John 19:28-30 – – “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”  29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” NKJV

When I think about Salvation and what is needed to receive Salvation I think of this passage of Scripture where Jesus said, “IT IS FINISHED!”  The final divine legally satisfying act to complete the transaction of purchasing man back from the “dominion” of the devil “spiritually” had been completed. 

Divine Justice had been satisfied that “blood had been shed” in sacrifice for sin.  Jesus’ innocent blood had been shed to satisfy the penalty for the sin of mankind and allowed us the opportunity to be “transferred” from the Kingdom of darkness into the “Kingdom of Light” through the Blood of Jesus that He shed on the Cross.  HE PAID OUR DEBT!  He broke the legal hold that Satan had on man and now we can “Whosoever will, can come unto Him” and receive His mercy!  THAT IS CAUSE FOR REJOICING!

The work is “complete”.  How complete is complete?  What else must be done to obtain Salvation?  Is there something that we must do to EARN IT?  NO!  Is there something other than repentance and accepting Him as Savior that we need to do?  NO!  The action on our part is to believe and receive.  The action on our part is to recognize the fact that we “have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” repent of our sins and accept His sacrifice and atonement.  At that point, He accepts us into the beloved and we become part of the family of God. 

The process after that of maturity is lengthy and lifelong but the door has been opened. Divine Justice has been satisfied.  The Cross is the symbol of the ultimate victory of Jesus over the devil and the triumph of mankind.  That’s why I value the empty Cross, the Empty Tomb, and the Risen Lord!  He has prepared for us an Eternal Abode that where He is we may be also!

Therefore, just a Joseph responded when I am confronted with sin or temptation my question is, “How could I sin against my master and my God in this way?”  Oh, I stumble, we all do. But I/We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous to make intercession for us. When we run to the Cross in repentance He accepts us into the beloved and restores our fellowship with God.

Truly, we are weak but He is strong. We must never despair over a stumble here or there but fix our eyes on the ultimate goal and the Finished Work of Jesus on the Cross! It is here that we declare “For, I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”  We then can walk in complete peace knowing that the Work of Salvation has been Completed in Eternity and in us. We do not have to and cannot Earn it, we simply Receive it!

It is my prayer that you go through your new week with exuberant joy, complete peace, and filled with rejoicing as you walk in the Keeping Power of the Lord!  Blessings!