I have Finished the Work - John 17:4
I have Finished the Work – John 17:4
“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4 KJV).
Ascetism is abstaining from sensual pleasure for the purpose of religious gain. It is also called “will worship.” “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh” (Colossians 2:20-23 KJV). “Will worship” is created by man’s will. “Will worship” appears wise unto men; however, it does not honor God, it only satisfies the flesh. Jesus said: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63 KJV). The flesh profiteth nothing! Let us not focus on a doctrine of “do” or “do not do”; let us focus on a doctrine of “DONE!”
Paul talks to Timothy about a later time when individuals will want to focus on the “do” or “do not do” versus the “done.” “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth” (I Timothy 4:1-3 KJV). Satan and demons within religion want individuals to focus on the “do” and “do not do” versus the Gospel of Truth. Individuals have departed from the faith. Individuals are being seduced by spirits, which focus on the “do” or “do not do” doctrine of men. Man’s doctrine is all about the flesh. Remember, the flesh profiteth nothing.
Religion(s) tell individuals to “do” or “do not do” something for salvation: e.g., water baptism (infant or adult), communion, confirmation, confession, etc. The Bible says the work for salvation is “done.” “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:3-4 KJV). “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30 KJV). Contrary to religious thought, the work for salvation is DONE!
Religion(s) tell people to “do” or “do not do” something for salvation: e.g. ask Jesus into your heart, make Jesus LORD of your life, join a church, make an altar call, speak in tongues, give money, etc. The Bible says “believe” and “have”: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV).
Individuals must be born again, born of the Spirit which profiteth everything. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:3-7 KJV). “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3 KJV). “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (I Peter 1:23-25 KJV). The flesh profiteth nothing. The flesh fades away and one day dies. However, the Word of the Lord endures forever! Believing in Christ alone for salvation is being “born again.” Individuals are born again by hearing the Gospel preached to them. Let us focus on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of DONE!
Let us not focus on a doctrine of “do” or “do not do”: e.g. not to marry, not to eat meat., not to worship on Sunday. Let us focus on a doctrine of “DONE!” Let us be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Let us grow in grace in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Let us be filled with the fruits of the Spirit daily. Let us be motivated that everything that happens to us is to furtherance the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel” (Philippians 1:11-12 KJV).
THE PLAN OF SALVATION - THE GOSPEL
The Gospel is Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins (past, present, and future), He was buried, and He resurrected the third day to show us the payment for sin is paid in full.
I Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
God loves you. Lord Savior Jesus Christ was revealed in the flesh for one reason, and that is to save us from our sins. Jesus Christ does not come to condemn individuals. Jesus Christ comes to save us because we are all Hell doomed sinners without the Blood of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16-18: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
All individuals are sinners. The payment for sin is death.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ died for your sin and resurrected for you.
I Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
II Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
If you believe in Christ alone, you receive eternal life.
John 6:47: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
I John 5:13: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
If you could earn salvation by the following: being baptized (infant or adult), going to communion, going to confession, partaking in confirmation, asking Jesus into your heart, giving money, doing good works, being a good person, follow the Ten Commandments, or any other ritual, sacrament, tradition or work? Why did the Ever Presence Jesus Christ (the God from Eternity Past, the God from Eternity Future) reveal Himself in the flesh and die on the Cross for sin and resurrect the third day?
Galatians 2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
If you could earn salvation by doing those things mentioned above, then Jesus Christ died in vain. However, Jesus Christ did not die in vain. Jesus Christ made a perfect sacrifice for sin. He is the Lamb of God, and only the Lamb of God can make a perfect sacrifice for sin. There is only one way to Heaven, and it is the belief in the Finished Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Philippians 3:9: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Galatians 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
The resurrection is proof God the Father accepted Jesus Christ’s death payment for sin -death payment of past, present, and future sin.
People DO NOT go to Hell because they are “bad.” People go to Hell because they believe NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ. People trust NOT in Jesus Christ as their Savior. People believe NOT Jesus Christ died on the Cross for their sins, burial, and resurrection. People do NOT trust alone in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
II Thessalonians 1:8-9: In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Know that God is gracious to you, and He has already died for all your sins (past, present, and future), He was buried showing all the world He died for your sins, and He resurrected showing all the world that Jesus Christ fulfilled what the Father asked Him to do: IT IS FINISHED!
I pray you to believe in Jesus Christ right now for salvation -believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sin, burial, and resurrection. Trust alone in Jesus Christ as your Savior. Remember, that once you are saved, you are forever saved. You can never lose your salvation. It is the Trinity that holds onto you and seals you. You do not hold onto your salvation.
John 10:28-30: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.
Ephesians 1:13-14: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
If you know someone who is not saved, forward this message to them and share the greatest gift that one could ever receive.
Lance Edminster
The Good News Voice
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Once Saved, Always Saved - “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:28-30 KJV).