The Work Of Christ: Past, Present and Future

Оглавление

Gaebelein Arno Clemens. The Work Of Christ: Past, Present and Future

THE WORK OF CHRIST

I. HIS PAST WORK

I

Manifestations of Jehovah

Other Foreshadowings of His Work

Direct Prophecies

The Inspiration of the Old Testament

II. The Incarnation of the Son of God

The Incarnation Announced

The Foundation of the Gospel

The Purpose of the Incarnation

What Incarnation could not Accomplish

III. His work on the Cross and What has been Accomplished by It

Made Sin for Us

Ye are not Your Own

II. HIS PRESENT WORK

I. The Bodily Presence of Christ in Glory

His Physical Resurrection

Passing through the Heavens

A Fundamental Truth Denied

II. The Present Work of Christ; What It Is

The Lord Knoweth His Own

Living for Us

His Priesthood

His Advocacy

He Shall not Fail nor be Discouraged

His Work for the Church

III. The Practical Results of His Present Work in the Christian’s Life

Encouragement for Prayer

Deliverance from Worry

Sharing His Work

III. HIS FUTURE WORK

I. How Christ Begins His Future Work

The Judgment Seat of Christ

II. His Future Work in Connection with the Earth

Israel and the Nations

Nations Learning Righteousness

His Glorious Appearing

The King in His Glory

His Judgment-Work

On His Throne

III. The Glories of His Kingdom

Creation Delivered

All Under His Feet

The Great White Throne

Then Cometh the End

Отрывок из книги

THE Word of God reveals, that all things were created by and for the Son of God. “All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made” (John i:3). “For by Him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created by Him and for Him” (Col. i:16). When this perfect creation was ruined by the entrance of sin, when man fell and all creation on account of that fall was brought into the bondage of corruption, the work of redemption became a necessity. No creature of God was fitted or fit to do this. Only the Son of God, the Creator Himself, could undertake this mighty work and accomplish it to the Praise and Glory of God. To do this great work, He had to appear on this earth in the form of man.

This work of the Son of God has a threefold aspect. It is a past work, a present work, and beyond the present, there is His future work. His work and service will terminate when He delivers up the kingdom, so that God will be all in all (1 Cor. xv:24-28). This threefold aspect of His work corresponds to His threefold office as Prophet, Priest and King. It has a special meaning for the church. In Ephesians v:25-27, we read of this. He loved the church and gave Himself for it; this is His past work. Since then He is sanctifying the church by the washing of water by the Word, and in the future He will present it to Himself, a glorious church. In virtue of this threefold work of our Lord, believers are saved, are being saved, and will be saved. This threefold work has also a significance for the people Israel. When He came and went to the cross, “He died for that nation” (John xi:42). During the present age His earthly people are not cast away; their miraculous preservation on earth, their continued, separate existence is due to Himself. In the future when He appears as their Redeemer and claims the purchased possession, He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And to this we might also add the relation of His work to creation itself, the nations of the earth, and to Satan and his rule.

.....

Much time could be spent in adding to these remarks, or in reviewing the different attempts which have been made to explain the great mystery. We might also enumerate all the evil teachings and theories which are the results of attempted explanations. But all this would be but waste of time. No human mind can fathom the depths of the incarnation, nor fully grasp the wonderful personality of the God-Man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Far better it is to abide by these simple declarations of the Word of God, than to enter into speculations, which can never solve this great mystery.

A certain American statesman was once asked, “Can you comprehend how Jesus Christ could be both God and Man?” The great thinker replied, “No, sir; I cannot. And I would be ashamed to acknowledge Him as my Saviour if I could, for then He would not be greater than myself.”

.....