Last week, we talked about the old covenant & new covenant. It is important we ,as a believer, know what is installed for us in the new covenant because it will dictate how we carry ourselves as a Christian and live out our lives. Right believing produce right living.
Then, we went on to talk about Adam & Jesus. One who disobey God and brought sin into this world. The other One who obey God and became the sacrificial Lamb , shed His blood so that our sins are forgiven forever and our standing before God are ALWAYS righteous. Amen! And most importantly, we need to know this as a believer, we CANNOT un-do this righteousness. Because it is a gift, not self-righteousness but the gift of righteousness. The moment we receive Christ Jesus in our lives, we are given this gift of righteousness. The Bible says this in:
Romans 5:17
17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
and when we continue Roman 5:18-19
18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
All these abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness are only for the new covenant believers. Just because it is free, don't walk away thinking "cheap grace". Just because it is free, don't treat this gift lightly. Jesus paid the price at the cross!
Unfortunately, today in this world, people tend to use this word "grace" loosely and cheapen the meaning. E.g. when we drive to a car park, a signboard at the entrance state " 10 minutes grace period". Even the word "redeem". E.g. If you collect ten stickers, you can redeem a water bottle (limited edition).
Worst of all, people start to use/curse our Lord's name when something bad happen in their life. This is how they value our Lord.
But, if we know the value of this Man, we will not say "cheap grace". "Redemption" is a BIG word and is more than just a limited edition water bottle.
The value of this Man is so great that even when He said "It is finished" at the cross, that work of His (redemption) is still effective 2000 years later for you and I. Hallelujah!
Now let's be clear with this. Jesus WAS NOT murdered! He laid down His life willingly. He chose to be led like a lamb to the slaughterhouse. He had so much favor that when He stood before Pontius Pilate, Pilate actually tried various means to release Jesus. Jesus had to keep His mouth shut in order to have Himself crucified!
He had the power at any time to stop the soldiers who held Him. In fact, the men who had gone to arrest Him in the Garden of Gethsemane fell to the ground when He said,"I am..." Jesus had to wait for them to get up to arrest Him!
Jesus CHOSE to be subject to the beatings, abuse and scourging. He CHOSE to be crucified on the cross at Calvary. Through it all, He endured every act of torture, so that He could wash away all our sins and reconcile us to God. How can we help but love and worship our Savior, who paid such a heavy price for our salvation?
With such understanding, our posture as a Christian today is no longer about trying to focus on what must we DO to please God...All need to be done have already been DONE at the cross. That's why Jesus said "It is finished."
If I come to you and ask you "Do you need any help on baking that "kueh lapis"? You said "It is DONE." Question: Do I go to the kitchen and whip up more eggs & flour or do I sit down and enjoy the "kueh lapis" you made? If I go to the kitchen and whip up another "kueh lapis", I am literally saying your "kueh lapis" is not good enough, I am insulting your work.
Likewise, today, as a Christian, we sit down (rest) and enjoy on His finished work. We no longer try to do more righteous deeds to "earn" our healing or favor from God. If we try to put in our own effort to receive healing, we are literally saying Jesus finished work is not good enough, we are insulting His work. Amen!
Therefore, the focus is not on what to DO but on what is already DONE. Does His finished work include healing? Yes, then we confess healing & health over our body because of His finished work. Does His finished work include depression and taking away worries in our lives? Yes, then we confess deliverance from depression and worries because of His finished work. Does His finished work include favor from God? Yes, then we confess favor from God because of His finished work. Amen! Hallelujah!
Wow! I don't about you, but I am in love with Jesus. Not that I should boast in my own effort, the Bible say we love because He first love us. The fruit (result) of touching Grace is love, joy, peace.... Loving Jesus is out of the fruit of the Spirit (Christ-focus) and not out of the effort of flesh (self-focus). Only the fruit can sustain such love.
Do you know what is Jesus doing today at His Father right hand? I'll leave you with this passage to meditate:
Hebrews 10:11-14 (NKJV)
11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Hebrews 10:11-14 (AMP)
11 Furthermore, every [human] priest stands [at his altar of service] ministering daily, offering the same sacrifices over and over again, which never are able to strip [from every side of us] the sins [that envelop us] and take them away—
12 Whereas this One [Christ], after He had offered a single sacrifice for our sins [that shall avail] for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,
13 Then to wait until His enemies should be made a stool beneath His feet.
14 For by a single offering He has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy.
Remember, Jesus has finished all the work. Our attitude today should be like Jesus today sit down (rest) with a throne attitude. Today, when the enemies come against us, we fight from victory and not for victory. Today, we behold His glory and not strive for His glory because we already have, we behold. That glory left at the garden of Eden when Adam sinned against God. That same glory is with us today because Jesus at the cross has purged ALL our sins. Amen! Hallelujah!
Grace & Peace be with you!
Shalom,
Bro
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