The Work That Was Finished on Calvary!

The Work That Was Finished on Calvary!

1) There, Jesus Christ the Just One died for us, the unjust. There we were reconciled to God! He therefore has the right and the authority to forgive us our sins. Most believers see nothing more in Jesus’ work on Calvary. Thus they also continue to sin throughout their entire life. Prior to coming to faith in this work, they were unconverted sinners. Now they are converted sinners; in other words, they are sinners in both cases.

2) Nevertheless, there was much more that took place in Jesus Christ. When He called out, “It is finished!” there was substantially more that was finished, that was perfected!

Our old man was crucified with Him. There we died with Him. There we died to all conscious sin; we died to ourselves, as Paul writes in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live . . . .” Most believers do not see this. This means that they do not believe it, and therefore it cannot have an effect in their lives, for all things happen by faith.

This is a great mystery that was revealed to the apostle. Moreover, those who believe it in all simplicity partake of an overcoming life. They overcome in all areas on all their ways for the very good reason that the one who causes us to sin, that is, our old man, was crucified by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Just as the Scriptures testify with all clarity: When the hindrance was thus removed, an overcoming, triumphant life was opened for us.

3) By means of the crucifixion on the cross of Calvary, this great and blessed and glorious work also occurred: the enmity between Jew and Gentile (all the other nations) was utterly destroyed! The wall of division, this powerful wall between different groups and thus also all the other denominational walls, was razed to the ground in and through Christ and His death on Calvary. Hallelujah!!!

These walls of division are forever eliminated in Jesus Christ! Eph. 2:14-16. Therefore all these religious denominations are both a sin and a shame. They are works of the flesh that, unfortunately, are very conspicuous to all worldly people. They are also a powerful obstacle when it comes to the conversion of many people.

Unfortunately, the fact that this work was finished on the cross of Calvary is also hidden to most people. It is based on the fact that Jesus put on flesh and blood in like manner as we. Heb. 2:14, 17. According to the Father’s method of reckoning, all of mankind’s flesh and blood was crucified; that is, our old man was crucified. Also all walls of division and all factional walls as well as all enmity were crucified. This is the great mystery of godliness that has a powerful and unimpeded effect when we believe in His work and in His Word like children—in all simplicity.

This faith has accomplished and continues to accomplish wonders among us!

The doctrine of Christ as the Head and we as His members, as well as each other’s members is also part of this great mystery of godliness. Eph. 5:30-32; 1 Cor. 6:15-17. We are as closely united as husband and wife: “The two shall become one flesh.” We are also one spirit with Him. We overcome in the power of the same Spirit that gave Him the power to overcome.

We overcome the same flesh, the same difficulties in that same power. All things are possible to him who believes!

When we in all simplicity believe that Christ is the Head and we are His members, we cannot view ourselves in any other way than being nailed to the cross together with Him, for all the members hung there, not only the Head! What a wonderful, amazing, and powerfully effective truth! A living, personally appropriated faith in this fact causes it not to fail.

The inscription INRI was written over Jesus’ head and body, which translated means: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. When we believe that we are members of His body, this royal title is also accorded to us, and this agrees with another Word that calls us kings and priests.

He is the firstborn among many brethren. Rom. 8:29. We are His brethren who were born later— not “so-called” brethren, but real brethren. Heb. 2:11-12.

God be highly praised for everything that was destroyed and for all those who were reconciled and made one in Jesus Christ!!! Blessed is everyone who believes!