“What is Jesus doing now?

He is sitting at the right hand of the Father appearing on our behalf. His work of redemption is complete. Nothing more needs to be done— by Him or by us— to reconcile us to God.

But although the work of redemption is complete, the work of the gospel progressing to the ends of the earth and the work of Christians continuing steadfast in Christ needs to continue.

And Christ (with the Father and the Spirit) is involved in this work. We have seen that He undertakes to ensure that the gospel continues to progress and He is involved in ensuring that Christians persevere to the end.

When we sin, we can remember that Jesus is sitting down, that His work is finished and that He is appearing in heaven on our behalf— that full atonement has been made.

When we struggle to persevere and are tempted to give up, we can remember that someone is always praying for us. And not just anyone but the risen and exalted Lord Jesus. Jesus is the one who is continually interceding that we will be saved to the uttermost.

Thus Christian hope, Christian life, Christian faith and Christian theology are all inextricably bound up with the exalted Christ.”

–Peter C. Orr, Exalted above the Heavens: The Risen and Ascended Christ, ed. D. A. Carson, vol. 47, New Studies in Biblical Theology (Downers Grove, IL; London: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press; Apollos, 2018), 202–203.