When the work of Christ is pictured in terms of an atoning sacrifice, it is God who takes the initiative. It does not mean that sinful men and women have to do something to appease God or turn away His anger; neither does it mean that Christ died on the cross to persuade God to be merciful to sinners. It is the nature of God to be a pardoning God. He has revealed His pardoning nature above all in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. This saving initiative is equally and eagerly shared by Christ Jesus: He gladly cooperates with the Father's purpose for the redemption of the world.

Both Jew and pagan sinned and forfeited God's glory and both are justified through the free gift of his grace by being redeemed in Christ Jesus who was appointed by God to sacrifice his life so as to win reconciliation through faith. In this way God makes his justice known; first, for the past when sins went unpunished because he held his hand, then for the present age, by showing positively that he is just and he justifies everyone who believes in Jesus. - Rom. 3:24-26 -

Jesus Christ who is just;
he is the sacrifice that takes our sins away,
and not only ours,
but the whole world's. - 1John 2:2 -

God's love for us was revealed
when God sent into the world his only Son
so that we could have life through him;
this is the love I mean:
not our love for God,
but God's love for us when he sent his Son
to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away. - 1John 4:9-10 -

The present work of Christ begins with His exaltation by God after His passion, death and resurrection. The first aspect of His present work was the sending of the Holy Spirit to dwell in His people.

Still, I must tell you the truth:
it is for your own good that I am going
because unless I go,
the Advocate will not come to you;
but if I do go,
I will send him to you. - John 16:7 -

Now raised to the heights by God's right hand, he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit who was promised and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit. For David himself never went up to heaven; and yet these words are his:
The Lord said to my Lord:
Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for you.

'For this reason the House of Israel can be certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ'. - Acts 2:33-36 -

The promised of the Holy Spirit can be traced back to John the Baptist who prophesied that the one who was to come after him, mightier than himself would "baptise you with the Holy Spirit". - Mark 1:8 -

But the present work of Christ that receives the main emphasis in the New Testament is His intercession. Apostle Paul, quoting what appears to be an early Christian confession of faith, spoke of "Christ who died and furthermore is also risen who is even at the right of God, who also makes intercession for us.

When God acquits, could anyone condemn? Could Christ Jesus? No! He is not only died for us - he rose from the dead and there at God's right hand he stands and pleads for us. - Rom. 8:34 -

Jesus' presence with God as His people's representative provides the assurance that their requests for spiritual help are heard and granted. To know that He is there is a powerful incentive for His followers. No good thing that Jesus seeks for them is withheld by the Father.

The exaltation of Christ is repeatedly presented in the New Testament as the fufillment of Psalm 110:1: "Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool". This means that Christ reigns from His present place of exaltation and must do so until all His enemies are overthrown. Those enemies belong to the spiritual realm: 'The last enemy that will be destroyed is death'. - 1Cor. 15:25-26 -

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -