Notes for this message have come in large part from the book: What Happened From the Cross to the Throne by E. W. Kenyon.
Jesus had an assignment He had to fulfill.
Adam’s sin reached all the way into Heaven.
Exodus 25:40 NKJV And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.
Heaven was affected by Adam’s sin.
Hebrews 9:22-26 NKJV (22) And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. (23) Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (24) For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; (25) not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another– (26) He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
John 20:16-18 NKJV (16) Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). (17) Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” (18) Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
John 20:19-20 NKJV Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (20) When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
John 20:26-29 NKJV And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” (27) Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (28) And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (29) Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
What happened from the Cross to the seating of the Master on the right hand of the Majesty on High?
This is the essence of the Pauline Revelation.
We talked about the Incarnation. Surely Mary told the Apostles of what she had encountered regarding the birth of Jesus.
All of it is based on righteousness. The whole plan of Redemption was for the purpose of making man righteous.
Righteousness – the ability to stand in the Presence of God without a sense of guilt, condemnation or inferiority. To stand in God’s presence as though sin never existed.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV (21) For He made (poieio – made from something that does exist in the natural) Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become (ginomai – made from something that did not exist in the natural) the righteousness of God in Him.
There were physical giants in the earth at one time. Now, since the Resurrection of our Lord, there are spiritual giants in the earth.
Those that killed Him, thought they had gotten rid of Him but what they did not realize is that at His Resurrection a new race of Jesus men were released into the earth. The empty tomb gave birth to millions of Jesus men.
A new life, a new love and new life-changing power had now been released into the earth.
- Satan had been conquered.
- The claims of justice had been met.
- Humanity had been redeemed.
- God, can now, on legal grounds, give eternal life to man.
- Jesus had become the Savior, had dealt with man’s sin, had settled it and saved man.
- Man at last was ransomed and his debt had been paid.
What Has Jesus Been Up To Since the Resurrection?
When Jesus was resurrected from the dead, it was not the end of His ministry. It actually was the beginning of a new phase of ministry for Him.
Some think that once Jesus ascended into Heaven, that He simply sat down and is waiting for the Father to lean over and say that it is time for the end of all things. That simply is not the case.
You may remember when you graduated from high school or college, there was a commencement. We all thought that meant the end but we all found out that it was only the beginning. We may have had a break for a couple of months, but most of us began a new phase of our lives in college or on a job.
Let’s look at the different ministries that Jesus has been doing:
- Jesus, Our Mediator
- Jesus, Our Heavenly Intercessor
- Jesus, Our Great High Priest
- Jesus, Our Advocate
- Our Mediator
Hebrews 8:6 NKJV But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
Hebrews 9:15 NKJV And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 12:24 NKJV to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
- Our Heavenly Intercessor
Romans 8:26-27 NKJV Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (27) Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:34 NKJV Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Hebrews 7:24-27 NKJV But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. (25) Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (26) For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; (27) who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
- Our Great High Priest
Hebrews 2:17 NKJV Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 3:1 NKJV Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,
Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 8:1-2 NKJV Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, (2) a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
Hebrews 9:11 NKJV But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
- Jesus our Advocate
Job 1:6-12 NKJV Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. (7) And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” (8) Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (9) So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? (10) Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. (11) But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (12) And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Satan does have access to heaven and will until the halfway point in the tribulation period.
Revelation 12:10 NKJV Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
There are some things that we need to understand about Satan.
- He is a fallen angel.
- He is not omniscient.
- He is not omnipresent.
Hebrews 1:3 NKJV who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
The three other ministries of Jesus (Advocate, Intercessor and Priest) in heaven are centered around Christians.
Satan is not the accuser of the sinner. He is the accuser of the brethren. Sinners are already accused and judged because of sin.
Jesus was our means to the Father when we got Born Again and Jesus is still our means to the Father now.
Jesus Christ is our advocate. He fights for us.
Advocate (Dictionary) – One who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person; a person who pleads for or in behalf of another person; counsel for the defense.
In Heaven there is praise and worship going on but in God’s presence in His throne room, it is more like a courtroom situation.
Satan comes into the presence of God with a handful of notes. He is constantly collecting information on us.
Let’s notice something about this courtroom situation. The Judge is your Dad and the defense attorney is your elder Brother, Jesus.
Satan, the prosecuting attorney is no relation to any of us and in fact is an outsider.
If you have confessed your sins before the Father (1 John 1:9) when Satan comes into the courtroom to accuse you, the Father immediately informs him that the sin has already been paid for, cleansed from your record and the case is thrown out. All of the work that he did to gather that information is for nothing!
What does a Christian do when he sins?
1 John 1:8 NKJV If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
This verse is saying that we have “the ability to sin.”
1 John 1:10 NKJV If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
This verse is referring to the act of sin.
1 John 1:9 NKJV If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Sinners do not need to confess their sins in order to be saved. There is no way one can remember all of the sins.
Confession of sins is not part of salvation, it is part of the Christian life.
The only confession that we need to make to be saved is to confess that we believe in our hearts that Jesus has been raised from the dead and that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.
Acts 16:30-31 NKJV And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (31) So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
1 John 2:1 NKJV My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
When we sin, Satan tries to bring it before God and accuse us but we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. He is our defense attorney and pleads our case before God.
Notice that God has given us things to help to keep us from sinning.
“…these things write I unto you, that you sin not…”
- God has given us His Word to keep us from sinning.
Psalms 119:11 NKJV Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
- God has given us the Holy Spirit to keep us from sin.
The Holy Spirit works with the Word and brings that Word up out of hearts to keep us from sin.
He also reminds us the love of God. He reminds us of how much God loves us.
When you received the Lord Jesus as Savior, all of your sin was transferred (consigned) to the cross and then washed away by the Blood of Jesus.
Legal Principle of Double Jeopardy – cannot be judged again.
Romans 6:10 NKJV For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
Romans 3:25-26 NLT For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, (26) for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.
All of our sins before the New Birth, once we received Christ, were nailed to the Cross.
Colossians 2:6-15 NKJV As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, (7) rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (8) Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. (9) For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; (10) and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (11) In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, (12) buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (13) And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, (14) having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (15) Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:6-15 TPT In the same way you received Jesus our Lord and Messiah by faith, continue your journey of faith, progressing further into your union with him! (7) Your spiritual roots go deeply into his life as you are continually infused with strength, encouraged in every way. For you are established in the faith you have absorbed and enriched by your devotion to him! (8) Beware that no one distracts you or intimidates you in their attempt to lead you away from Christ’s fullness by pretending to be full of wisdom when they’re filled with endless arguments of human logic. For they operate with humanistic and clouded judgments based on the mindset of this world system, and not the anointed truths of the Anointed One. (9) For he is the complete fullness of deity living in human form. (10) And our own completeness is now found in him. We are completely filled with God as Christ’s fullness overflows within us. He is the Head of every kingdom and authority in the universe! (11) Through our union with him we have experienced circumcision of heart. All of the guilt and power of sin has been cut away and is now extinct because of what Christ, the Anointed One, has accomplished for us. (12) For we’ve been buried with him into his death. Our “baptism into death” also means we were raised with him when we believed in God’s resurrection power, the power that raised him from death’s realm. (13) This “realm of death” describes our former state, for we were held in sin’s grasp. But now, we’ve been resurrected out of that “realm of death” never to return, for we are forever alive and forgiven of all our sins! (14) He canceled out every legal violation we had on our record and the old arrest warrant that stood to indict us. He erased it all—our sins, our stained soul—he deleted it all and they cannot be retrieved! Everything we once were in Adam has been placed onto his cross and nailed permanently there as a public display of cancellation. (15) Then Jesus made a public spectacle of all the powers and principalities of darkness, stripping away from them every weapon and all their spiritual authority and power to accuse us. And by the power of the cross, Jesus led them around as prisoners in a procession of triumph. He was not their prisoner; they were his!