John 19:30 (NLT) When Jesus had tasted it, He said, “It is finished!” Then He bowed His head and released His Spirit.
Today and everyday, we can gratefully greet the day knowing that Jesus’ Finished Work on the Cross is ours. With His completed work, Jesus provide each of us a 7 fold gift:
Jesus’ Finished Work On The Cross (Isaiah 53:4-5)
1) Complete Forgiveness (Jeremiah 31:34)
2) Removing Condemnation and Fear from Our Lives (Romans 8:1 & Hebrews 2:14-15)
3) Healing Of Our Bodies (Matthew 8:17)
4) He restored our Right Identity (Galatians 2:20 & Colossians 2:10)
5) Provided each of us a never ending friendship (John 15:12-17)
6) Gave us the Complete Inheritance (Ephesians 1:11-14)
7) Giving Each of Us Blessings Today and Forever (Galatians 3:13-14 & Psalm 21:6)
WILL AND TESTAMENT (INEHERITANCE)
Ephesians 1:11 (NLT) Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an Inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan.
When someone dies, there is an inheritance left to those who remain on earth. When Jesus died for each of us, He left each of us the Complete Inheritance. I guess you could say we were in His Will.
Colossians 1:12 (NIV)…and giving joyful thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the Inheritance of His holy people in the Kingdom of light.
So exactly what did you and I receive when Jesus died for us. What is our Inheritance? There are two dimensions of our Complete Inheritance…the Spiritual and the Visible.
OUR SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Who is a deposit guaranteeing our Inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His Glory.
On the Cross Jesus became our righteousness and when He “released His Spirit,” His Holy Spirit sealed His righteousness in each of us who believes. (1 Peter 3:18)
2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP) For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
It is impossible for you and I or anyone to live up to God’s standards on their own. This is what the Word of God says about our righteous acts or good deeds apart from Jesus’ Finished Work on the Cross:
Isaiah 64:6 (NIV) All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Since you and I and no other human being can ever live up to God’s standard, Jesus’ lived God’s high standards for us. Then Jesus took our unrighteousness upon His body on the Cross and replaced our lack of righteous with His righteousness. Because of Jesus’ Finished Work on the Cross, you and I were forgiven of ALL our sins, ALL our condemnation and manifestations of guilt were completely removed and we were made righteous. This means by the Cross you and I became what we ought to be, approved and accepted by God, and in right relationship with God. All of this was accomplished by His Goodness and Love toward us.
II Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
You and I can proclaim that we are as righteous, right or as holy as God “in Christ Jesus”. Because you and I have been made righteous neither the world, our own thoughts or
the devil can lay “a guilt trip” or negative accusations upon us ever again (1 John 3:19-22 & 1 Corinthians 4:3-5). God’s righteousness in you and me is a great weapon as it allows each of us to refute any lie and accusation of the evil one as well as to take our own self-condemning thoughts captive.
Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV) “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord , And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord .
THE VISIBLE INHERITANCE
By Jesus’ Finished Work on the Cross, we have been made righteous which qualifies each of us for God’s Richest Blessings and Favor upon our lives. Only by the Cross we were made righteous and through the Covenant established at the Cross, we are blessed.
Psalm 5:12 (NIV) Surely, Lord , you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
The Lord blesses the “righteous”. You and I have been made righteous by what Jesus did on the Cross. Therefore, we are blessed and His favor rest upon us today and every day. By faith in Jesus’ Finished Work on the Cross, the blessing Jesus gained for us touches every area of our lives.
Galatians 3:6 (NIV) Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM
Galatians 3:13-14 (NAS) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us– for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”– in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles (you and I), so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. ALL the Blessings Abraham enjoyed are yours and mine today because of the Cross.
Genesis 24:1 (NAS) Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in every way.
Because of Jesus’ Finished Work on the Cross you and I will be blessed in every way just as the Lord blessed Abraham in “every way”. This is our heritage in Jesus. May we not disqualify ourselves by our words and fears from ALL that Jesus’ has gained for us on the Cross. Jesus’ Finished Work on the Cross has provided you and I the Great Inheritance…Righteousness and All the Blessings of Abraham.
All of God’s Love to you,
Gary and Debbie Landon
wowwordoftheweek.co.nr
