Completing the Work

Finally the Temple was finished.

The concept of completion is important to the teaching concerning the work of restoration. "And they builded, and finished it." Jesus is the Finisher as well as the Author of God's eternal purpose.

Sometimes it appears as though the Gospel of Christ is being presented as a good idea that God wishes people would consider and try to obey. But because of the weaknesses of humans (it is maintained), the "beautiful" laws that Jesus set forth can only be held up as ideals toward which we all should strive. Meanwhile, God, understanding our shortcomings, keeps on lowering His standards. The work of Christ on earth has been defeated because of the slowness of humans to believe and respond. But God will bring us all to Heaven so it really doesn't matter.

Is this your concept of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ? If it is, get rid of such an idea immediately. The Gospel of Christ has nothing whatever to do with such foolishness and weakness. The Gospel of the Kingdom was proclaimed by the Lord Jesus Christ—by the same Man who spoke the universe into being.

The Kingdom of God is an all-powerful, sovereign directive of God Almighty. Men, demons, the elect angels, the fallen angels, Heaven, the world, and every other personality, situation, event, and thing are all working together with more precision than the finest watch in order to bring the eternal plan and purpose of God into being on the earth. The Lord God knows exactly what He is doing at every moment with every creature.

God is creating the Body of Christ, the Wife of the Lamb, the holy city, the new Jerusalem. The edifice already is perfect in detail in the mind of God. Every bit of wisdom and energy in the universe is being employed to insure that not one atom of God's plan will lack fulfillment.

When God speaks the universe is created. No other power is as great as the power of the Word of the Lord God of Heaven. The demons understand this fact. It is time that we of the Church come to understand it.

Consider what the resurrected and ascended Lord Jesus Christ has done:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building up] of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-13)

"For the perfecting of the saints."

"For the building of the body of Christ."

"Unto a perfect man."

"Unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

If a human had made these statements, we would admire the breadth and loftiness of his faith and intentions. But these fiats reflect the royal decrees of the possessor of all authority and power in Heaven and on the earth.

When we hear the edicts of God we are not to adjust them to the abilities or inabilities of frail humans to accomplish them. We consider only the majesty of the Lord. What He has spoken He shall perform. We need only to learn what He has decreed. Then we are to mix faith with His Word and work out our part in the Divine purpose.

For it shall come to pass—every word.

Behold the royal goals—the perfecting of the saints; the building of the Body of Christ to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

To be continued.