Angelic Conflict part 315: Current work of Christ – 1Pe 2:21; Eph 3:10; 1Co 15:45-49; 1Ti 6:16; 2Ti 1:10; Act 2:24.

Title: Angelic Conflict part 315: Current work of Christ – 1Pe 2:21; Eph 3:10; 1Co 15:45-49; 1Ti 6:16; 2Ti 1:10; Act 2:24.

 

 

As we finish this doctrine we will focus on the current and future work of our Lord who in resurrection body sits at the right hand of God.

 

The New Testament speaks about the significance of the cross in a variety of ways.

 

So far we noted:

 

1) The cross was the atoning sacrifice for our sins, Heb 10:10-14.

2) The cross satisfied God's justice, Rom 3:24.

3) The cross provided an example for believers, Phi 2:5-11; 1Pe 2:21.

 

1Pe 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose [living in humility and virtue], since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

 

1Pe 2:22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;

 

1Pe 2:23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

 

1Pe 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

 

1Pe 2:25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

 

The cross conquered satan, Joh 12:31; Col 2:14-15; 1Jo 3:8.

 

By thinking that the sole reason for the cross was the redemption of mankind we would miss the warfare aspect of the Bible entirely.

 

Christ came to defeat the enemy and in that defeat, binding the strong man, He set the captives free. So destroying the works of the devil and redeeming mankind go hand in hand.

 

1Jo 3:8

The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

 

Part of that work are sin and death and both are defeated by Christ.

 

1Co 15:26

The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
 

The wisdom of God in its rich variety accomplished all of this in one cross and it is at this time that He is revealing that rich variety of wisdom.

 

Eph 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,

 

Eph 3:9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things;

 

Eph 3:10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

 

As much as he has tried and may try, satan cannot stop the witness of the Church of the multifaceted wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities who have attempted a government without God.

 

Eph 3:11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

 

Eph 3:12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

 

Eph 3:13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.

 

Paul's use of God's power and grace to conquer the tribulations that he faced is witnessed all over his epistles and so they become witnesses to us, all of whom possess the same power and abounding grace as Paul, that we can experience the same victory in our own lives. Therefore, Paul's tribulations on behalf of the gospel and the mystery doctrine entreat us to enter into the same glory. Glory is the essence of God. Glory is all of God that is manifested to His creatures. Through reigning in life we become reflections of that glory. There is a treasure within these earthen vessels, and like the small army of Gideon, if that treasure shines forth, the enemy will run.

 

This fact was physical in the OT but now warfare is much more invisible. The battlefield is the soul.

 

Lev 26:7-8

'But you will chase your enemies, and they will fall before you by the sword; five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword.

 

Instead of the Amorites, Philistines, Moabites, Edomites, etc. we have fear, worry, anxiety, anger, insecurity, revenge, lusts in all areas, false doctrines, doubt, world systems, humanistic morality, etc.

 

The resurrection of Christ is as significant as His cross.

 

The resurrection brings about a new order of being and was not just a reversal of His death.

 

A sharp contrast exists and should be recognized between the glory of the preincarnate Christ on the one hand and that of Christ in resurrection on the other hand.