The Glorious Work of Christ – Finished

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD

“I have glorified you on the earth;
I have finished the work you have given me to do.”
John 17:4

In our study of John 17, we are continuing to uncover the truths of the atoning work of Christ. God planned His covenant of grace before creation. The Father and the Son made this covenant of redemption together to ensure His people would know their  love and share in their glory.

The stipulations of the covenant were fulfilled when Jesus lived in full obedience to the law. Then, in offering Himself as our sacrifice, He became the mediator of the covenant. God, the Father accepted His offering. “And the Holy Spirit undertook to reveal the great salvation and apply it with power to the hearts of those whom the Father had given to Him” (Jn. 17:2). Our Lord Prays for His Own ~ Marcus Rainsford

An Everlasting Covenant
The covenant of grace was promised in the Old Testament. David records in Psalm 89, not speaking of himself, but of the Messiah, chosen from the people and anointed.

Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one,
And said: “I have given help to one who is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 I have found My servant David;
With My holy oil I have anointed him,

Also My arm shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not outwit him,
Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
23 I will beat down his foes before his face,
And plague those who hate him.

“But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him,
And in My name his horn shall be exalted.
25 Also I will set his hand over the sea,
And his right hand over the rivers.
26 He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father,
My God, and the rock of my salvation.’
27 Also I will make him My firstborn,
The highest of the kings of the earth.
28 My mercy I will keep for him forever,
And My covenant shall stand firm with him.
29 His seed also I will make to endure forever,
And his throne as the days of heaven.

 He speaks in 2 Samuel 23:5 of the everlasting covenant God made with him.

“Although my house is not so with God,
Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant,
Ordered in all things and secure.
For this is all my salvation and all my desire;
Will He not make it increase?

God promised to give His Son as a covenant to His people,.

“I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
Isaiah 42: 5-8

And of this Jesus spoke of  Himself.

As a light to the Gentiles
,7 To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
8 I am the Lord, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another, Luke 2:32

John, the Baptist’s father spoke of Him in Luke 1:68-75

God’s part being to give His only begotten Son: His Son’s part being to glorify him upon the earth; and the Spirit”s part to reveal and apply this salvation and God  revealing Himself by His Spirit in a new covenant character as the God of peace in Hebrews 13:20-21

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in [b]you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.” Amen.

It is Finished

“I have finished the work you gave me to do.”

Altogether finished is the great work the Father gave His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The “transgression” is finished.

The making an “end of sin” is finished.

The “making reconciliation for iniquity” is finished.

The bringing in the righteousness of God” is finished.

The “everlasting righteousness” is finished.

The “sealing up the vision and prophecy: is finished.

The Scripture is fulfilled, the foundation of the Most High is laid, and the topstone shall be Christ – and you and I, sinners, who believe, are the living stones of the building.

Redemption – finished,

The types and shadows – finished.

Forgiveness sealed and finished.

The separation which sin had made between us and God, and between the members of Christ – finished.

Justification – finished.

The distance annihilated, and those “who were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.’ Our Lord Prays for His Own ~ Marcus Rainsford

From start to finish, it was a work only God, the Son – the God/man – could do.

To reject Christ is to reject His finished work and the love of the Father and the Son for our propitiation.  

‘Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (I John 4:10)

He is glorified when we live in obedience to Him and do the His kingdom work here on earth – and our purpose is fulfilled – To glorify God and enjoy Him forever. The Shorter Catechism.

Gracious Father, who has proven your love to us, we praise you for your covenant of grace, fulfilled in Christ, your Son.
Lord Jesus, we thank you for glorifying our Father – your Father and ours – in your finished work for our redemption.
Holy Spirit, we thank you for revealing this great work and fulfilling this promise of redemption in us that we may look forward to sharing in your glory forever. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Fram

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12 thoughts on “The Glorious Work of Christ – Finished”

  1. Hi Fran, as you are probably aware, I also am going through the Gospel of John but we’re not up to chapter 17 yet. I do sense what you sense as I approach this specific time in Jesus’s ministry and it seems to me like time almost stops. Jesus was always focused, amazingly focused, but now it almost screams at you what is about to unfold. Yesterday, as I was preparing my post on John, I had to stop a couple of times and just say, “Oh Lord” because I can’t put it into words. I’ve already bookmarked this post of yours for when I get there (John 17) because you are so right and I could not possibly make it any clearer than you have. I will make sure you get full credit and yes, I know, you’re telling me that is not even important, and you are right, just like whatever I say is not important.

    A lot of people are having a hard time right now and sometimes that includes me. Not so much with faith or believing but focusing on the reality of what Jesus represents in contrast to this physical world that we live in. I have that connection, that what I call “oneness”, when in prayer and studying God’s Word but it is when I stop that bothers me. I don’t want that connection to end and sometimes what transpires in this day to day world just leaves me feeling like I am treading water. I pray a lot for that breakthrough where the reality of Jesus and His kingdom totally dominates my physical world and I sense in my spirit that the Gospel of John study is leading me there. The study of John is a transition that God is walking me through and I am seeing myself as I have never seen me before and it grieves me. Nothing over the wall but little things like patience and caring more and a whole spectrum of awarenesses that clarify beyond all that I know, that I need Jesus and what only He and He alone can give and do. It is hard to put into words.

    I did a study of John years and years ago when I was just a young Christian and I was over in Cyprus and also in Jerusalem for six months when I served with the United Nations in the Canadian Armed Forces. I have long since lost those notes but this study of John is so different. That first study was abstract, and this time I am there and I can almost hear Jesus breath. And it is painstakingly slow but that is the way it is supposed to be. I am still lifting you up in my prayers, please lift me up in yours. My wife’s back injury when she was young has now pretty well made it impossible for her to walk any distance so I am assisting her in all that I can do. And her short term memory is not good either but we manage. God’s grace is abundant and I marvel at His provision and patience. Fortunately she has no discomfort or pain when sitting so that is a blessing. Anyway, just wanted you to know that I am so with you on this study in John and I thank you so much for what you share. May God’s grace, peace and blessings flood you and yours. Love in Christ – Bruce

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    1. Bruce, this study has been one of those that is spellbinding at times.It has taken weeks to put this verse into writing to post here. And yet, it is only a sample of the study and realization of who Jesus is in relation to His Father (and our Father) and to us.To think of what was planned before the foundation of the world – what He knew He would be facing His whole life here – makes His life of obedience to the Father even more amazing. Yet He knew He had to obey every jot and tittle of the commandments in order to make His sacrifice acceptable. But He knew what He had with the Father in His glory before the Creation- a love beyond comprehension that we will one day understand as they share it with us eternally.
      We can endure all as we live in light of this future life with them. O, how He loves us. I am praying for you and Peggy to know the reality His presence and power. Blessings as you continue your study through this precious gospel.

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      1. Hi Fran. Well I can tell you, that last post of yours was a beauty! Every time I read in the Gospels where Jesus says, “My time has not yet come . . .” Makes me mindful of His awareness of what was to come. But you’re right, Jesus did have the knowledge and awareness of the oneness of the glory of the Father, with Him. Thank you for your prayers and blessings.

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  2. Each time I pray, my heart can hardly fathom the cost of the blessing of being able to come to God. The greatest gift on earth, namely to come to God through the shed blood and finished work of Christ, to be able to approach the Maker of Heaven and Earth and speak with Him, lay so often unappreciated and more often unopened.
    Within the last couple of months, I have been able to lead two women to Jesus… there is no greater joy than to see people’s eyes open to Him, and to this fact: IT IS FINISHED.
    THANK YOU, dearest Fran… for you constant Scriptural encouragement. Love you!

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    1. Dear Heidi, Blessed are those women you led to Christ. To see eyes opened to Him is second only to our eyes being opened. Paralleled with this week’s study is Psalm 65:4 “Blessed is the man whom you chose to cause to approach you, that he may dwell in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, of your holy temple.” He continually draws His people to Himself as we witness of His goodness, and grace through His Word. Blessings as you live live in His joy and tell others of His love and mercy.

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