Thursday, October 27, 2022

            The work of Jesus at the cross is beyond total human comprehension.  It is nothing short of extraordinary to consider what Christ did for us by paying the debt of sin.  We do not treat this lightly.  As one song puts it, “you are amazing, God.”  We remember and honor the work of Christ at the cross with reverence as we observe the bread and the cup in the Lord’s Supper.  We do not take this communion worship lightly or whimsically.  It is a holy moment whereby we remember the death of the Son of God and anticipate the day when believers will enjoy life with Him forever.  Paul wrote about the transformation that we experience through Jesus’ finished work at the cross.  In Ephesians 2:13-14, we read “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility...”  A few important truths about salvation stand out for us to see.
            First, salvation is only “in Christ Jesus.”  Our Lord said He is the way, the truth and the life.  There is no salvation apart from Him.  We cannot enjoy salvation and a living relationship with the Father unless we are “in” the Son.  We cannot walk with the Father unless we are positioned “in” the Son.  We might think it is repetitive or small-minded to emphasize the significance of that small word “in” but it is crucial in today’s world to understand the greatness and preeminence of Christ Jesus.  He is not one choice among many.  He is the only way we can be saved from sin and secure with the Father.  To be “in Christ” is everything!
            Second, believers were once far from God—separated, estranged, cut off.  Our sinfulness had driven a wedge between a holy God and sinful men and women.  But Christ removed that wedge of separation by His death at the cross.  There is a bridge that spans the great divide between God and us caused by our sins.  And that bridge is the cross that makes it possible for us to know, to access and to walk with the Father.  Paul wrote decisively, we “have been brought near.”  The separation ended the moment we took our place, by faith, at Calvary’s cross. 
            Third, Christ is our peace.  He not only brings peace; He is the embodiment of peace.  Christ is the living peace treaty between the Father and believers.  He experienced the judgment, justice and wrath of God so that we might enjoy peace, reconciliation and a reconnection with the Father.  There are, on average, about 106 deaths per minute around the world.  Many of those who perish each minute will enter into a Christless eternity.  If you are a believer, you can approach death with the peace you have in Christ.  For those who do not know Christ, call on Him now.  Confess your sins. Believe that He died for those sins and rose again and call upon His name alone, the name of Jesus, for your forgiveness, salvation and eternal assurance. 
            And fourth, Christ destroyed the barrier between the Father and us.  We can approach the Father directly through the Son.  We do not have to satisfy God by keeping the law, making sacrifices or hoping our good outweighs our bad.  The sin barrier was judged and removed.  By His blood, we are cleansed, forgiven and made new.  The old self has been crucified with Christ and the new self, the born-again believer, comes as a gift from the Father.  Give thanks today for what Christ has done.  Worship Him in wonder and joy for His accomplished and completed work.  Remember you can worship at any time at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.