Grace Thoughts
Order in the Court of the King! (What Jesus Finished)
You may remember these words of Jesus from the first part of our new series –
I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. John 17:4
Those are our primary principles and purpose for life as Christians –
- Glorify God
- Finish the work God gave us to do
Question. What work did Jesus finish for His Father?
The Kings’s Work
Jesus Christ is King of the universe –
And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:16
So, what ‘work’ would the King of the universe have to do on earth besides rule over it?
The ‘work’ that Jesus, the Son of God, would do for God the Father was determined before He created the universe. How do I know that? Because of what I read in the Bible about why Jesus came to earth from Heaven and when that decision was made –
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:8-10
Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior. Titus 1:1-3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself Ephesians 1:3-9
… knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:18-21
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8
God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – designed a plan prior to creating the universe that the King of the universe would die a bloody death on a Roman cross at a particular point in history – “before time began.” The purpose? “That He might destroy the works of the devil.”
Let that idea sink into your mind for a moment. God in Eternity, before creating time or space, determined that the Son of God would die, and in so dying destroy the works of the devil.
That’s why God was not surprised by what happened in the Garden of Eden. He had an immediate solution to the problem that arose from the devil’s temptation and Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God’s Word –
So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel. Genesis 3:14-15
God prophesied the death of the King of the universe because it was the King’s plan from before time – before the foundation of the world. That prophesy also included the devil’s demise.
I have met with some resistance to that particular teaching through the years. Many Christians have difficulty believing that God determined His Son’s sacrifice from before time, before the foundation of the world. Some have said that God came up with the plan after seeing how Adam and Eve responded to the devil’s temptation. Others have said God devised the plan after the failure of the human race preceding the Flood or when talking with Moses on top of a mountain. However, God’s Word says otherwise. That’s why I quoted from it so that all can see and glory at God’s eternal plan. His plan preceded time and creation.
The Works of the Devil
John the Apostle, writing under the influence and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, claimed that the purpose for the Son of God being manifested (φανερόω- revealed, made known, open to view) was that ‘He might destroy the works of the devil.’ That raises an important and obvious question. What ‘works’ of the devil?
The first ‘work’ of the devil that we can see clearly is his approach to the first humans in the Garden of Eden. God showed Adam (first man) the beautiful garden He had created for him. The garden included lots of trees filled with delicious fruit. However, God told Adam that there was fruit from one tree that he was forbidden to eat – “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17). Adam must have shared that with Eve (first woman) because she repeated it when the devil tempted her to disobey God – “And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” (Genesis 3:2-3)
Eve added a line that God did not say to Adam (“nor shall you touch it), but she got the rest of it right. Why did she say that? Because of a question the devil asked her – “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1)
The devil is a ‘deceiver.’ He is also a ‘liar.’ That’s his primary work – to deceive and lie. Things won’t end well for him, but he does it any way. It’s his character to deceive and lie.
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. John 8:42-44
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12:9
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10
Not only is the devil a deceiver and liar, Jesus also said that he “was a murderer from the beginning.” What did Jesus mean by that?
Look at the first ‘work’ of the devil as recorded in Scripture. He knew that if the first humans disobeyed God they would die. God said they would die and the devil knew God would do what He said. The devil’s deception led to the death of the first humans and billions of people who came from them. The devil is a liar and a murderer, from the beginning, just like King Jesus said.
Look carefully at how the devil tempted the first woman, how she reacted, then how the first man reacted to what the woman had done –
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took off its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:1-13
How the Devil Deceives and Divides
This is such a typical way that the devil messes with the thinking of God’s people that it’s worth looking at in more depth. He begins by asking what appears to be a simple question about something God said. The fact is that the devil always has an evil agenda behind his questions. Once the person answers, the devil goes to step 2 in his plan. He calls God a liar – “Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.” The third step of the devil’s plan is to question God’s character and motives – “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Here’s a quick outline you may want to keep for future reference. This is how the devil works –
- Question something God said
- Call God a liar
- Assail God’s character and intent
- Establish yourself as your own ‘god’
Read the Bible carefully and look for that pattern in how the devil deceives people. He’s been doing it for thousands of years and it’s the ‘works of the devil’ that Jesus came to destroy.
How Jesus Destroys
God’s eternal plan to destroy the works of the devil was designed before time began, before the foundation of the world. God knew what the works of the devil would be before He created him. God knew what Jesus would do to destroy the works of the devil before creating the devil. Many people don’t like that way of thinking because it means God knew what the devil would do before creating him. Why did God create the devil if knew he would be a liar, deceiver, and murderer? Good question! We will address that during this series.
First, let’s see how Jesus would destroy the works of the devil. Keep in mind that the Apostle John wrote that “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” When did Jesus do that? Throughout His earthly ministry.
As we follow the story of Christ’s life on earth as recorded in the Gospel accounts, we see Him take on the ‘works’ of the devil and conquer each one –
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Matthew 4:23-24
[We’ll get into the identity of demons and the their ability to ‘possess’ humans in a future part of this seres.]
Jesus also gave the apostles the same power over the devil’s ‘works’ –
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick,cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:5-8
That’s why Jesus could said to His Father on the night He would be arrested, tried, and killed on the Cross –
I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. John 17:4-8
When Jesus voluntarily submitted to death on the Cross, He said –
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:28-30
Jesus knew that it would be His death on the Cross that would accomplish “all things.” That included destroying the works of the devil. We see the power of God’s Spirit working through the apostles in the Book of Acts to demonstrate the power of the crucified and risen Christ.
The Apostle Paul hearkened back to the beginning of death in the Garden of Eden when he wrote –
O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:55-58
Paul knew that the devil was a defeated foe. Paul knew that God would demonstrate His victory through the Church ‘in the ages to come’ –
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7
However, this doesn’t mean the victory is a ‘walk in the park’ for the Church. The apostles’ letters to churches and church leaders, along with Jesus’ strong words to church leaders and members in Revelation 2 and 3, demonstrate that God has much for His Church to do until the end of the age. Again, from the Apostle Paul –
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13
In the same way that God designed the devil for an eternal purpose that impacted the first humans, the devil continues to serve a purpose in God’s plan. The devil continues to deceive, lie, and murder. He continues to question God’s people about what God said, call God a liar, attack God’s character and motives, and encourage humans to be their own ‘gods.’ That will continue until the day God puts the devil into his final resting place –
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10
How the Church Wins
The good news is that the Church will win the battle with the devil. Though that day will come after thousands of years of being deceived while waging spiritual warfare, it will come –
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while … Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I,John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Revelation 21:1-8
What should members of the Church, the Body of Christ, think about such words? Should we congratulate ourselves for a job well done? Should we swell with pride as we consider our great accomplishments during our time on earth? Should we view ourselves as ‘gods’ who slew the dragon in our own power? Or should we give all glory to God and humbly thank King Jesus for finishing the work the Father gave Him to do? I hope you know the correct answer to that question –
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into. 1 Peter 1:3-12
Each of us has a job to do – glorify God and finish the work He has given us to do. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, but he continues to scheme against God’s people. We must be faithful and brave. We must follow our Leader, King Jesus, wherever He sends us. We must ‘observe all things’ that Jesus has commanded us to do. It is time, in fact far past time, for the Church to awake and wage spiritual war.
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:11-13
May The Peoples Praise You!
Music video of praise to Christ
Next Time
In the next part of our new series we will look ‘back’ to look ‘forward’ as we search for solutions to the many beliefs and practices that divide the Church today.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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