What Has Been Done.
John 6:28-29NIV
The gospel is not a call to do something, but an announcement of what has been done. The gospel is 100% good news. Good news that is for you.
“The gospel is so good, you’ve got to tell somebody.” P.H
The key in this life is to become a— victorious christian.
This I believe: If you can get someone to receive the gospel, this “good news” will come into their lives loud and clear.
If ‘one’ really hears the gospel, it demands attention. The attention you give it, will exponentially produce a return with big spiritual dividends.
John 6:28-29NIV Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Jesus states, “Believe in Me.”
The gospel means good news! Here’s good— news. Ready? You were born in sin, but through faith in Jesus, you are free!
Remember, the gospel is not a call to do something, but an announcement of what has been done.
*Jesus saves.
*Jesus heals.
*Jesus delivers.
Listen to the text again, John 6:28-29TM To that they said, “Well, what do we do then to get in on God’s works? 29 Jesus said, “Sign on with the One that God has sent. That kind of a commitment gets you in on God’s works.”
Testimony—I once was called to the home of a retired pastor who had served as a senior pastor for over 40 years, he was close to death, he invited me into his life one afternoon. I remember, He was very troubled, he asked, “What do I need to do to make sure I’m ready?” It didn’t matter what I said to him, he felt like he needed to earn his next promotion—Eternity.
I think there are a lot of people (believers) that way. Many of us have been brought up to believe that anything we get out of life we have to work for.
Again, John 6, Jesus feeds 5000, He walks on water, Jesus say’s to the crowd, don’t believe in Me because of the food you received when I fed you. That perishes.
Moreover, right before tonights text, Jesus states in, John 6:27-28NASB Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” 28 Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?”
Again—Believe. Believe in Jesus. Believe He’s first and last. Believe that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah is worthy of all praise and worship.
Here’s a simple fact, Jesus paid in full for you to be a victorious christian.
Ephesians 2:8-9NKJV For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
—No one can boost. It’s all Jesus.
Doctor Neil Anderson—Too many Christians believe that living a Christian life is a continuous routine of involvement in well-meaning programs. They believe they could live the victorious Christian life if only they could discipline themselves to read their Bibles, pray more, attend church regularly and fellowship with other believers. Those are good Christian disciplines, but to believe that such personal involvement and effort is the means to fix life's problems is to get the proverbial cart before the horse.
He goes on to say, human effort is not what it takes to live the Christian life, or to be free from our past and to overcome addictive behaviors.
I will repeat myself on these statements: Victorious Christian living comes by accepting what Jesus Christ has already done for us, understanding who our heavenly father is, and who we are in Christ, and then choosing to live by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit according to what God says is true.
The most well structured programs cannot set us free, and no amount of human effort can accomplish what Jesus Christ has already accomplished for us.
1 Peter 1:1-9NASB Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For the one who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
Verse 9, Blind or shortsighted.
Jesus wants your— attention, your eyes wide open. He deserves more than your glances.
In the beginning, before the fall of man. Adam was alive physically, and spiritually.
So again I ask, “What has been done? According to, Genesis 2:16-17 Adam disobeyed God and ate from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil.
From that time on, everyone who is born into this world is born physically alive but spiritually dead, separated from God.
Paul writes, Ephesians 2:1-2TPT And His fullness fills you, even though you were once like corpses, dead in your sins and offenses. 2 It wasn’t that long ago that you lived in the religion, customs, and values of this world, dark ruler of the earthly realm who fills the atmosphere with his authority, and works diligently in the hearts of those who are disobedient to the truth of God.
The apostle Paul writes, Romans 1:16NASB For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Again, I’m going to say a mouth full—
Victorious Christian living comes—By excepting what Jesus Christ has already done for us.
Jesus states in, John 8:36AMP So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.
Galatians 3:13NKJV Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
Victorious Christian living comes—By Understanding who our heavenly father is.
Jesus states in, Mark 10:18NIV “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
Exodus 34:6NKJV The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.
Victorious Christian living comes—By knowing ‘who’ we are in Christ.
Philippians 4:13NKJV I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Romans 8:37NKJV Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Victorious Christian living comes—By choosing to live by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit, according to what God says is true.
Again, By faith live in the power of the Holy Spirit. What does that look like? Jesus is— centerfold.
Once more, The secret to victorious christian living is? Living by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit!
Hebrews 11, gives every reader the picture of a faith walk: Hebrews 11:1-2, 6NKJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
When believers gain this wealth of knowledge, and decide to apply it, live by it, this kind of ‘believer’ becomes a victorious christian! P.H
Question—Are you a victorious christian?
This I know—Too many people have experienced rejection, abandonment or abuse in their early childhood and have learned to believe (learned behavior) the lies, “I am of no value, I don't measure up, I am unlovable.”
Again, the gospel is not a call to do something. The gospel is good news.
The gospel is the announcement that what was needed for us to live the victorious Christian life has already been done.
Jesus defeated the devil at the cross, forgave our sins and gave us a new life in Him.
Again, Jesus states in, John 8:34-36TM Jesus said, “I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave can’t come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through.
Are you free through and through? P.H
2 Corinthians 5:7NLT For we live by believing and not by seeing.
Fruit is the natural consequence of being alive and free in Jesus Christ.
The two biggest errors Christians make are—
1. Trying to become someone they already are. (A child of God).
1 John 3:1–2NKJV Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
2. Trying to get something they already have—Freedom from sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2NASB Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Paul states, You are free from the law of sin and death!
Paul is actually stating, that if you are a believer sin, nor death can, nor will, keep you from eternity with Jesus!
Listen, Hear me well, “If you are in Christ, you are eternally secure!”
In closing, I’ll ask you, “Are you depending on what you do for your salvation, or do you depend on what Jesus has already accomplished for your salvation?”
Salvation equals good fruit; If you’re born again (Christian) you will be fruitful! P.H
Benediction.
