THE Word of God reveals, that all things were created by and for theSon of God. “All things were made by Him and without Him was notanything made that was made” (John i:3). “For by Him were allthings created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible andinvisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities orpowers; all things were created by Him and for Him” (Col. i:16).When this perfect creation was ruined by the entrance of sin, when manfell and all creation on account of that fall was brought into thebondage of corruption, the work of redemption became a necessity. Nocreature of God was fitted or fit to do this. Only the Son of God, theCreator Himself, could undertake this mighty work and accomplish it tothe Praise and Glory of God. To do this great work, He had to appear onthis earth in the form of man.
This work of the Son of God has a threefold aspect. It is a pastwork, a present work, and beyond the present, there is His future work.His work and service will terminate when He delivers up the kingdom, sothat God will be all in all (1 Cor. xv:24-28). This threefold aspect ofHis work corresponds to His threefold office as Prophet, Priest andKing. It has a special meaning for the church. In Ephesians v:25-27, weread of this. He loved the church and gave Himself for it; this is Hispast work. Since then He is sanctifying the church by the washing ofwater by the Word, and in the future He will present it to Himself, aglorious church. In virtue of this threefold work of our Lord, believersare saved, are being saved, and will be saved. This threefold work hasalso a significance for the people Israel. When He came and went to thecross, “He died for that nation” (John xi:42). During thepresent age His earthly people are not cast away; their miraculouspreservation on earth, their continued, separate existence is due toHimself. In the future when He appears as their Redeemer and claims thepurchased possession, He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And tothis we might also add the relation of His work to creation itself, thenations of the earth, and to Satan and his rule.
These brief remarks show the importance of distinguishing betweenthis threefold aspect of His work. A Christian who is ignorant of itmust be confused in his conception of the truth. He is unable tounderstand the Word of God, and is unsettled, and even miserable in hisChristian experience. Such, alas! is the present condition of a largenumber of professing Christians. Many are ignorant of what the finishedwork of Christ on the cross means. On account of this ignorance, theyare ever trying to do what God has done for them. How many more are atsea about their position in Christ, and know next to nothing of thepriestly work of Christ. The confusion is the