God Thoughts No. Twenty-Seven

There was a phrase or saying that I have heard quite a bit lately swirling around in my head the other day...

"The finished work of the Cross..."

When I realized that I was hearing it in my head, I stopped and asked,

 "Is this an accurate saying?"

I was then struck with how those particular words actually limit the life of Jesus.

To say that Jesus' death on the Cross finished His work is error.

Because of God's amazing love for us, He sent Jesus to the earth to walk and live among us as one of us. (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10)

In His desire for us to be able relate to Him, He came to the earth just as we come to the earth;
 through the birth of a human mother.

He was nurtured and cared for, worked and lived and had relationships, just as us.

He was born so the prophesy would be fulfilled;

"God with us." (Isaiah 7:14)

This is Good News!

His birth, however, was signified by both joy and terror.

There were those who rejoiced in the arrival of the promised Savior.

And there were those who were threatened by Him.

The terror felt by those threatened by Him is the very thing which led Him to be crucified.

By submitting Himself to the punishment of the Cross for sins He never committed, He took upon Himself the sins of us all - every single human being who has ever lived and for those yet to be born.

He died upon the Cross so that you and I would not have to.

(Matthew 20:19, 27:31; Mark 15:15, 25)

This is Good News!

But it doesn't stop there!

Because three days later, Jesus rose from the dead, proclaiming Victory over death!

(Luke 24)

This victory over death is promised to everyone!
It is a gift which one must choose either to accept or to reject.
Faith in, acceptance of, Christ as Savior guarantees this victory.

This is Good News!

And guess what?

There's more!

After Jesus rose from the grave, He revealed Himself to people.

He showed up at their meetings and had conversations and meals with them - fellowship.

(Book of Acts)

He wanted them to see Him in the flesh one last time.

This is Good News!

After a time, He ascended into heaven, back into His rightful place on the throne.

BUT not before reminding us of His promise that he has prepared a place for us.
(John 14:2-3)

Everyone who believes in Him as Savior, has a guaranteed place in heaven.
This is Good News!

It's important to understand that Jesus has "been" since before time began.
(John 1:1-5)
Not only His work on the Cross, but His very being is what completes us.
We are forgiven because of Jesus.
We are healed because of Jesus.
We are whole because of Jesus.
This is God News!

If you already know Him as Savior, you are complete.
So live it!

If you don't know Him yet, as Savior, you can right now.
All you have to do is believe it in your heart and tell Him that it is so.

Once you do, forgiveness, healing and wholeness are yours!

Hallelujah!