“Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:29-30 KJV).
The Lord Jesus Christ walked on this planet for Thirty Three Years preparing to accomplish a penultimate rescue mission. His mission was mapped out with suffering unto death. Here in the brink of death, still he was subjected to torture. With battered physical body, hanging thirsty, He was poured with vinegar to drink from a sponge on a hyssop stick. This fulfills the prophecy in Psalm 69:21.
When the Lord Jesus declared “it is finished”, “Tetelestai” in Greek, all the resources of heaven for all our needs were unleashed for us to receive. So now, by faith in Christ Jesus, with total dependence on His provision of grace, we can come before Him in the posture of receiving. We don’t come to earn it. We come to receive as much as we can receive. He has so much to give by His fullness of grace (John 1:16).
In Luke's account, it is written: "Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last (Luke 23:46). And “giving up" His spirit to God the Father - His spirit was not stripped away from Him by force. He gave up His life! Affirming that no one takes His life. He gives it and will raise it up on the Third day (John 10:17-18). He gladly did it, because He loves you and I. By His death, He wants us to live by believing in Him. We receive this gift of life by grace, not by efforts to earn (Romans 6:23).
Religion, especially and including those who deceptively carry the Name of the Lord as label, teaches to work hard performing with their doctrines of rituals and indulgences to earn God’s favor. No! For those who truly believe in Christ Jesus the begotten Son of the true God - the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, His favor is not earned. It is a gift given by grace. It is undeserved favor His gives by grace to be received by faith (Matthew 9:29; 21:22; Hebrews 11:6).
Scriptures remind us His children by faith: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ” (Ephesians 1:7-9 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
Religion, especially and including those who deceptively carry the Name of the Lord as label, teaches to work hard performing with their doctrines of rituals and indulgences to earn God’s favor. No! For those who truly believe in Christ Jesus the begotten Son of the true God - the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, His favor is not earned. It is a gift given by grace. It is undeserved favor His gives by grace to be received by faith (Matthew 9:29; 21:22; Hebrews 11:6).
Scriptures remind us His children by faith: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ” (Ephesians 1:7-9 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
No comments:
Post a Comment