CHAPTER 15
THE FINISHED WORKS
THE SON OF GOD WAS MANIFESTED THAT HE MIGHT DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL. 1 John, Chapter 3, Verse 8. Jesus came to crush the head of the Serpent and REVERSE THE CURSE. Christ bore our sins on the Cross and was raised from the dead so mankind could again find the Paradise of God through intimate fellowship and relationship with Him.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. John, Chapter 3, Verse 16. The concept of Everlasting Life is not only about living forever, but rather about having an everlasting relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Life. Eternal Life does not exist without Christ. We are the carriers of His Life through the Light of Understanding in the Knowledge of Christ Jesus.
IN HIM WAS LIFE AND THAT LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN. Heaven is the Paradise of God. The Tree of Life does not exist outside the Paradise of God. Jesus has lifted us up to dwell with Him in Heavenly Places far above all principalities and powers. We dwell with Him in Heavenly Places because His Life and Light brings us Eternal Life and Understanding. The Tree of Life dwells in the heart of all who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.
BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, THAT THEY MAY HAVE RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE, AND MAY ENTER IN THROUGH THE GATES INTO THE CITY. Revelation, Chapter 22, Verse 14.
Without Christ we cannot enter into the Throne Room of God to find grace and help in the time of need. Grace opened the doorway to Heaven, but Christ is the door (gate) to the City. Faith in the FINISHED WORKS OF CHRIST is the KEY which opens the door to the City for all who believe. Believing what Jesus accomplished at the Cross REVERSES THE CURSE when we are trusting in His finished works.
Faith in the FINISHED WORKS OF CHRIST is all we need to find peace and rest in this World. Because Christ finished the work He was sent to earth to accomplish, we can rest in faith. WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD. Therefore, if we are going to please God we must possess and maintain a measure of Faith.
THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER
WHEN JESUS THEREFORE HAD RECEIVED THE VINEGAR, HE SAID, IT IS FINISHED: AND HE BOWED HIS HEAD AND GAVE UP THE GHOST. John, Chapter 19, Verse 30. If we have Faith in the FINISHED WORKS OF CHRIST we are His chosen, His anointed, and His children.
When Jesus was dying on the Cross He said “IT IS FINISHED”— which in Greek means “It is paid in full.” In making this statement Jesus was confirming to a lost and dying World that the curse of sin had been transferred to Him. He, who knew no sin, had become sin in order that mankind could find Eternal Life through Faith in His sacrifice. Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.
THEN SAID I, LO, I COME: IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME. Psalms 40, Verse 7; Hebrews, Chapter 10, Verse 7. Jesus delighted in doing the Will of His Father. God’s laws were written on His Heart. Jesus came to bring spiritual sight to spiritually blinded eyes and undo what the Serpent had accomplished in the Garden of Eden.
Christ is the AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. Jesus, despising the shame but looking forward to the joy that was before Him, became the eternal Author and Finisher of our faith. He penned the very words which offer salvation to the souls of all who choose to believe In Him.
Every prophetic jot and tittle in Scripture was fulfilled by the Author Himself. Jesus dotted every “i” and crossed every “t” which was written by Him. He left no question unanswered regarding who He was and what He was sent to Earth to accomplish. The Light of Christ became our understanding. He fulfilled every letter that formed each word, and every word that completed each sentence and then sat down at the RIGHT HAND OF GOD.
MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD. Matthew, Chapter 4, Verse 4. Christ fulfilled every word the Ancient Scribes wrote about Him. He was the BREAD OF LIFE, as well as the TREE OF LIFE. His LIFE is the LIGHT which leads us down the PATH LEAST TRAVELED toward the Tree of Life.
Christ is the Truth, the Life and the Way. He is the Living Word. The Word became Flesh, dwelt among men, and now dwells within their hearts if they accept Him as Lord and Savior. He is the SEED OF PROMISE which bruised the head of the Serpent at Calvary.
The Word of Life (Christ) leads us down the road of life toward the Tree of Life. He is our Life, and without Him, living is in vain. Without Christ, we are nothing. In Him we become the sons and daughters of God, and God is not ashamed to call us His own.
BEHOLD, HE CAME IN THE BOOK WRITTEN OF HIM, to fulfill the Will of the Father for Him to become a Living Sacrifice for our sins. BEHOLD, HE STILL WALKS IN THE PAGES OF THE BOOK to fulfill and complete His glorious work in us. He sent His Word to heal and deliver mankind from all of their destructions. Psalms, 107, Verse 20.
When we see Christ in the VOLUME OF THE BOOK which was written of Him, we must see ourselves doing the things He did. He has given us the GREAT COMMISION to “go into the World and Preach the Gospel.” Mark, Chapter 16, Verses 15-18. As we walk down the PATH LEAST TRAVELED, we must DENY OURSEVLVES AND PICK UP OUR CROSS TO FOLLOW AFTER HIM.
When reading the VOLUME OF THE BOOK, we must find ourselves feeding the hungry, healing the sick, raising the dead, and casting out demons just as Christ did during His earthly Ministry. This also is part of the Great Commission. If we are not doing all we have been commanded to do, we are not fulfilling the HIGH CALLING OF GOD.
When we see Jesus on the Cross, we must also see ourselves hanging on the Cross with Him. Paul said, “I AM CRCUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: AND THE LIFE THAT I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.” Galatians, Chapter 2, Verse 20.
ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE PERFECT (COMPLETE), THROUGHLY FURNISHED UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS. 2 Timothy, Chapter 3, Verses 16-17.
We find everything we need to be complete in Christ in the Word of God. His Word will thoroughly furnish us with “FRUIT THAT REMAINS,” as we eat daily from the Tree of Life. The Book that was written of Him, by Him, and through Him, enables us to walk the PATH LEAST TRAVELED.
If you are struggling as you press toward the MARK OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST, there is hope in HIS FINISHED WORKS. We are transformed into the image of Christ by the renewing of our minds, line upon line and precept upon precept in each Volume of the Book written of Him and by Him—THE BIBLE.
The scripture tells us that ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. In whatever situation we find ourselves, we must take every opportunity to grow in Christ. If we will seek Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding in every circumstance of life, we will find Christ anxiously waiting and willing to instruct us in Righteousness.
MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND IN CHRIST JESUS. MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU SAFE IN YOUR PURSUIT OF HIM.
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, OR IF YOU HAVE BACKSLIDDEN OR NOT SURE WHERE YOU SHOULD BE IN THE LORD—PLEASE PRAY THIS PRAYER AND ASK JESUS TO COME INTO YOUR HEART AND LIFE:
FATHER I COME TO YOU IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON JESUS. I ADMIT THAT I AM A SINNER AND THAT I HAVE COME SHORT OF YOUR GLORY. I BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS FOR MY SINS AND THAT YOU RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD. I KNOW THAT IT WAS FOR ME THAT JESUS DIED. I AM SORRY FOR ALL THE SINS I HAVE COMMITTED. PLEASE FORGIVE ME AND COME INTO MY HEART RIGHT NOW. I ALSO ASK YOU TO FILL ME WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.
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