Paul: His Life and His Teachings The Present Ministry of Jesus
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No.48 Paul: His Life and Teachings - The Present Ministry of Jesus (Part 1)
No.49 Paul: His Life and Teachings - The Present Ministry of Jesus (Part 2)
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Although there are many prophecies about Jesus Christ all throughout the Scriptures; the extent of Christ’s redemptive work and the aftermath ministry that will follow remained a mystery for generations prior to Christ’s earthly ministry. Jesus Himself, taught about the mystery period of the kingdom of God in many of His kingdom parables. That mystery period of the kingdom of God – the ministry of Jesus after His death and resurrection, coincides with the period where we are at today. In this lesson, we will look into the Pauline revelation of the finished redemption and the present ministry of Jesus. Although revelation itself is spiritual information, it is not just information but a Spirit to spirit communication between man and God. Even then, the Apostles had difficulty receiving it for they were too Law-minded. It is in this revelation that Paul begin to see victorious Christian life like no other in the first century Christianity.
Like the early disciples, some Christians understand the physical and emotional sense of Christ’s death and resurrection; but never really understood its spiritual significance, personally and to the Body of Believers. Revelation knowledge spells the difference between those who simply celebrate traditions and commemorate historical dates and artifacts, from those who are able to draw meaning and significance from all these and apply them in their spiritual walk. In 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Paul wrote that revelation is wisdom (v.6). Just as there is a gift of knowledge, the gift of wisdom is revelatory in nature. The writing of the Scripture itself is a manifestation of the gift of wisdom. Verses 9-10 tells us that this revelation is what eyes has not seen, nor ear heard, what God accomplished in Jesus through His resurrection from the dead. This revelation could not be given until after Pentecost as the fullness of the Holy Spirit is needed to get this revelation. Many things can only be understood and received through the fullness of the Spirit.
In Romans 5:12-21, Paul wrote that the heart of the revelation of redemption is our identification with the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ. The passage shows us that sin not just result in the introduction of physical death (v.12). The worst is spiritual death, the nature of Satan that was planted on humanity. The thing is, it is not a psychological, nor economic problem, it is a spiritual problem of death that is bringing us all this “death” products around us. Rather, verses 14-19 tells us that death came over those who are children of Adam, over those who committed high treason. By the sin of one man, many have died. This is called identification with the sin of Adam. As Paul wrote that through our identification with the first Adam, judgment came upon humanity (v.18). Because of Adam, we were made sinners and were born in sin; just like how it is being born poor because having poor parents. This is the reason why sin reigns through the ages, through the present age.
The important sides of redemption that we need to see is when Jesus died on our behalf. This pertain to what God did (past) and what God is doing (present) for us in Christ Jesus. Although we were not with Adam when he sinned, nor we are with Christ when He died and rose again; we were affected by the acts of both. Redemption therefore, involves deliverance from every result of Adam’s sin (treason). The sin of Adam gave Satan authority over the fallen man. But when we identify ourselves with Jesus, every hold that Satan has on us is broken and destroyed. It is ended decisively by Jesus. Even if Satan is the “god if this age,” he is not our lord. Jesus is Lord, our Lord! This is the message of Romans 5:12-21. For us to be identified with Jesus, first Jesus needs to identify Himself with us. First, through the incarnation; Jesus identified Himself with us by being a man (cf.Heb.2:14). He took upon Himself all our diseases; was made sick as He bore it on Him (Isa.53:4-6). Jesus became sin for us. This is the only way He can nail our sins to the cross (2 Cor.5:21).
Jesus’ death on the cross is the picture of a High Priest laying hands on a goat to put on the goat the sin of Israel. This time, it was not just the sin of Israel, but the sin of the world. Jesus paid the penalty of sin. Whatever He did, He did for us, whatever He paid, He paid it for us – as if we were the ones doing and paying. This is all in the arena of faith and identification. Jesus suffered until He could justify the human race, that is, those who will put their faith on Him. Today, we live out our identification with Christ by imitating Him, obeying His Words, communing with Him, and becoming like Him. Praise be to God!