It Is Finished - Part 14

"And God said, 'Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.' And it was so. ... And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds - livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.' And it was so." Genesis 1:11, 24 ESV

If 'like begets like' what does the finished work produce?

"From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 ESV

Why do we not regard Christ, a perfect person, after the flesh? I always thought this was an interesting idea. I think it is the same reason the Israelite's were not to make graven images of God. Any image would fall short of perfection. Jesus is not just the image he bore on the Earth. Men got glimpses of His glory before the cross. He dwells in that glory now. We are not to confine our imagination to the flesh. We see by faith with grace as our lens.

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:29-31 ESV

One bit of a fruit brought ruin to the human race. Things have been decaying ever since. One bite of 'It is Finished' brings a newness that will continue to spread through a person. It will overtake creation and one day death will be swallowed up in victory. The last inch of desert will bloom.

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6 ESV

"Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." Colossians 3:9-10 ESV

Natural plants and creatures replicate using seed or cells split imparting the nature to a new version of itself. God creatures using words. Words uncover reality. God's words create reality. His words are seeds and the light that every seed needs.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 ESV

People are so different from each other. Every one carries their own history and unique fingerprint. Grace produces the same kind of newness in each person without destroying their uniqueness.

We speak finished work words by faith. When we do it our mouth is in agreement with Heaven's decree. We bind and loose in a powerful reproductive way. Living in grace and love sets the stage for a glimpse of Christ that will transform.