Jn.19:30 - ... He said, "It is finished!" Then He bowed His head and released His spirit.
Christ's earthly mission was to do the will of the Father. (Jn. 4:34) Christ came to seek and save the lost. (Lk.19:10) He came to destroy the devil and his works. (Heb. 2:14) (1 Jn. 3:8)
Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Heb. 9:22) The sacrificial blood of the Lamb was poured out on the cross. Jesus' blood purchased New Covenant salvation for everyone. He died for the sins of the world. (Jn.1:29)
No one needs to perish. God is not wanting anyone to perish but that all would come to repentance. This is God's perfect will. That, however, doesn't mean none will perish. In the perfect love of God He has chosen to allow individuals to choose for themselves. God refuses to force His will on anyone. God will openly receive all who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. Act 2:21 - But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.
The initial salvation experience comes as a result of faith. God's New Covenant salvation method is "believing in Jesus Christ". Acts 16:31 - ..."Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." Salvation is more than just "believing". It's about believing in Jesus. It's about putting our faith in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The demons believe in God but that's not enough to alter their destination. Jms. 2:19 - You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. Saving faith is faith that is fully anchored in Christ and His finished work on the cross.
When Jesus said "It is finished" that's exactly what He meant. It's a bit difficult for to get our brains around this that's for sure and without revelation we'll never get our hearts around it, but our salvation, as far as God is concerned, is a done deal. Christ died once, the full price of our full redemption has been paid for with the blood of Christ. Heb 7:25 - Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him. Clearly God has done His part what's left is our part! When the Great Jehovah purposed redemption for Israel, as far as He was concerned it was a done deal. Canaan land was Israel's land before they ever put a single foot into it. It was done, what remained was up to Israel. Would they go in? Would they believe God and obey? The first generation of Exodus Israelites failed to enter the land. Why? Had God failed them? Was it His fault? Had He mislead them? They didn't experience God's best simply because they refused to believe the heart of God. (Heb.3:19)
Some of the early followers of Christ asked Him in John 6:28, "We want to perform God's works, too. What should we do?" The answer given is the key to all new covenant relationship with God and the receiving of His blessings that make us rich and add no sorrow to us. They were told in John 6:29, "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the One He has sent." Successful New Covenant Christianity is all about "believing in Jesus". That goes for our initial salvation and everything related to our spiritual growth process and our final salvation.
Let's, for a moment, consider 2 P. 1:3, 4. Let's look at our New Covenant Canaan land and see what we think. Are we ready to cross over? Are we ready to humble ourselves and go "down under" (that's what Jordan means) and allow the word of God to wash us? Lord help us to see our spiritual promised land. By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires.
How does this all become a personal living reality? What must I do, crawl a thousand miles on crushed glass? What? What does God want from me? What's my part in this salvation deal? Believing in Jesus! Oh my, that sounds simply too easy. Surly there must be more to it. Ask anyone whose been on the way for a while. If there's any honesty in their hearts at all they'll be quick to tell you that Christianity isn't hard to live, it's impossible. It was impossible for Israel to conquer Canaan but they did it. They did it because God fought for them. God went before them! God brought down their enemies. He'll do the same for us in New Covenant. He'll bring us fully into our salvation if we look to Him, if we trust Him for our needs.
He's given us everything we need. Then why so many failures? Isn't God big enough? Wasn't the blood of Christ good enough? What must we do to live as Jesus did? What must we do to inherit the promises and to personally experience the "everything we need for life and godliness" in our lifetime? It's about believing in Jesus. It's all about believing in His saving power. It's all about believing that when I run out of gas, when I've come to the end of myself that as I turn to Him, as I look to Him, He will step in and make up the difference. New Covenant Christianity, successful New Covenant Christianity is all about Christ doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Successful Christianity is possible for us all because Jesus is for us all. He is capable. When I'm "maxed out" on my love. When I've come to the end of my "love road" and they're nothing left to give; Jesus has "the more I need". Be encouraged Christ in you is your personal hope of glory today as well as tomorrow. (Col.1:27)
Heb 11:6 - And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. When we sincerely seek the Lord to meet our needs He will reward us with His "all sufficient" regardless of our need. It might be love, or joy, or peace, or endurance, or (put your need in here).
NOW LET'S CARRY THIS THROUGH TO REVIVAL, personal, family, local church, national and global. God what are you saying? How do you see the Church today? What must we do to be involved in the works of God in the twenty-first century? What's are the keys of the Kingdom for today? As I ask myself these questions it's as though I can hear an audible voice in the depths of my heart and soul saying, "This is the work I require of you that you believe in My Son Jesus."
It's absolutely irrelevant where we live on this globe, Jesus Christ is Lord and He's still the Head over all things to His Church. He began the work of building the spiritual house of God and He's well able and committed to its completion.
When Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father He commissioned His disciples to carry on His work. He sent them, He gifted them, he baptized them with the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts is filled with the works of God done through people filled with the Holy Spirit. Nothing has changed. I don't know where you live but where I am pastoring I personally need more. I'm not presently experiencing the book of Acts in our home church or in the community.
Deut. 4:29 - But from there you will search again for the LORD your God. And if you search for Him with all your heart and soul, you will find Him.
God bless and be encouraged Jesus never fails and He never fails us.
Christ's earthly mission was to do the will of the Father. (Jn. 4:34) Christ came to seek and save the lost. (Lk.19:10) He came to destroy the devil and his works. (Heb. 2:14) (1 Jn. 3:8)
Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Heb. 9:22) The sacrificial blood of the Lamb was poured out on the cross. Jesus' blood purchased New Covenant salvation for everyone. He died for the sins of the world. (Jn.1:29)
No one needs to perish. God is not wanting anyone to perish but that all would come to repentance. This is God's perfect will. That, however, doesn't mean none will perish. In the perfect love of God He has chosen to allow individuals to choose for themselves. God refuses to force His will on anyone. God will openly receive all who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. Act 2:21 - But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.
The initial salvation experience comes as a result of faith. God's New Covenant salvation method is "believing in Jesus Christ". Acts 16:31 - ..."Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." Salvation is more than just "believing". It's about believing in Jesus. It's about putting our faith in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The demons believe in God but that's not enough to alter their destination. Jms. 2:19 - You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. Saving faith is faith that is fully anchored in Christ and His finished work on the cross.
When Jesus said "It is finished" that's exactly what He meant. It's a bit difficult for to get our brains around this that's for sure and without revelation we'll never get our hearts around it, but our salvation, as far as God is concerned, is a done deal. Christ died once, the full price of our full redemption has been paid for with the blood of Christ. Heb 7:25 - Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him. Clearly God has done His part what's left is our part! When the Great Jehovah purposed redemption for Israel, as far as He was concerned it was a done deal. Canaan land was Israel's land before they ever put a single foot into it. It was done, what remained was up to Israel. Would they go in? Would they believe God and obey? The first generation of Exodus Israelites failed to enter the land. Why? Had God failed them? Was it His fault? Had He mislead them? They didn't experience God's best simply because they refused to believe the heart of God. (Heb.3:19)
Some of the early followers of Christ asked Him in John 6:28, "We want to perform God's works, too. What should we do?" The answer given is the key to all new covenant relationship with God and the receiving of His blessings that make us rich and add no sorrow to us. They were told in John 6:29, "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the One He has sent." Successful New Covenant Christianity is all about "believing in Jesus". That goes for our initial salvation and everything related to our spiritual growth process and our final salvation.
Let's, for a moment, consider 2 P. 1:3, 4. Let's look at our New Covenant Canaan land and see what we think. Are we ready to cross over? Are we ready to humble ourselves and go "down under" (that's what Jordan means) and allow the word of God to wash us? Lord help us to see our spiritual promised land. By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires.
How does this all become a personal living reality? What must I do, crawl a thousand miles on crushed glass? What? What does God want from me? What's my part in this salvation deal? Believing in Jesus! Oh my, that sounds simply too easy. Surly there must be more to it. Ask anyone whose been on the way for a while. If there's any honesty in their hearts at all they'll be quick to tell you that Christianity isn't hard to live, it's impossible. It was impossible for Israel to conquer Canaan but they did it. They did it because God fought for them. God went before them! God brought down their enemies. He'll do the same for us in New Covenant. He'll bring us fully into our salvation if we look to Him, if we trust Him for our needs.
He's given us everything we need. Then why so many failures? Isn't God big enough? Wasn't the blood of Christ good enough? What must we do to live as Jesus did? What must we do to inherit the promises and to personally experience the "everything we need for life and godliness" in our lifetime? It's about believing in Jesus. It's all about believing in His saving power. It's all about believing that when I run out of gas, when I've come to the end of myself that as I turn to Him, as I look to Him, He will step in and make up the difference. New Covenant Christianity, successful New Covenant Christianity is all about Christ doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Successful Christianity is possible for us all because Jesus is for us all. He is capable. When I'm "maxed out" on my love. When I've come to the end of my "love road" and they're nothing left to give; Jesus has "the more I need". Be encouraged Christ in you is your personal hope of glory today as well as tomorrow. (Col.1:27)
Heb 11:6 - And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. When we sincerely seek the Lord to meet our needs He will reward us with His "all sufficient" regardless of our need. It might be love, or joy, or peace, or endurance, or (put your need in here).
NOW LET'S CARRY THIS THROUGH TO REVIVAL, personal, family, local church, national and global. God what are you saying? How do you see the Church today? What must we do to be involved in the works of God in the twenty-first century? What's are the keys of the Kingdom for today? As I ask myself these questions it's as though I can hear an audible voice in the depths of my heart and soul saying, "This is the work I require of you that you believe in My Son Jesus."
It's absolutely irrelevant where we live on this globe, Jesus Christ is Lord and He's still the Head over all things to His Church. He began the work of building the spiritual house of God and He's well able and committed to its completion.
When Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father He commissioned His disciples to carry on His work. He sent them, He gifted them, he baptized them with the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts is filled with the works of God done through people filled with the Holy Spirit. Nothing has changed. I don't know where you live but where I am pastoring I personally need more. I'm not presently experiencing the book of Acts in our home church or in the community.
Deut. 4:29 - But from there you will search again for the LORD your God. And if you search for Him with all your heart and soul, you will find Him.
God bless and be encouraged Jesus never fails and He never fails us.
