JESUS, THE GREAT ACCOMPLISHER -- Tomorrow:
"And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight." (Colossians 1:20-22)
Devotion 14 of 32
ALL THINGS RECONCILED BY CHRIST, #2
" . . . by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself . . . "
The Holy Spirit is very definitive in revealing that all of God's dealings with us are THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. No person has a direct relationship with the Father. It is all through the Son. Initially we come to God "by Him" (John 14:6), and throughout the walk of faith we are coming to God "by Him" (Heb 7:25). It is not possible to become so spiritual that you do not need Jesus. There is no such thing as a relationship with the God of heaven that does not require His Son.
This further accentuates the extent to which sin has complicated the human condition. A brief review of Christ's pivotal and essential position in the entirety of salvation will serve to confirm this.
1. Grace and truth came BY Jesus Christ (John 1:17).
2. Peace is preached BY Jesus Christ (Acts 10:36).
3. God will judge the secrets of men BY Jesus Christ (Rom 2:16).
4. Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life BY Jesus Christ (Rom 5:12).
5. God will raise us from the dead BY Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:14).
6. God reconciled us to Himself BY Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:18).
7. God predestinated us to adoption to Himself BY Jesus Christ (Eph 1:5).
8. The fruits of righteousness are BY Jesus Christ (Phil 1:11).
9. Our spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God THROUGH Jesus Christ (1 Pet 2:5).
10. We are alive to God THROUGH Jesus Christ (Rom 6:11).
11. The gift of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ (Rom 6:23).
12. We thank God THROUGH Jesus Christ (Rom 7:25).
13. God receives glory THROUGH Jesus Christ (Rom 16:27).
14. The blessing of Abraham has come on the Gentiles THROUGH Jesus Christ (Gal 3:14).
15. The Holy Spirit is shed on us abundantly THROUGH Jesus Christ (Tit 3:6).
16. God works in us what is well pleasing in His sight THROUGH Jesus Christ (Heb 13:21).
17. Consolation abounds in us BY Christ (2 Cor 1:5).
18. God is given glory through the church BY Christ (Eph 3:21).
19. God supplies all of our need according to His riches in glory BY Christ (Phil 4:19).
20. God has called us to eternal glory BY Christ (1 Pet 5:10).
21. We come to God BY Christ (Heb 7:25).
22. BY Christ we offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually (Heb 13:15).
23. BY Christ we believe in God (1 Pet 1:21).
24. We are heirs of God THROUGH Christ (Gal 4:7).
25. God's kindness is toward us THROUGH Christ (Eph 2:7).
26. The peace of God keeps our hearts and minds THROUGH Christ (Phil 4:7).
27. We can do all things THROUGH Christ (Phil 4:13).
There are twenty-seven pivotal aspects of salvation, and they are all accomplished in Christ, AND IN HIM ALONE. No part of salvation can be realized independently of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is by Divine intent. As soon as the Lord Jesus recedes into the background, all of the benefits realized in Him begin to disappear. When Jesus is upstaged, taking a subordinate position to anyone or anything else, it is at the expense all that comes through Him.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for a salvation that provides for me, but does not center in me.