A FINISHED REDEMPTION
"Who
is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and
authorities and powers being made subject unto Him" (I
PETER 3:22). The
resurrection, enthronement and universal authority given to Jesus
Christ provide us with undeniable evidence that He accomplished, to
the Father’s full satisfaction, the work He was sent to do. What
was that work? It was that work laid upon Him from all eternity, that
work which He delightfully accepted to accomplish - to save, redeem
and satisfy divine justice for all of those people given to Him by
the Father in covenant grace before the world began.
The
Savior’s abiding presence in the Father’s house shows that real,
substantial and everlasting peace has been made between the Lord and
His fallen people by the blood of the cross of Christ. The Holy
Spirit said "this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice
for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God"
(HEBREWS
10:12). Among the seven pieces of furniture in the Old
Testament tabernacle, something was noticeably missing - a chair.
There was no place for any of the priests to sit because the animal
sacrifices they offered could never put away sin; consequently, their
work was never completed. But the God-Man, by finishing the work of
reconciliation, putting away sin and bringing in everlasting
righteousness by His death, entered into glory and took His rightful
place upon His throne.
He
would never have sat down had His work not been completed. "The
LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine
enemies Thy footstool" (PSALM
110:1). The Father was well pleased with His Son’s work of
redemption and accepted His sacrifice as full payment for the
iniquities of His people. Upon the basis of purging our sins by His
substitutionary death, Christ ascended and "sat down on
the right hand of the Majesty on high" (HEBREWS
1:3). Our Savior spoke to Father and said, "I have
finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do" (JOHN
17:4). He made this glorious declaration from the cross –
"IT IS FINISHED"
(JOHN
19:30). Child of God, your redemption is accomplished, the
Savior’s perfect righteousness has been imputed to you and the
forgiveness of your sins is a full and irrevocable pardon.
-Gospel report by preacher Jim Byrd
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