First published in 1913, Our Hope Publications
INTRODUCTION:
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 1:3). "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. 1:16). 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.
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 1:3). "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. 1:16). 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.
A Threefold Aspect.
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. 15:24-28). 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 5:25-27, 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 11:51-52). 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.
These brief remarks show the importance of distinguishing between this
threefold aspect of His work. A Christian who is ignorant of it must be
confused in his conception of the truth. He is unable to understand the
Word of God, and is unsettled, and even miserable in his Christian
experience. Such, alas! is the present condition of a large number of
professing Christians. Many are ignorant of what the finished work of
Christ on the cross means. On account of this ignorance, they are ever
trying to do what God has done for them. How many more are at sea
about their position in Christ, and know next to nothing of the priestly
work of Christ. The confusion is the greatest in respect to His future
work as King. Our theme is therefore an important one. But even God's
people. who in a measure have laid hold of these truths, need constantly
to be reminded of it and need to have all this through the Spirit's power,
as a greater reality in their lives.
Next: Part 1 - His Past Work
The Work of Christ: Past, Present and Future by A. C. Gaebelein. New York:
Publication Office "Our Hope", ©1913.
INTRODUCTION:
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 1:3). "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. 1:16). 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.
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 1:3). "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. 1:16). 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.
A Threefold Aspect.
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. 15:24-28). 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 5:25-27, 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 11:51-52). 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.
These brief remarks show the importance of distinguishing between this
threefold aspect of His work. A Christian who is ignorant of it must be
confused in his conception of the truth. He is unable to understand the
Word of God, and is unsettled, and even miserable in his Christian
experience. Such, alas! is the present condition of a large number of
professing Christians. Many are ignorant of what the finished work of
Christ on the cross means. On account of this ignorance, they are ever
trying to do what God has done for them. How many more are at sea
about their position in Christ, and know next to nothing of the priestly
work of Christ. The confusion is the greatest in respect to His future
work as King. Our theme is therefore an important one. But even God's
people. who in a measure have laid hold of these truths, need constantly
to be reminded of it and need to have all this through the Spirit's power,
as a greater reality in their lives.
Next: Part 1 - His Past Work
The Work of Christ: Past, Present and Future by A. C. Gaebelein. New York:
Publication Office "Our Hope", ©1913.
| The Work of Christ Past, Present and Future by Arno C. Gaebelein |
