Sunday, March 19, 2023 AM
THE GOSPEL OUR FOUNDATION: The Stages of Salvation 4
Mike Teel, Pastor
FOCAL PASSAGE:
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. 9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. 14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. —Genesis 1:3-19
WORK OF DIVINE INCARNATION
- THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INCARNATION
A. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
B. THE WORD COMES FORTH AS LIGHT
C. THE LIGHT IS APPROVED BY GOD
D. LIGHT WAS SEPARATED FROM THE DARKNESS
E. THE LIGHT WAS NAMED BY GOD
THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS SET FORTH
- THE NECESSITY OF THE CROSS
- SECOND DAY SECOND STEP
- NOTE THE FOUR OBSERVATIONS:
a. The firmament was purposed by God.
b. The firmament was set in the middle of the waters.
c. The firmament divided the waters.
d. The firmament was designed by God. - ONE LAST OBSERVATION
–It is also deeply significant that words, “And God saw that it was good” are omitted at the close of this second day’s work.
OUR LORD’S RESURRECTION IS SET FORTH
- RESURRECTION OF THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST
- THE WORK OF THE RESURRECTION
- THE RESURRECTION REFLECTED
- OUR BAPTISM IS A SYMBOL OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST IN OUR LIVES
THE LORD’S
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. —Genesis 1:14-19
24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. —Hebrews 9:24
1. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
–Once again, we see in this 4th day of creation the symbolic illustration of the ascension of Christ.
–As we think about the glorious ascension our mind turns to…
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. —Colossians 3:1-2
–Christ is seated in heaven ever making intercession for us…
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. —Isaiah 53:12
–Thus, now we see the completion of the Redemptive work of Christ. Think about it – ever interceding for us!
2. THE SYMBOLISM
–When we lift our eyes heavenward, what do we see?
–“Two Great Lights” – symbolic typically of Christ and His people.
–During the present interval of darkness, the world’s night, Christ and His people are “the light of the World,” but during the Millennium they shall rule and reign over the earth.
3. THE
OF THE ASCENSION
*A. AFTER JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD… *
–He “presented Himself alive”, Acts 1:3.
To the women near the tomb…
9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” —Matthew 28:9-10
To His disciples…
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. —Luke 24:36-43
And to more than 500 others…
6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. —I Corinthians 15:6
B. FORTY DAYS AFTER THE RESURRECTION
–Jesus and His disciples went to the Mount of Olivet, near Jerusalem.
–There, Jesus promised His followers that they would soon receive the Holy Spirit, and He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until the Spirit came.
–Then He blessed them and gave them the Great Commission.
C. THE MEANING OF JESUS’ ASCENSION
–It finished the completion of the INCARNATION.
–It signaled the end of His earthly ministry. God the Father had lovingly sent His Son into the world at Bethlehem, and now the Son was returning to the Father. The period of human limitation was at an end.
–It signified success in His earthly work. All that He had come to do, He had accomplished.
–It marked the return of His heavenly glory, Jesus’ glory had been veiled during His sojourn on earth, with one brief exception at the Transfiguration Matthew 17:1-9.
–It symbolized His exaltation by the Father Ephesians 1:20-23. The One with whom the Father is well pleased Matthew 17:5 was received up in honor and given a name above all names Philippians 2:9.
–It allows Him to prepare a place for us John 14:2.
–It indicated the beginning of His work as High Priest Hebrews 4:14-16 and Mediator of the New Covenant Hebrews 9:15.
–It set the pattern for His return. When Jesus comes to set up the kingdom, he will return just as He left: literally, bodily, and visibly in the Clouds Acts 1:11; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7
4.
OF THE ASCENSION
–In the first four days’ work in Genesis 1, we have the symbolic illustration of the Four Great Stages or steps in accomplishing the work of Redemption typified.
–The Incarnation, the Death, the Resurrection and the Ascension of our blessed Lord are respectfully represented.
–Notice the process of Redemption through the four steps are similar to the process we go through after Salvation:
–>Salvation – Christ Came – Incarnation (invite Christ into our lives)
–>Justification – Christ’ Death – Cross (we must die daily to sin)
–>Sanctification – Christ’s Victory – Resurrection (growing in the reality of the Hope)
–>Glorification – Christ’ Return – Ascension (victory / salvation’s completeness)
–In light, of this, how precious are those words at the close of the sixth day’s work: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.”
–The question we began with in January: “What would cause people to get out of a warm bed on Sunday morning and come to study the Bible and attend a Worship Service?”
–The answer has to be, “Because a person has a growing, deepening, living personal relationship with Christ.”
–Is this not the theme of the Bible? To have this kind of relationship with God?
Then why are we not telling others about Him?
LIVE IT OUT
–What impact does it have on you that Jesus left the perfectness of heaven to come into our world to save us from our sins?
–Are you living your life as an expression of gratitude for His incarnation?
–What impact does the cross have on your life? Is it foolish or the power of God?
–What impact does the resurrection have on you today?
–What impact does the ascension have on you today?
–What decision do you need to make today?