THE FINISHED WORK
CHRIST
17
OF
that He will ever accomplish both for us, and in the outworking of the purpose of the ages, must take its root at the
cross. While yielding to none our emphasis upon the place of the cross and the sacrifice there offered, we believe
Scripture would have us remember that all the work of Christ is vital, and every phase complete. No one could lay a
charge against the apostle Paul regarding his faithful witness concerning `Jesus Christ and Him crucified', yet the
very epistle that emphasizes the cross contains the following sweeping statement:
` ... if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in
Christ are perished' (1 Cor. 15:17,18).
It is well to remember that a more accurate translation of Romans 4:25 reads:
`Who was delivered BECAUSE OF our offences, and was raised again BECAUSE OF our justification'.
The resurrection of Christ is vital to the purpose of God.
As Zion's King He must be raised from the dead.
`I will declare the decree; the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee' (Psa.
2:7; cf. Acts 13:33).
` ... David ... therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of
his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the
resurrection of Christ' (Acts 2:29-31).
As the last Adam, the second Man, Christ must be raised from the dead, to give new life, to open the way to
immortality and glory for all `in Him' (1 Cor. 15:45-58).
As Head of the church, and Head of all things, He must be raised from the dead:
`For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived (lived again), that He might be Lord both of the dead and
living' (Rom. 14:9).
`And He is the Head of the body, the church: Who is the Beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all
things He might have the pre-eminence' (Col. 1:18).
Even when we have united the death and the resurrection of Christ, we have not exhausted the work which He
finished. As we read John 17, we become conscious that one further step beyond resurrection is needful to complete
the work.
` ... I have finished the work ... and I come to Thee' (John 17:4,11).
`Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to
God' (John 13:3).
The first message sent to His disciples by the risen Christ was this:
` ... Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ASCEND ... ` (John 20:17).
This ascension is vital not only for the church of the mystery (this question is examined on pages 33 to 38), but
for the whole purpose of the ages.
`He ... ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things' (Eph. 4:10).
` ... He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all
principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world (age),
but also in that which is to come (the coming one): and hath put all things under His feet' (Eph. 1:20-22).
The ascension and the seated Priest speak of a finished work.
` ... every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take
away sins: but this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
from henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool' (Heb. 10:11-13).