The last words Jesus spoke on the cross were the most powerful words the world has ever heard: “It is finished” (John 19:30). The key issue is; understanding what truly was finished, what did He accomplish?
Earlier He revealed His main purpose for coming: “that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Many of the Jewish people who had heard these words understood He fulfilled the promise spoken of by Isaiah; “the warfare is ended” and “iniquity is pardoned” (Isaiah 40:2). He overcame the power of iniquity—effects of sin—and authority of the enemy of our soul—Satan the adversary. Mankind’s opportunity is to receive and appropriate His victory over the law of sin and death and invoke the grace of the operatives of the law of the Spirit in realizing God’s justice.
RELEVANCE
Isaiah revealed another key to appropriating Messiah’s victory.
“Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the LORD is His treasure” (Isaiah 33:6).
God’s wisdom, in essence, is gained from living in a state of reverence towards Him—the fear of the Lord. It is gained by engaging with Him and receiving His truth; the knowledge His heart and ways. It will securely, firmly and truly establish your present and eternal state of peace and well-being (salvation), which is His treasured reward.
Paul reconciled how Abraham “believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). He further reconciled the Mosaic Law in the context of all the prophetic words about the Messiah. He grasped how “the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4) and how God’s justice in determining right-standing with Him is an issue of trusting faith, not works, “that it might be according to grace” so that God’s promises would be realized by all who receive and embrace it (see Romans 4).
Coming to this understanding brings you to a settled state of peace of soul with God. It comes by grace, and the work of the Holy Spirit’s refreshing and revelation of truth.
REFLECT AND RELATE
Read and meditate on Romans 4-8; going back and forth. See how Paul reconciled the truth of the justice and mercy of God, and how it brought him to a state of peace with God. Then catch the revelation he expounded upon in Philippians 3.
REFERENCES
Colossians 1:19; Philippians 3:1-21