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My Redeemer Liveth | Charles Spurgeon · Reformed Thinking

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  Reformed thinking. Welcome to the Deep Dive.
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  Today we're getting into a really interesting set of notes
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  and excerpts. They're mostly from Charles
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  Spurgeon and they focus on something quite vital, Christ's
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  current living state and his, well, his exultation.
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  What these sources do is give us a picture, a very clear one
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  actually, of who Jesus is right now, what he's up to, and maybe
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  most critical for you listening, why all of this matters
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  immensely for your own life and hope.
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  Right. This isn't about, you know,
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  dusty old history books. It's about the present reality
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  of Jesus Christ, his position of authority, the one given to him
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  by the Father, and how that position, that status, is
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  actively used for the good of people who turn to Him.
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  O our goal here in this deep dive is to really unpack these
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  writings. We want to pull out the key
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  insights they offer about this, this powerful, living, exalted
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  Savior, and understand where His incredible authority comes from
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  and what it's for. OK, let's dive right into the
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  first big point from these notes.
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  They stated very plainly, we're not asked to trust in a dead
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  savior. Yes, this is just foundational.
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  It underpins everything else. The sources couldn't be more
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  direct. Jesus rose from the dead.
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  He lives eternally. He's not just a historical
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  figure we remember fondly, or only the memory of someone who
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  died for sins back then. They use phrases like a living
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  and present friend that's quite personal and also a continually
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  existent person. And the practical upshot of
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  this, they say, is direct. Because he is living, because he
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  is continually existent right now, He will hear your prayers
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  and answer them. That really shifts things,
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  doesn't it? For you listening, that's
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  presented as a Direct Line access to someone who's alive
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  and actually engaged. It is, and the sources explain
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  why he lives. It's not just existing.
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  He lives, they say, on purpose to carry on the work for which
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  he once laid down his life. So his being alive right now is
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  directly connected to his ongoing activity for us.
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  It's good for us. The sources point out that just
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  as things like sin, the flesh, the devil, just as they live and
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  have, you know, a destructive might.
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  So Jesus lives. It sets up a kind of parallel,
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  but one where his life is ultimately greater.
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  So his life isn't passive, it's dynamic, it's purposeful, and
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  it's positioned directly against those forces working towards our
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  ruin. That sets the stage perfectly.
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  His life is active and intended, confronting the very things that
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  threaten us, then building right on that reality of him being
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  alive. The sources move to his current
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  state, his exaltation. He's not just alive somewhere,
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  he's been raised to a position of, well, incredible glory and
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  authority. They paint quite a contrast.
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  He doesn't sorrow now or labor like he did on Earth.
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  He's not presented as a humble man before his foes.
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  Or just, you know, the carpenter's son anymore.
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  No, instead the description is that he's exalted far above
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  principalities and power and every name that is named.
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  That's language of ultimate supremacy, isn't it?
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  He's positioned at the right hand of the Father, the place of
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  highest honor and shared authority, and even more
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  specifically, on the throne. A man is now on the throne of
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  the universe. That phrase, it really stands
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  out. It does.
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  It's powerful. And importantly, the sources
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  connect this current exaltation directly back to his work on
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  earth. They talk about Jesus enduring
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  great humiliation. And through that humiliation, He
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  accomplished and endured all the Father's will.
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  Yes, and because he did that, because he fulfilled God's will
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  perfectly through suffering and death, the sources say.
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  He was rewarded by being raised to glory.
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  So the glory wasn't arbitrary, it was a direct result, a reward
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  for that perfect obedience. The sources even suggest his
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  humiliation created a room for this exaltation.
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  It implies the depth of his descent made possible the height
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  of his ascent. It wasn't accidental, it was
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  sort of the necessary path to this glory.
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  So his current glorious state isn't just about status, it's
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  the earned outcome of his finished work, a position of
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  supreme eminence achieved through obedience.
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  OK, so he's exalted. Now this is where it gets really
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  interesting regarding the authority this exalted Jesus
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  possesses. The sources go into detail about
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  this. They really do.
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  Upon His exaltation, they state the Father has given him all
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  power in heaven and in earth. Notice this go ball, heaven and
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  earth. It's universal and it's given by
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  the Father. And He doesn't just hold this
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  authority passively. He actively exercises this high
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  endowment in carrying out his work of grace.
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  So the authority is tied to his saving work.
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  Yes, and they specify what this authority covers.
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  Things like the sovereign prerogative of life and death is
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  vested in him. That's ultimate control.
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  And the Father has put all men under his mediatorial
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  government. Mediatorial government.
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  That means he rules, but specifically as the mediator
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  between God and us. That seems to be the idea.
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  And in that role, he can quicken whom he will quicken, meaning
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  being, you know, give spiritual life, make spiritually dead
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  people alive. He has the authority to grant
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  lice itself. Absolutely, and they use some
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  really vivid images for this. Like he openeth and no man
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  shutteth. Think about that unstoppable
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  access he grants. Or he stretches out the silver
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  scepter and whosoever touches it lives.
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  The royal scepter in his hand becomes life giving.
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  Wow. And also that at His word, a
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  soul tied up by sin can be unloosed in a moment, just like
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  that instant freedom by his command.
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  It shows the immediacy and effectiveness of His authority
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  over sins hold. And then there's that direct
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  statement summarizing it. Whatever might sin, the flesh or
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  the devil have to ruin us, Jesus has still greater power to save
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  us. A direct comparison.
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  His saving ability surpasses any destructive force.
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  And the source of this authority, God the Father given
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  when he was exalted, its scope, total life, death, everything.
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  And those hands once pierced are now described as glorified with
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  the sigit rings of royal power and honor, the marks of
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  suffering and the marks of kingship together.
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  Now this is absolutely crucial. The source is repeatedly
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  stressed why Jesus has all this glory and authority.
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  It's not just for him. Well, you see that phrase
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  multiple times. All his exaltation and ability
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  are on our account and that he's being raised so high is designed
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  to bring blessings to men. This is really the heart of it,
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  isn't it? His high position, his supreme
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  authority, it's all directed towards benefiting humanity,
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  specifically for those who come to him needing salvation.
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  It's entirely purposeful, aimed outward.
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  They say He is exalted to be, and also exalted to give.
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  Yes, exalted to be a Prince and a savior, and exalted to give
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  well, to give all that is needed to accomplish the salvation of
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  all who come under his rule. His role as Prince provides
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  what's needed for salvation for those he saves.
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  And the sources name specific gifts that come from this
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  position and authority, Things like repentance to Israel and
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  for forgiveness of sins. And that's key because it pushes
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  back against the idea that we just sort of work these things
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  up ourselves. No, the sources say.
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  He gives repentance. He gives forgiveness.
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  They are presented as gifts flowing from his exalted status
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  as Prince and Savior. His immense endowment is
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  actively used for this work of grace.
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  It reminds me of that really strong statement they make.
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  He has nothing which he will not use for a Sinner salvation, and
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  He has nothing which you will not display in the aboundings of
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  His grace. That says it all, doesn't it?
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  A complete dedication. Every attribute, every bit of
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  his status and authority is funneled into this one purpose,
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  saving sinners. It's total unreserved.
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  So building on that, his exultation is on our account.
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  The sources really focus on that specific title.
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  A Prince and a savior comes of repeatedly drawing from Acts 5.
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  And they don't just state the title, they explain the
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  connection. He links his Princeton with his
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  savior ship. Almost like he wouldn't have one
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  without the other. They're not separate jobs.
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  They're two sides of the same coin, really.
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  So his kingly authority as Prince isn't just about ruling
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  the cosmos in general, it actually serves his work of
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  salvation. That's exactly how these sources
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  present it. All those aspects of his
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  authority we talked about, controlling life and death,
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  giving spiritual life, opening doors no one can shut, instantly
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  freeing people from sin's grip. All that princely might is how
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  he functions as Savior. It means he's not just a savior
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  with good intentions but maybe limited ability.
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  He's a savior with absolute regal authority to back up those
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  intentions. He is, as they say, a savior and
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  a great one. Right.
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  So when someone comes to him, he doesn't just wish he could help
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  because he's the Prince. He has the actual authority and
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  the means given by the father to effectively and completely save
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  those who submit to his rule, who accept him.
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  His ability to save is grounded in his authority as Prince.
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  And there's another key role the sources highlight for the
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  living, exalted Jesus, his work as advocate and intercessor.
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  Yes, they state He is interceding for sinners at the
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  right hand of the Father, and they point out the continuity he
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  ever lives to intercede before his Father's face.
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  It's an ongoing current activity.
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  And it's not just a side task. The sources actually present
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  this ongoing intercession as the very reason why He is able to
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  save them to the uttermost to come unto God by Him.
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  His constant pleading is shown as enabling his complete saving
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  work. So his advocacy, his pleading
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  for us is what secures our full salvation.
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  According to these texts. It's not just something he does,
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  it's foundational to the outcome.
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  And think about where he does this.
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  He's not just any intercessor. The sources call him a friend at
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  court. Yay, a friend on the throne.
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  That links it right back to his exaltation again, doesn't it?
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  The one pleading our case is also the one in the ultimate
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  position of authority. Our friend is the king.
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  Precisely. And because he is on the throne,
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  because he has that supreme status and influence, He will
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  use all his influence for those who entrust their affairs in his
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  hands. His position gives him weight,
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  and he uses that weight for those who rely on him.
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  The sources then make a direct appeal based on this.
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  They encourage you, the listener, to commit your cause
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  and your case to those once pierced hands connecting back to
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  that image of his hands now holding royal authority.
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  It's an invitation to trust him with everything.
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  And the assurance given is, well, it's quite absolute.
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  No suit ever failed, which was left with this great advocate.
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  It speaks to the complete effectiveness of his work as our
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  representative before the Father.
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  When he takes accept a case, it succeeds.
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  Period. So when you bring all these
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  threads together, his living reality, his high exultation,
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  his minutes authority, his purpose being for us, his role
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  as Prince and savior, and his constant advocacy, it leads to a
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  major theme, the solid hope offered by this Jesus.
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  Yes, His entire current status is presented as something
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  calculated to raise the hopes of seeking sinners who are looking
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  Christ Word. If you're turning towards Him,
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  maybe uncertainly, His present reality is meant to give you
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  solid ground for hope. And for those already believing,
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  the glory which surrounds the ascended Lord should breathe
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  hope into every believer's breast.
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  Seeing him as he is now should be deeply reassuring.
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  And the reason? Because the very same person who
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  died for our sins, who rose again and lives forever, is also
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  now a Savior and a great one. He's the crowned and enthroned
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  Redeemer. The sacrifice and the sovereign
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  authority reside in the same person.
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  It's described as most hopeful for men that a man is now on the
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  throne of the universe. Think about that.
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  Humanity represented in the ultimate seat of authority and
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  glorious that the Lord of all is the Savior of sinners.
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  That reality, the Supreme Ruler, is also the one whose mission is
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  salvation, provides such a firm foundation for hope and
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  remembering. His ability to save is greater
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  than any power seeking to ruin us.
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  That's meant to be a huge comfort.
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  It refrains his high position. It's not distant or
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  unapproachable. It's actively engaged on our
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  account, specifically aimed at rescue and blessing for those
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  who come to him. So as we wrap up, here's
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  something to really Mull over, drawn from these sources.
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  If it's true that Jesus has all power in heaven and in earth,
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  and if he truly has nothing which he will not use for a
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  sinner's salvation, and he is nothing which he will not
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  display in the aboundings of his grace.
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  Then what does that suggest about how readily, how willingly
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  he receives anyone, absolutely anyone, who genuinely comes to
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  him seeking that salvation? And if it's also true that no
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  suit ever failed, which was left with this great advocate, what
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  kind of confidence should that give you personally when you
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  approach the Father through him? Bringing your own struggles,
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  your weaknesses is your failures.
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  What does that assurance mean for your prayers, your pleas for
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  mercy, knowing they are presented by the one who sits on
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  the throne? Well, that concludes this deep
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  dive into the reality of the living and exalted Savior based
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  on these insightful writings. We certainly hope exploring
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  Jesus's present reality, His authority, and His unwavering
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  purpose for sinners has been valuable for you.
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  Until the next deep dive.