TODAY'S VERSE:

John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
 
As we continue to learn more about eternal security in prep school, we focus on what gives us this confidence that we will spend forever with God- the cross! Jesus Christ said, “It is finished”. What is finished exactly? Well, pretty much “everything” is the answer to that one! Jesus Christ accomplished all He needed to ensure His family would live with Him forever. He did it ALL!
 
Ephesians 1:7-8a In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished on us.
 
God the Father looks at sin as being completely paid for – redemption – by Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus Christ’s work on the cross, God the Father has been completely satisfied concerning the sin issue. He doesn’t want us to concentrate on our failures and sins; He wants us to concentrate on Jesus Christ! Jesus made perfect peace with the Father for us – reconciliation. Our debt concerning sin has been completely cancelled because Jesus Christ paid it! The sin barrier between God and mankind has been completely removed. This gives all mankind the opportunity to believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life! Sin is not the issue; the issue is what do we think of Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ satisfied the justice of God! If we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we will be justified. This means that because of Christ’s work on the cross, we can be declared righteous by God. Once that happens we are no longer under condemnation! We are no longer to feel guilty – guilt has been taken away! Jesus Christ has taken care of everything! He wants us to live in His righteousness or goodness.
 
Romans 5:8-11 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
 
As believers, we are now to live by faith. We are to believe that Jesus Christ accomplished all He needed to do to ensure that His family would live with Him forever. What God wants us to do is to learn His word and obey Him! God the Holy Spirit will use His power to make sure that we understand God’s teaching in the Bible; and, He will give us His power to obey God! We have the best Helper – God! He doesn’t want us to worry about ANYTHING; He wants us to learn about Him and His goodness and He will take care of all of our needs! God is excited about taking care of us in this life and seeing us in Heaven! Just think about that!

Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
 
All believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have been set apart or sanctified by God to be members of His family – the body of Christ. It is also called the Church. We can think of it as a team with Jesus Christ as our Coach. His rules and strategy for the team are in the Bible. In order to be a good team member, we need to be humble. This means we will listen to legitimate authority and be teachable. If we are teachable, we will have an open mind and we can learn God’s rules and strategy for His team. We will learn to work together, helping and encouraging each other for God’s glory. Now we can’t do this on our own; we do it through the power of God the Holy Spirit! Believers are one big family with Jesus Christ as our Head, God the Holy Spirit as our power, for the purpose of bringing glory to God! Jesus Christ has “finished” or accomplished everything we need to be cooperative and useful members of the body of Christ and to have His eternal life!  He did it ALL!
 
Ephesians 4:11-13 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.