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Did the Lord Jesus Fail ?


Has He to return to earth to complete his mission?

This article counters the blasphemous accusations that the Lord Jesus failed in His mission and that his crucifixion sealed his failure. It is reproduced and edited by kind permission of the author, J.Lee Roberts.

SCRIPTURE SAYS JESUS came and died to gather all of God's children into one fold. Many prophecies and promises foretell the time when God's blessings would come upon people of all nations. God would then set up a universal kingdom that would never be destroyed.

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

John 11:52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, ... 3 ... in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Genesis 18:17 And the LORD said ... 18 ... Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him ...

Also Isaiah 56: 6-8, Daniel 2:31-35

Daniel 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: ... [The Roman Empire. EDITOR] 41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes*, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. [*The ten subject Kingdoms within the Roman Empire. EDITOR] 44 ... in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: ... and it shall stand for ever. [The Messiah's Kingdom which extends throughout the World. EDITOR]

Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed [The Messiah's Kingdom. EDITOR].

Also Joel 2:28

Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel to Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

SOME BELIEVE JESUS FAILED to accomplish what He came to do, and that He set up the church as a substitute and must thus return and rebuild the temple and establish a literal kingdom and throne here on earth! Does scripture confirm that Jesus failed? Did Jesus fulfill what the prophets said He came to do?

INSPIRED WRITERS CONFIRM that Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies written about what He came to do. The Jewish rulers failed to understand His mission and then even fulfilled prophecies concerning Him.

"... [Jesus] said to [the twelve] Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.." Luke 18:31

"...all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." Luke 24: 44

"... those things, which God before had shown by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled." Acts 3:18

" ... all the prophets from Samuel and those that followed after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold these days." Acts 3:24

"... when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30 But God raised him from the dead:" Acts 13: 29, 30

"... the promise which was made to the fathers, ...God has fulfilled ..." Acts 13:32,33

JESUS PROMISED that he would build his church and provide the keys of the kingdom ( Matthew 16:18,19; John 3: 3-5 ).
Later He formerly declared His work finished!

"I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.." John 17:4

" ... Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. ... When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the spirit. John 19:28-30.

GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE to bring together in one flock people of all nations, was accomplished on Pentecost after Christ's death, burial and resurrection. This was when Christ was crowned, made Head of the Church, and given all authority in heaven and on earth. After Pentecost we can read of people of all nations being brought into Christ's spiritual body, the Church. Paul declares that he and the Colossian church are part of the kingdom of God's beloved Son. In like manner, when addressing the seven churches of Asia, the apostle John declares that they all share a place with him in the kingdom. Jesus had said that His spiritual kingdom was not of this world, but within us. He also declared that His kingdom would be present during the lifetime of those present with Him.

Acts 2:29 "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

Matthew 28:18 " ... Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to me in heaven and in earth."

Ephesians 3: 10,11 " To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:"

Ephesians 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."

Colossians 1:13 "[God] has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"

Revelation 1:4 "John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be to you, and peace ... 5... from Jesus Christ, who is ... the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And has made us kings and priests to God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. ... 9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ ...".

John 18:36,37 "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom was of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest am I a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, ..."

Luke 17:20,21 "And when he was demanded by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God comes not with observation: Neither will they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

Matthew 12:28 ".. if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come to you."

Mark 9:1. "... he said to them, Verily I say to you, That there are some of them that stand here, who will not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power."

Christ did what He came to do, bringing together into one spiritual body, the church, all those who believe and obey His gospel and are born again into His kingdom of light.

Ephesians 2:13ff. "13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of two, one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

1 Peter 1:22-25 22 "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

1 Peter 2:4 "To [the Lord Jesus] coming, as to a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him will not be confounded. 7 To you therefore who believe he is precious: but to them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to those who stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"

John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say to thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say to thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."


Go to " The Mount of Olives Split! - When?"   A study of Messianic predictions in Zechariah.
Go to " Darbyism Refuted"   J.N.Darby's sensational 7 era dispensationalism .


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