Jesus Finished the work!

God’s demands have been met. He wants nothing from you, except to remain in his Son. 

Everything comes from that anyway. And think of this- if God did not withhold his only Son from you, you can believe that there is nothing you can ask from him that he will withhold. 

If you have Jesus you have everything.

1 John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

But somewhere along the way you can miss how radical this message is. The message of Christianity is righteousness by proxy. I am holy because Jesus is my Scapegoat. 

Blame him for what I did. Treat me according to what he deserves… this is Radical Stuff! 

And this is exactly what God did. This is why God the Father sent Jesus. And Jesus did it willingly because he loves you and does not want to lose you. 

Today God treats us according to what Jesus deserves.Generally, most of us do not believe that. 

We slide back into thinking God will treat us according to our thoughts and deeds.

When times were hard, I blamed myself and thought maybe it was because I wasn’t working hard enough or doing this or that enough… wasn’t serving 

God enough, et cetera. 

I was “Christian” back then. Why was I clueless? Why was I acting Christless? We think we’re going through trouble because we have not done enough. 

And when times are good we pat ourselves on the back because we deserve it. Wrong.

Sunday after Sunday this wrong message is reinforced in thousands of pulpits around the world. The message that “God helps those who help themselves”, that faith is a matter of doing, and grace is received when we go through hoops for God. 

You need to live a repented life.. Wrong!

Luke 5:31Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Luke 15:7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Week after week they say “If you want to change ABC in your life, here’s what you need to do: X, Y and Z”. No. God helps the helpless. 

Remember that. We are the helpless. Not the strong. We have been forgiven much. That’s why we love much. This is OUR good news. Because we need it. This is OUR Savior- because we desperately need saving. 

Don’t count yourself among the strong. When you are weak, God makes you strong. 

Don’t think you can save yourself by following the “Law” or some remedy people prescribe you. I want to point you now to the only answer- Jesus, and his perfect, finished work on the cross.

What do we do with the Answer?

Receive it. When the disciples said “We have found the one —Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” I do not know if they realize what Jesus came to do. That he would die for them. Take their place. But you and I know this.

Whenever you need an answer, make Jesus your answer. 

Literally say it out loud: “Jesus is my answer for this _____. I will rest in his finished work on the cross.” 

Live each day this way. That’s how to be under grace. To rest and know that it’s all been done and stop believing it’s about You. Life is a gift to receive, not a work to accomplish.