Jesus Part 2

B. What is the nature of His work (Work of Christ)
Having looked at the person of Jesus we will now turn our attention to the work of Jesus.

1. Preaching, teaching and healing (words and deeds)
The gospel records that Jesus performed both words and deeds. The words can refer to the preaching and teaching of Jesus, while the deeds can refer to the way He lived and to the miracles He performed.
As important as these were they were not His primary reason form coming.

2. Primary work
It is important that we understand that Jesus’ primary reason for coming was removal and restoration.
Removal of the penalty of sin and restoration to our relationship with God. While preach, teaching and even miracles were performed by numerous people, it required someone who was fully Human and fully God to be able to remove sin and restore relationship.
Lets look at this in three great acts

a. Christ’s death
Mark 10: 45
The penalty of sin required a sacrifice therefore for Jesus to be that sacrifice He had to be fully human and die a real death. But for the penalty to completely paid the sacrifice had to be perfect, thus the need for Jesus to be fully God.
Jesus did not become God after His death, He always was fully God, fully human.

b. Resurrection
Romans 1:4, 4:25, Acts 10: 4-43
The resurrection not only demonstrated that God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice, it is also the assurance of our salvation. If Jesus has not been fully, bodily resurrected then there is no hope for us. But just as Jesus was fully resurrected so also shall we.

c. Ascension
Acts 1: 1-2
The ascension is often overlooked in Baptist life. It is as if Jesus simply rode off into the sunset. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus ascended into heaven to continue that
which He had started.
“Killing Jesus,” says Walter Wink, “was like trying to destroy a dandelion seed-head by blowing on it.” (The Jesus I Never Knew , Phillip Yancey 226)

“Christ died for our sins, He was raised for our justification, he now lives to make intercession for us. This is the redemptive work.” Christian Doctrine for Everyman - Jimmy A. Millkin

C. Theological Question: Does Jesus remain Incarnate? Last week we digressed a little in our discussion of the incarnation and in doing so neglected to explain just what incarnation mea