The Work of Christ: Past, Present, and Future.
by Arno C. Gaebelein (1861-1945). (Author of Gaebelein's Annotated Bible commentary, part of the SwordSearcher study library)
Published 1913.
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Module contents:
by Arno C. Gaebelein (1861-1945). (Author of Gaebelein's Annotated Bible commentary, part of the SwordSearcher study library)
Published 1913.
SwordSearcher tab: Books > acgWoC
Module contents:
- Introduction
- His Past Work:
I. The Work of the Son of God is foreshadowed and predicted in the Old Testament Scriptures.
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.
He suffered in a fourfold way:
It Is Finished.
Ye Are Not Your Own. - His Present Work
1. The Bodily Presence of Christ in Glory.
His Physical Resurrection.
Passing through the Heavens.
A Fundamental Truth Denied.
Unitarianism.
Christian Science.
Millennial Dawnism.
2. The Present Work of Christ; What It Is.
But there is a present work of our Lord in Glory, which is fully revealed in His Word.
Living For Us.
His Priesthood.
His Advocacy.
He Shall not Fail nor be Discouraged.
His Work for the Church.
3. The Practical Results of His Present Work in the Christian's Life.
Encouragement for Prayer.
Deliverance from Worry.
Sharing His Work. - His Future Work
Predicted by the Prophets.
Not Yet Fulfilled.
The New Testament Evidence.
1. How Christ Begins His Future Work.
The Judgment Seat of Christ.
2. 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.
3. The Glories of His Kingdom.
Creation Delivered.
All Under His Feet.
The Great White Throne.
Then Cometh the End.
The Work of Christ.
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" (Joh 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 (1Co 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 Eph 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." (Joh 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.
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" (Joh 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 (1Co 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 Eph 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." (Joh 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.
