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.