The Work of Christ

The Gospel-

a) implicit, Christ lived perfectly

b) Christ died in accordance with the scriptures

What is the Gospel?

c) Christ was buried in accordance with the scriptures

d) Christ rose from the grave in accordance with the scriptures

English Standard Version Chapter 1

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

e) Christ appeared to Cephas, then the twelve, 500+ believers, James, the apostles, and Paul

The Gospel and appropriate response is sufficient for salvation.

What did Jesus do and accomplish through out his life, death, burial and resurrection?

We call this the “Work of Christ”

The Work of Christ is viewed in two ways:

1) the offices of Christ

2) in the stages of humiliation and exaltation

The Offices of Christ:

1) Prophet

2) Priest

3) king

Prophet- revelatory in nature

a) Jesus thought of himself as a prophet

15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

1) And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”

b) Many thought Jesus to be a prophet

1) 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

2) Post resurrection, the disciples on the road to Emmaus though him as “a prophet, powerful in word and deed.”

c) Jesus fulfilled prophecy

1) Peter identifies Jesus as so: Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people. (Cf. )

d) Jesus’ prophet ministry was like other prophets

1) sent from God

2) revealed God in a different way, specifically as the incarnation and

3) message of Doom and judgement as well as good news and salvation

King- ruler

a) The bible paints Jesus as a ruler

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

1) looks forward to a future ruler.

Isaiah 9:7 NASB95

There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

2) Hebrews applies to the Son of God.

Psalm 45:6–7 NASB95

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows.

3) Jesus said that in the new world that he would sit on the throne.

Matthew 19:28 NASB95

And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

4) Jesus claimed that the Kingdom of heaven was his

Matthew 13:41 NASB95

“The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness,

b) Christ reigns today in His church

1) he is head of the body of the Church

Colossians 1:18 NASB95

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

Priest- reconciler

a) Interceded for the disciples

b) Intercedes for believers

1) 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

c) Offered perfect sacrifice

1) 11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

In light of the life of Christ, what did he do?

Stages of Christ work:

The Humiliation

a) Incarnation

Since the Protestant Reformation, Christ’s work has been view in 3 offices

1) The infinite took on the finite

b) Death

1) the son of God died

The Offices of Christ

c) possible descent into hades

1) apostles creed

The exaltation

Prophet

a) Resurrection

Priest

King

b) ascension at the right at hand of the father

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.