“…And with His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:6), “Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them.” (Jeremiah 33:6)
Dear Ones:
Christianity is so remarkably different from every other religion that has ever existed simply because it begins with what has been perfectly, completely finished. The life of a Christian is a process of constantly becoming by word and deed, what we already ARE in Christ. The work of Calvary, in the eyes of God, has severed us from all that does not have its origin and essence in Christ. When Paul writes that, “…old things are passed away,” he means it in every sense possible. Again, in the eyes of God, for the believer, Christ has dealt with all that is not of God in one defining moment when He declared: “It is finished.”
The resurrection of Christ from the dead was the declaration for time and eternity that what He uttered on the Cross was the truth. The work IS finished, and complete. Nothing can be added to it, and though sinful man may seek to alter it, or Satan try to “copy” it, it remains in tact, and cannot be altered. When the day of Pentecost came, power was given to men by the Spirit of God, not only to believe in this glorious work, but to LIVE in the reality of it. The message of the Gospel is powerful because it leads us to Christ who IS our power.
How do we apply the great reality of Christ’s work on the Cross, and KNOW His healing work? We begin, not with our past, or our efforts, or anything in and of ourselves, but with Christ. The Gospel is good news because it brings us to Christ alone as our Life. It shuts us up to Him, that all of our trust and expectation should be in Him, and in Him alone. When Paul wrote that he was, “… crucified with Christ,” he spoke of a work DONE. When he tells us that for him, “… to live is Christ,” he is ushering us into the greatest personal spiritual reality of all time…we live IN Christ, and have ALL IN Him.
“Jesus, Thy life is mine, and ever more shall be, hidden in Thee, for NOTHING can untwine Thy life from mine. The blessed reality of resurrection power, the church’s dower, Life more abundantly, Lord give to me.” These tremendous words of an old hymn declare God’s “platform” for faith, from which Life is to be launched and lived. May He give us grace today to begin with Christ, and end with Him in all things…giving thanks and praise to God, for His unspeakable Gift.
Dear Father, open our eyes to see the enormous blessing in/of Christ, and to grasp the finality of His work. Lord Jesus, Thou hast healed us with Thy stripes. Strengthen our hearts to take that which is true in this glorious gospel, making it ours by faith, to live BY the Son of God, who has loved us and gave Himself for us. Then we shall KNOW and experience Thy healing work, that which is true of us IN Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad