken of by Jesus Himself, Jn. 6:62; 14:28; 20:17.

     It is recorded in the gospels, Mk. 16:19,20;  Lk. 24:50-53

     It is referenced the New Testament, Heb. 4:14; 9:24; I Peter 3:22

 

For 40 days Jesus appeared to His followers at various times and various places: 

     1. To prove beyond a doubt He had risen from the dead, I Cor. 15:3-8

     2. He still had some more things to teach the disciples.

          There were some things they weren’t ready to receive and believe until after the resurrection was a reality to them.  He had to  “open their understanding” to the meaning of His death and resurrection, Lk. 24:44-48.

 

     3. Also He had to tell Peter he was forgiven and re-commission him, Jn. 21.

 

     4. He had to cure Thomas of his doubt and do many other signs which were not recorded,

                                                                                                                                Lk. 20:27,28,30,31.

 

Whereas the incarnation and crucifixion led to Christ’s humiliation,...the resurrection and ascension led to His exaltation.

 

None of the disciples witnessed the birth or resurrection of Christ, but they all witnessed the ascension of Christ...and everyone will witness the second coming.

 

The ascension marked the end of Christ’s earthly ministry.

     No more parables, no more miracles, no more confrontations with His enemies.  The ascension signaled a great victory:

          His work was done, His enemies were defeated, sin and death were conquered.

Now He could send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to be with them forever (Jn. 14:16) to be with them and in them (v. 17).

     ...and to reprove the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement, Jn 16:7-11.

     ...and to guide them into all truth, Jn. 16:13,14.  Remember, Jesus was speaking to the future writers of the New Testament.  II Peter 1:20,21

 

The ascension was just as literal as His birth in Bethlehem and His crucifixion and resurrection in Jerusalem.

     Acts 1:9-11...he was taken up, a cloud received him. He went up,  which is taken up from you into heaven.  Four references in three verses.

 

 

 

 

Jesus was taken up into heaven bodily and He is making no appearances on earth until His second coming.

     There are those who claim to be Christ and are deceiving folks by the millions and separating them from their money

     There are those who are claiming that Jesus told them He would appear on their stage in person.

 

We shouldn’t be surprised by these claims, Jesus warned us against them, Matt. 24:23-26.

     Jesus Christ is now in heaven on His throne and will not appear on earth again until His second coming and no one knows when that will be.

 

The ascension of Jesus Christ is the ultimate assurance for the Believer.

1. It assures us of His victory over sin, hell, death, and the grave.  The work of salvation is a done deal, Heb. 10:10-12

 

2. It assures us the Father accepted His sacrifice as full payment for our sin debt,...or He would not have welcomed Him back home.

 

3. It assures us that He is interceding for us before the Father, I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 9:24

 

4.  It assures us He is preparing a place for us so we can be with Him, Jn 14:1-3

 

5.  It assures us of His power, I Peter 3:22.  Sometimes it seems the world is spinning out of control, but God is sovereign and in control. 

 

 6.  It assures us of His second coming to earth to defeat His enemies once and for all, to set up His kingdom and rule on earth from the throne of David,  and judge the world in righteousness judgment,...every man will get just what they deserve and asked for. 

     He had to ascend before He could come back.

 

Phil. 2:9-11...At the ascension of Christ God the Father highly exalted Him and gave Jesus the name that is above every name, therefore every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father,...like it or not,...even Satan and the demons.                                                              

 

 

 

 

 

What The Blind Man Saw

                            What The Blind Man Saw                                        

Mark 10:46-52                                                                         March 29, 2015

Jesus and His disciples are making their way to Jerusalem for their third and final Passover.

     Mk.8:31;9:31;10:33,34...He had already told them three times that this time He would be arrested, put to death, and rise again.  They certainly heard Jesus say these things but it is clear that they did not understand or see it.

Our text picks up as they were leaving Jericho.  They meet with a blind man named Bartimaeus.  Jericho in the days of Jesus was an attractive and wealthy city; noted for two things:

         The lowest city on earth,...846 ft. below sea level

         The oldest city on earth,...continuously occupied for more than 1,100 years.

There was a great crowd traveling with Jesus in addition to His disciples because they were going to Jerusalem to observe the Passover.  A required pilgrimage for Jewish men. 

When Bartimaeus heard the Jesus was passing by he cried out, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

     Note this, to the crowd He was “Jesus of Nazareth” to Bartimaeus He was, “Jesus thou Son of David”.   There is a big difference:

          Nazareth was just a town where Jesus grew up, He wasn’t even born there.  Bethlehem is the City of David.  But, by calling Jesus the Son of David, he was confessing his belief that He was the Messiah, the anointed one of God.

     And Bartimaeus was the first to call Him Jesus, thou Son of David, combining both humanity and deity.

     Literally...Jesus is the physical descendant Matt. 1:1

     Spiritually...Jesus is the promised Messiah, seed of David, II Sam. 7:14-16;   Mk. 12:35-37; Ps. 110:1

This was his first demonstration of faith.  The disciples hadn’t called Jesus the Son of David; they were still wrestling with Jesus’ identity and why He came into the world. 

  Jesus stopped and called the man to him.

His was a faith that:

     Overcomes obstacles and even rebukes from the majority to get to Jesus.

          Often times the actions of a few professing Christians will hinder someone else from coming to Christ.

     Expects an answer,...he cast his outer garment aside.  He knew he’d be able to find it later!

     Asks for the right things,...James 4:3.  Prayer is not a blank check one can write on the Bank of Heaven.

V. 51  What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?

     What Bartimaeus asked for complied with the Messianic hope,  Isa. 29:18,19; 35:5,6; 42:5-7.

Not even the disciples had faith like that, v. 35-37.

     - Bartimaeus didn’t ask for wealth, power, or special privileges.

Ordinarily a beggar would try to get the most out of the generosity of others.

     - By asking for and receiving his sight, he knew he’d have to leave off begging and go to work!  No more charity, no more begging from the Passover pilgrims as they passed by.

V. 52  This was no gradual healing; immediately he received his sight and as a further proof of his faith be became a follower of Jesus.

     What happened to him afterwards?  We just don’t know, this is the last time we read of Bartimaeus.

     But what a legacy he left! 

          Faith overcomes obstacles, v. 48

               Faith answers the call of Christ, v. 50

                    Faith follows Christ, v. 52.

Do you see what the blind man saw? 

     Does your faith overcome obstacles,...answer the call of Christ,...and follow Christ? 

The Hidden Treasure

                                                    The Hidden Treasure                                                          

                                                           Matthew 13:44                                                            

March 1, 2015

 

Remember that by now, Jesus was no longer teaching by the seashore, but He had dismissed the crowd and was now speaking privately with His disciples in the house.

 

Again, unlike the parable of the sower, seed, and the soils and the wheat and the tares our Lord does not interpret this one so we must interpret it in the light of the context of the Bible.

     Comparing scripture with scripture is the best commentary.

Remember that the Bible, from beginning to end, is a book of prophecy,...with a bunch of parables sandwiched in between.

     Think of the parables as the soul of prophecy which gives the inner, hidden meaning.    

 

 

In that day and in the middle east given the uncertain times of frequent wars and upheaval, a businessman would divide his wealth of silver and gold in three ways:

     - 1/3 would be used for commerce; buying and selling

     - 1/3 would be used to buy jewels

     - 1/3 would be buried in the ground,...and tell no one.

This was ancient diversification.

                                                                                   

But the merchantman sometimes would die and the treasure would be lost sometimes for many years until someone happened upon it by plowing, digging a well, or some other way.  In that case the owner of the field also owned the treasure.

 

The Parable

A man happens upon a treasure which had been hidden in a field. He then went a bought the field with all the money he had and he was very happy to get it at that price.

 

The common and popular interpretation of the parable is that the man is the sinner and the treasure is salvation and the man gives up all he has to be saved.  No sacrifice is too great to gain Christ and salvation. 

     The problem is that that is the wrong interpretation for it destroys the principle of grace and teaches that salvation is something that can be purchased when the Bible says that it is the gift of God, Eph. 2:8,9. 

                     

Rather, the field is the world as in the other parables, and the buyer of the field is Jesus Christ, again just as in the other parables of the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

It was Christ who gave up all He had to purchase the world and redeem His peculiar treasure out of it.  We are the treasure that Jesus Christ purchased.

     Phil. 2:7,8...The Son of God laid aside His glory and honor and came to earth in the form of a servant.

     I Peter 1:18,19…Silver and gold could not redeem us, it took the precious blood of Christ,…”Jesus paid it all.”

     II Peter 2:1...By His death on the cross, Jesus purchased (bought) the whole world, but like the man who bought the whole field His heart was set only on the treasure in the field and not the field itself.  

     Acts 15:14...Jesus took out of the world a people for Himself.

          Rights of ownership is His, and He is now the rightful judge of His purchased possession.

 

Every now and then someone will ask the question, “Did Jesus Die for everyone? Or just those who would be saved?”

     The answer is “Yes.”

We have John 3:16 and I Jn 2:1,2 which seems to teach this.

 

Jesus died for everyone, but not in the same way or even for the same purpose.

     After all, there were some people already in hell before Jesus died on the cross,...did Jesus die for them?

     In Jn 17:9, as Jesus was praying His high priestly prayer in the garden of Gethsemane He said, “I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.”

 

I am comfortable to believe and preach that when Jesus died on the cross, He purchased the whole world, the lost and those who would be saved, as well as the whole created order, but that by His death He redeemed His precious treasure, the children of God.

     That He purchased the world by His death means that He is now the judge of the same.  Every knee will bow before their owner, the Lord Jesus,...yes even all the enemies of God and God's people.    

Phil. 2:10,11...at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.