Welcome to Hank’s Place — Updated Classics
At the Cross, Jesus dealt with our sins – all of them, past, present and future. Those of all mankind actually. He hung on that Cross while the wrath of God was poured out in punishment for those sins. Jesus took it all, out of love for us, and then yielded up His life — for us. Don’t think for a moment that God does not love you!
In exchange, He gave all who believe in Him, His righteousness. It’s a free gift —but is a gift that can only be received by faith. Jesus also made us heirs of God, sons, with a full inheritance. This is beyond human comprehension.
Now, here is the issue: so many people, including many pastors, seminary professors, TV and Internet voices, miss – the Cross. They mention the Cross, but fail to grasp that EVERYTHING concerning our relationship to God — has changed. They bring Old Covenant LAW, which was NOT written for us who live this side of Calvary, right on into their preaching and teaching. Law and grace mixed together.
Hmmm. They don’t mix my friend. It is a mixture that keeps us from moving forward in who we are in Christ Jesus and keeps us weak, downcast, condemned!
Listen. BEFORE the Cross we were blessed IF we obeyed and cursed if we didn’t. But AFTER the Cross we are blessed because Christ obeyed, and through Him we have been redeemed from the curse of the law.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28, BEFORE the Cross, reads, “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, IF you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, IF you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.”
Now listen to Paul, writing AFTER the Cross in Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Where are the commandments? Where are the threats? They are not there. We are blessed because of Jesus work at Calvary.
And how about: Galatians 3:13, “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””
Give Jesus praise today: believe in Him and you are blessed. We receive blessings through the grace of God; we DO NOT earn them through works or obedience to a written law.
If you think you have to tick off the obedience boxes, or the servant boxes or the love boxes you will be under the law in no time and be missing out on God’s grace, “fallen from grace” as Galatians 5:4 says.
So, give up trying to earn God’s blessings. Get rid of those check boxes. Rejoice in Jesus and His work at Calvary, — you’ll COME ALIVE!
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