Day 168 "Jesus Did 100% of the Prep Work For Our Christianity"

When it comes to painting a room in a house, a high percentage of time and effort spent preparing the room before the actual painting is done leads to the best results. It takes time and effort to fill in the holes and dents with patch compound or spackling. So does sanding out the little bumps and imperfection on the walls. Those bigger areas that need repair might need additional attention which would then require a primer to be used to get the texture right to paint over. Then, there is the cutting in of all the edges with a paint brush before rolling the paint on the wall with a roller. Yes, a lot goes into painting a room, if you want it done right and for it to look good.

Imagine the effort it would take on our part to get our lives right and be justified before we could enter into a relationship with God, a God who is holy and just. What would ever be enough? Did I serve enough? Did I always love? Did I give enough money? Did I confess all my sins? Did I make right to others for all my wrongs? Was I good enough? "Enough" will probably be the one word that you will not hear when it comes to living your Christian walk by what you do, living it by your actions, judged by your performance. Thus, on this side of heaven, no one really knows if one's made the grade through one's efforts and actions until its too late. Because no one knows when enough is enough except for God.

Thank God, that through his love and mercy and grace, that he provided the way for us to be reconciled to him and fully prepared to enter into his heavenly kingdom when our lives here on Earth come to a close. Jesus did it all! No, not just a large portion of it. He did it

all! Dying on the cross, Jesus paid the complete penalty for our unrighteousness and through his actions, we become 100 % holy and righteous in God's sight.

"For by one sacrifice he made perfect forever those who are being made holy."

Romans 10:14

"He set aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been

made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Romans 10:10

This holiness means that a great exchange had taken place. When Jesus died, he took our unrighteous upon him and gave us his righteousness in its place. When God looks at us through Christ, he sees the same righteousness as when he looks at Jesus. Our sins are completely covered past, present, and everything in the future. It is important to understand this because without it, you will always question or feel the need to add something more from your effort to totally secure the way you look before God. Alan Wright, the senior pastor of Reynolda Church in Winston-Salem, NC, states:

Jesus + anything= an unlimited amount of fear and anxiety added to our lives.

Jesus died to set us free.

"The only thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6

"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and

to love one another as he commanded us." 1 John 3:23

"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of

the law; rather through the law we become conscious of our sin." Romans 3:20

"But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to

which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through

faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." Romans 3:21-22

"and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by

Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood-to be received by faith." Romans 3:24-25

"For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the workds of the

law." Romans 3:28

In Jesus, you have been completely freed from your old nature and have been spiritual reborn into an eternal relationship with God. That is what I call perfection. And Jesus did it all, 100% ! We, now, have nothing to fear from God. In fact, we have nothing but his love to look forward to!

"Perfect love casts out all fear." 1 John 4:18

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"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

Be anxious for nothing. Jesus has gone before you and totally prepared the way.

In his love, see you tomorrow...

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love