When Jesus ascended into heaven, following His Passion on this earth, he “led captivity captive” and then “gave gifts unto men”. The five-fold ministry gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are from God, through the finished work of Jesus, to provide for the newly founded church. It is the action of leading the captivity captive that shows us volumes about Jesus’ accomplishment at Calvary.
Jesus told us that hell consisted of both flames for the sinner and Abraham’s bosom for the saint (Luke 16:22). Prior to the cross, no man could enter into heaven for their sins had not yet been taken away, only covered by countless lambs and bulls. Since these sacrifices could not take away sins (Hebrews 10:4), the saints that died went to a paradise, waiting the shedding of the blood of the Lamb, which would take away the sin of the world.
When Jesus died, He descended in spirit into the lower parts of the earth (Ephesians 4:9). While there, He preached deliverance to the captives (Luke 4:18), taking them out of this Paradise and leading them to the Father, the access which had been paid for by His blood. All men that exhibited faith in God prior to the cross were actually looking forward by their faith to that cross, accepting the blood of Jesus as the washing away of their sins. Jesus’ death then brought fulfillment to their faith, becoming a truly finished work.
After descending into the earth, Jesus then ascended far above all heavens, “that he might fill all things” (Ephesians 4:10). The only way that Christ could fill all things is if He has first “fulfilled” all things, and the cross was the complete fulfillment of God’s plan for man’s redemption. By then pouring gifts, in the form of the five-fold ministry, into the church, Jesus has filled us with all that we need for growth and development.
It is beautiful to know that no one was left out by the finished work of the cross. Those who had died prior to the cross were covered by the descent of Jesus into the heart of the earth, while those who lived after the cross had just been paid for by the shed blood of the lamb. Those in Paradise were escorted to heaven to live forever with the Lord, while those of us left on this earth have the resurrection of Jesus, which allows the Holy Spirit to live His life through us. We are both provided for, and that through what Christ has accomplished.
The finished work of Christ is that which fills all things. You are who you are in the Lord because the work of the cross was so complete. The gifts that Jesus paid for are “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). This shows us that though the cross is a finished work, it is still finishing the work in us. We are constantly being molded and shaped into the very likeness and image of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Glory to God for His perfect payment for you, by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Your past, present and future have been atoned for by His perfect work.
Jesus told us that hell consisted of both flames for the sinner and Abraham’s bosom for the saint (Luke 16:22). Prior to the cross, no man could enter into heaven for their sins had not yet been taken away, only covered by countless lambs and bulls. Since these sacrifices could not take away sins (Hebrews 10:4), the saints that died went to a paradise, waiting the shedding of the blood of the Lamb, which would take away the sin of the world.
When Jesus died, He descended in spirit into the lower parts of the earth (Ephesians 4:9). While there, He preached deliverance to the captives (Luke 4:18), taking them out of this Paradise and leading them to the Father, the access which had been paid for by His blood. All men that exhibited faith in God prior to the cross were actually looking forward by their faith to that cross, accepting the blood of Jesus as the washing away of their sins. Jesus’ death then brought fulfillment to their faith, becoming a truly finished work.
After descending into the earth, Jesus then ascended far above all heavens, “that he might fill all things” (Ephesians 4:10). The only way that Christ could fill all things is if He has first “fulfilled” all things, and the cross was the complete fulfillment of God’s plan for man’s redemption. By then pouring gifts, in the form of the five-fold ministry, into the church, Jesus has filled us with all that we need for growth and development.
It is beautiful to know that no one was left out by the finished work of the cross. Those who had died prior to the cross were covered by the descent of Jesus into the heart of the earth, while those who lived after the cross had just been paid for by the shed blood of the lamb. Those in Paradise were escorted to heaven to live forever with the Lord, while those of us left on this earth have the resurrection of Jesus, which allows the Holy Spirit to live His life through us. We are both provided for, and that through what Christ has accomplished.
The finished work of Christ is that which fills all things. You are who you are in the Lord because the work of the cross was so complete. The gifts that Jesus paid for are “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). This shows us that though the cross is a finished work, it is still finishing the work in us. We are constantly being molded and shaped into the very likeness and image of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Glory to God for His perfect payment for you, by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Your past, present and future have been atoned for by His perfect work.
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