“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great Salvation (G4991 – deliverance, rescue, healing, physical or moral); which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him . . . !” Hebrews 2:3-4
The Lord would have His people sound in the faith– not ignorant of the great Salvation so abundantly provided for them. They are not to look forward, thinking that at some future time a great work is to be done for them; for the work is now complete !
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is Finished (paid in full) ! ref: G5055 and 5056
The believer is not called upon to make his peace with God; he never has nor ever can do this. He is to accept Christ as his Peace, for with Christ is God and Peace. Christ made an end of sin, bearing its heavy curse in His Own body on the tree, and He hath taken away the curse from all those who believe in Him as a personal Saviour.
He makes an end of the controlling power of sin in the heart, and the life and character of the believer testify to the genuine character of the Grace of Christ.
Grace = (G5485), the Divine Influence upon the heart
Christ = (G5547), The Anointed, from (G5548), to rub or smear with oil, The Anointing
To those that ask Him, Jesus imparts the Holy Spirit; for it is necessary that every believer should be delivered from pollution, as well as from the curse and condemnation of the law. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the sanctification of the Truth . . . . Thy Word is Truth . . . . the Words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit and they are Life ! . . . . the believer becomes fitted for the courts of heaven; for Christ works within us, and His Righteousness is upon us.
ref: John 17:17 & 6:63.
Without this no soul will be entitled to heaven. We would not enjoy heaven unless qualified for its holy atmosphere by the Influence of the Spirit and the Righteousness of Christ !
In order to be candidates for heaven we must meet the requirement of the law: “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God (Jehovah, Yehuwah thy Elohim) with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself” (Luke 10:27). We can do this only as we grasp by faith the Righteousness of Christ.
By beholding Jesus (Yehushua – Jehovah’s Salvation) we receive a Living, expanding Principle (Seed) in the heart, and the Holy Spirit carries on the work, and the believer advances from grace to Grace, from strength to Strength, from character to Character. He conforms to the image of Christ, until in spiritual growth he attains unto the measure of the full stature in Christ Jesus. ref: Matthew 13:3-15 & Luke 8:10-15
Thus Christ makes an end of the curse of sin, and sets the believing soul free from its (sin’s) action and effect !
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree . . . !” Galatians 3:13
“Surely He hath borne (lifted, to take away) our griefs (malady, anxiety, calamity, sickness & disease), and carried our sorrows (anguish, affliction, grief and pain): yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions (revolt, rebellion, apostasy) . . . .
He was bruised (beated repeatedly, black and blue) for our iniquities (perversity, mischief) . . . . The chastisement of (discipline which bought) our Peace was upon Him; And with His stripes (weal, bruises, wounds)
we are healed !” Isaiah 53:4-5
Healed = (H7495), to mend, to cure, heal, physician, make whole !
Christ alone is able to do this, for “in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful (full of mercy) and faithful (trust worthy, full of faith) High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people . . . For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour (to aid, relieve, help) them that are tempted” Hebrews 2:17-18.
“Who His Own Self bare our sins in His Own body upon the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto
righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed !” I Peter 2:24 and ref: Matthew 8:14-17*
Reconciliation means that every barrier between the soul and God is removed, and that the sinner realizes what the pardoning love of God means. By reason of the sacrifice made by Christ for fallen men, God can justly pardon the transgressor who accepts (by faith) the merits (worthiness) of Christ.
Christ was the channel through which the mercy, love, and Righteousness might flow from the heart of God to the heart of the sinner. “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” I John 1:9.
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh (close) by the blood of Christ. For He is our Peace, Who hath made both one (God and man – ref: John 17:21), and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us . . . !” Ephesians 2:13-14
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances (charges of condemnation) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross . . . !” Colossians 2:14
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new (recently slain), and Living Way . . . I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto The Father but by Me . . . which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh . . . !”
Hebrews 10:19-20 & John 14:6
and ref: Hebrews 4:16
In the prophecy of Daniel it was recorded of Christ that He shall “make reconciliation for iniquity, and . . . bring in everlasting righteousness !” (Daniel 9:24). Every soul may say: “By His perfect obedience He has satisfied the claims of the law, and my only hope is found in looking to Him as my Substitute and Surety, Who obeyed the
law perfectly for me.
By faith in His merits (worthiness) I am free from the condemnation of the law . . . . for if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed ! . . . . He clothes me with His Righteousness, which answers all the demands of the law. I am complete in Him Who brings in everlasting righteousness. ref: John 8:36
He presents me to God in the spotless garment of which no thread was woven by any human agent. All is of Christ, and all the glory, honor, and majesty are to be given to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world !”
ref: Jude 1:24
“What shall I say? He hath both spoken unto me, and Himself hath done it ! . . . Behold, for Peace (Shalom), I had great bitterness: but Thou hast in love for my soul delivered me from the pit of corruption: for Thou hast cast all my sins behind that back !” Isaiah 38:15-17
I Selected Messages p.394-396