It Is Finished: Now What?

Temple Baptist Church - 4-26-2009

John 14:1-4

Introduction:

A. Over the past several weeks, we have seen the work of Christ from Calvary to the ascension. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! The world needs the Realization of the Gospel in order to be saved! The child of God needs the Realization of the Gospel in order live!

1. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Made of woman, made under the law, sinless Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.

2. Christ died for the sins of the whole world on the cross according to the scripture. God the Father accepted His sacrifice and was pleased. Sin was paid for in full!

3. Christ was buried in a garden tomb and rose bodily on the third day according to the scriptures. He died for our sins and rose for our justification.

4. Christ ascended back to Heaven after 40 days and one day, this same Jesus, will return in like manner. Seen by a select few who are saved, He is coming to take them eternally home.

B. Now what? Many of us think of the past and future work of Christ without giving much thought to His present work. “It is finished” had to do with the work of redemption, not with the work of Christ in its entirety. Between Christ’s “Going: (vs. 2) and Christ’s “Coming (vs. 3), He is busy on our behalf. We are “HIGH MAINTANENCE!” Because of what and who we are, we require constant attention. Jesus Christ now sits at the right hand of the Father on our behalf.

C. Let’s look at some aspects of the present work of Christ and let this study be a blessing to us as we:

1. Labor with Him
2. Live by Him
3. Look for Him

1. Christ Is Pleading For Us - Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
ADVOCATE - An advocate is one who speaks on behalf of another person, especially in a legal context. Implicit in the concept is the notion that the represented lacks the knowledge, skill, ability, or standing to speak for themselves.

Exodus 25:21-22 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. (I cannot plead for myself! When I sin, His advocacy is based upon the blood placed on the Mercy Seat.)

2. Christ Is Praying For Us - Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (Sometimes, people ask us to pray for them and that is the greatest thing that we can do! There is no doubt about the righteousness of our Lord, therefore, his prayer is effectual and availeth much!)

3. Christ Is Providing For Us - Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Genesis 48:15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

Deuteronomy 8:3-4 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. 4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (God has supplied every need that my family has ever had to this point and I expect Him to continue to do so. Not only our needs but most of our wants! God has still been good to my family.)

4. Christ Is Protecting Us – Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Exodus 14:29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

2 Timothy 4:17-18 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (The Lord has protected me; is protecting me, and will continue to protect me! If the Lord be for us, who can be against us?)