There have been times when people have asked me to pray for them or to help them to be blessed in certain areas of their life. When I respond by explaining to them about salvation, sometimes they are surprised or put-off, thinking “I don’t need help with that! I need help with this instead!” Yet this sort of attitude represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the completed work of Christ.

Today we will be examining the completed work of Christ to help us see more of what He has accomplished for us.

As you may have guessed from the title of this message, God does not think of the finished work of Christ in the same way tat we think of it. While we may try to categorize different parts of it such as healing, prosperity or peace, God does not do so. It is actually one work.

Simply having someone tell you that though is not sufficient. It is not enough to simply have it be so because myself or another leader or church pastor told you so. No, you must see it in scripture, and understand it for yourself. So I am going to show you not only from just any scripture, but from the very words of Jesus Christ Himself! Let’s read Matthew 9:2-7:

“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said to the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; your sins be forgiven you.
And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemes.
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Therefore think you evil in your hearts?
For whether is easier, to say, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and walk?
But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (then says he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up your bed, and go to yours house.
And he arose, and departed to his house.”

So here we have a man who is in need of healing… that is the reason he was brought to Jesus, to be healed. Yet Jesus does an unexpected thing, instead of telling the man to get up, Jesus instead forgives the man of his sins. In our own mind this makes no sense, but in the mind of God it is all one work.

To understand this, we must have a deeper understanding of sin and salvation.

You see, sickness, disease, death and all manner of curses were not originally part of existence, but they were instead brought in when Adam and Eve first sinned. When sin entered, death and curses also entered. And if you want an exhaustive list of those very curses, you can find them in Deuteronomy 28 starting at verse 15.

Yet while the world considers these things simply to be facts of life, we must understand that they are not so for us as believers. Since Jesus was made a curse for us in our place, and He was punished for our sins, why would there be a need for double punishment? His sacrifice for us was total and complete; covering everything and lacking nothing. As such, we are not doomed to live cursed lives due to the wrath of God anymore, but blessing can be ours freely because Christ has paid for it in our place.

So now back to the scripture verses in Matthew 9, with the man healed of palsy., we see here that by Jesus forgiving the man of his sin, that Jesus was actually dealing with the very rot of the man’s problem. The thing which was bringing curses on him has now been removed and the man finds himself healed.

This is not the only instance where Jesus makes this point clear, so obviously it was important for Jesus to repeat it in several instances. It is a truth that not many believers take to heart anymore today.

My friends, whatever problem you may be facing, whether it is something on your body, your finances, your relationship or any part of your life… Jesus is the answer. Jesus and the forgiveness that He brings will remove any curse in your life and free you from every bondage. Stay focused on Him, accept His divine exchange. Let Him remove your sins, eliminate your curses, and shower blessings upon you; not because you have earned it, but because Jesus has willingly paid for it on your behalf.

Give Him glory, and praise!