In this series we have learned that the “IT” Jesus finished upon His death began with the removal of all of the PAST SINS of a truly repentant soul, thereby rendering him/her JUSTIFIED/RIGTHTEOUS. This singular action is offered to the seeker of righteousness as a GIFT from God. Nothing other than faith on the part of the recipient is needed in order to receive justification. Man’s Faith and God’s grace are all that are needed for this righteousness-creating action to be manifested in the life of the true believer. By His death Jesus also offers the now righteous (sinless) believer the power to turn from obeying Satan to obeying God the Father. This complete, 180 degree reversal of life must be followed by a righteous, Law-keeping “walk” (words, thoughts and deeds) on the part of the righteous one. This is perfectly described in Second Chronicles 7:13-15 where the Lord tells His chosen Israelite people that in order for their prayers to be heard they must “… humble themselves, pray, seek My face and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS.” THEY HAD TO DO AN ABOUT-FACE AND GO IN THE EXACT OPPOSITE DIRECTION THEY HAVE BEEN GOING. Notice that God is speaking to His people. Note also that it is He–God–Who sends problems their way. Note also that their prayers were not being answered and why–sin–THE TRANSGRESSION OF HIS LAW (1 Jn. 3:4). Notice also that He will hear and answer their prayers only IF they obey His Words. GOD DOES NOT CHANGE; THIS MESSAGE IS FOR “THE CHURCH” TODAY WHICH HAS TURNED FROM HIM AND IS FOLLOWING SATAN AS THIS MINISTRY REPEATEDLY PROVES BY COMPARING THE HOLY SCRIPTURES TO CURRENT EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE NATION THAT IS FOLLOWING HER LEAD.

The Holy Father curses those in the Catholic/Protestant Religious System (professing Christianity) in exactly the same ways in which He curses the non-church world, and for the same reason–rebellion against His Holy Word/Law/Light/Gospel/Truth. Read Doctrines of Devils. Key word–Devils. Jesus died so that true holiness seekers can, through the power of the Holy Spirit, “hear His voice” and know what to do and what not to do, as well as the outcomes for obeying or disobeying His rules of engagement. He explains both do’s and don’ts and the outcomes for each in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. Read one of those books and compare the negative outcomes for sin to what is happening today throughout the world, especially in the supposedly NATION UNDER GOD which claims to TRUST IN HIM. Read The Lion is Roaring: Is Anyone Listening? Key word–Lion.

The ultimate “IT” that Jesus “finished” is to provide the obedient believer the power to overcome Satan’s temptations to sin–to break God’s Law (1 Jn. 3:4). By doing so the salvation seeker keeps himself from the clutches of Satan by rejecting his temptation to commit “iniquity”–Lawlessness–which causes God to separate Himself from the church sinner as Isaiah 59:2 warns. Along with the power to overcome Satan as Jesus did (Rev. 3:21), God provides, through the indwelling Spirit, the power to go in the opposite direction, and in so doing, to qualify to receive THE END RESULT OF A LIFE IF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS–ETERNAL LIFE (Rom. 5:21; 6:22). Read First John 3:1-10 to see the ultimate “IT” that Christ’s death enables us to avoid. Remember that John is writing to the church.

And avoid it we must. Verse three tells us that we can and must be as pure as He is pure. In verses five and nine He tells us that His true saints DO NOT SIN because His “seed” (Word) remains in them and guides them. In verse eight He warns that church people who sin are of the devil. He also says that His true saints CANNOT SIN. Here is where some “fine print” study is in order. In the Greek language the word “cannot” is a union of two words: “can” and “not.” The Greek word for “can” is dynamai which means to be able, to have power to. Dynamai is the term from which we get the word dynamite. The word “not” in the Greek language is ou which means no, not, never, under no circumstances. Here the Lord is saying that His true saints can sin but refuse to do so. As a human being, Jesus could have sinned but refused to do so. In order to join Him in paradise, we must follow His example (1 Jn. 2:6). Only those who do so will join Him on His throne in the Kingdom of God (Rev. 3:21).

In verse ten the Lord, through the apostle, tells us in no uncertain terms who will and who will not join Him on His throne. Here He separates His church people from Satan’s church people by identifying those in each category: “WHOSOEVER DOES NOT RIGHTEOUS IS NOT OF GOD.” Notice the statement: “DOES NOT (DO) RIGHTEOUSNESS. This means that one does not do WORKS of righteousness, meaning that one DOES NOT OBEY GOD’S LAW. Jesus made it possible for us to do (work, obey) God’s Law and, because of doing so, to join Him (Jesus) on His throne in the Kingdom of God. Let us all obey Him and join our future Savior there. L.J.