Introduction
God is all about love. In fact, the entire purpose behind why God sent Jesus to this earth was to restore His family to Him.
Many Christians grow up hearing that the only way we can be accepted by God is to be perfect, but it's not true. God definitely empowers us to follow His ways because it’s the best way to live, but His first priority is relationship.
God wants you to know how much He loves you.
In this eBook, we’re going to cover four miracles that took place on the cross—four aspects of the inheritance Jesus made available to you as a believer. But first, there’s something I want you to catch.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)
This verse says that God sent His only Son, knowing the pain and hardship He would have to endure, all because He loves us. First John 3:16 (NLT) says, “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us.”
God’s motivation for sending Jesus was love and relationship.
The story of what Jesus came to accomplish is a love story between you and God. Let's meditate on that love as we unpack the miracles that happened at the cross!
Miracle #1: Jesus Took Your Place
Jesus said in John 10:10 (NKJV), "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Yet how many of us are actually living that kind of life?
Many believers struggle to walk in the miraculous or see their prayers answered. They're stuck living under the old agreement with God that says they have to earn their way into His favour.
But because of Jesus' sacrifice, we don't live under that agreement anymore. There is a New Covenant. And the only way to understand it is to find out what Jesus did on the cross.
At the cross, a Great Exchange took place.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)
When Jesus went to the cross, He became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). All the punishment that we deserved, Jesus took instead. He got the curse so you could get the blessing!
As Jesus died, He cried out, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46). He experienced rejection so you could receive acceptance from the Father.
When you begin to realize what Jesus did, you see that being perfect doesn't make you God's child. No, it's because of what Jesus did for you that you're unconditionally loved and accepted by Him.
This is the Great Exchange. Jesus took your sin, sickness and shame and traded it for His righteousness. He took your worry and exchanged it for His peace. He took your sadness and traded it for His joy. He took your weakness and gave you His faith and His strength.
Jesus took everything that holds you back and gave you His sonship!
Today, know that you are forgiven and loved by God. Jesus paid the price so you could be freely accepted.
Miracle #2: You Are Righteous
All throughout the Gospels, Jesus performed miracles. Which one would you say is the greatest? You might pick one of His physical miracles, like walking on water, healing the blind or multiplying the loaves and fishes.
But the greatest miracle Jesus did was at the cross. That's where He became sin so you could become righteous. To be righteous means you have right-standing with God. There's nothing standing between you and Him anymore. Your record is clear.
Yet so many people look at the cross and stop there. They know that Jesus died and took their sin. But they don't move a step further to see what happened at the resurrection.
You see, Jesus died for you, He was buried for you and He rose again for you. Now He's seated at the right hand of the Father. But you also need to understand that you died with Him, you were buried with Him, you rose again with Him and you're seated at the right hand of God with Him (Ephesians 2:6)!
And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. Romans 6:8 (NLT)
As you read what God's Word says about Jesus' resurrection, you begin to recognize that the old nature you used to have was buried with Christ. You rose again with God's presence on the inside of you. Even when you make mistakes or miss the mark of God's best, it doesn't have to hold you back. You have a new nature.
What happened between the cross and the throne is the greatest miracle Jesus ever did. His resurrection life is now flowing through you. This power helps you in your friendships, health, thought life, career and everything else!
Meditate on the Great Exchange that happened at the cross. If you need a miracle in any area of life, know that it's already bought and paid for.
Miracle #3: You Have an Inheritance
So far, we've seen that Jesus took your place at the cross and made you righteous. Now, I want to share another miracle of the Great Exchange with you.
When Jesus sacrificed His life, He left you with an incredible inheritance in God's family.
Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:7 (NKJV)
We often talk about the cross because it shows how Jesus will always love and forgive us. But we can't stop there... because there's a resurrection! That's where we find this inheritance.
When Jesus rose again, He took your weakness, shame, heartache and sickness. In exchange, you now have His nature. You have His righteousness, strength, health, peace and joy. You're an heir to everything that belongs to Jesus!
It's important to understand this: you can only exercise your faith for something if you know it's your right. If you want to own healing, laughter, prosperity, or have the mind of Christ, you need to know that God says it belongs to you.
When you read God's Word, realize that you have the bill of sale that says your miracle was bought and paid for at the cross. Knowing this makes studying God's Word exciting! Suddenly it becomes more than a rule book or list of things you need to improve. It shows your inheritance in Jesus.
In everything that may come against you, God has already provided a way for you to walk in victory. Second Peter 1:3 says He has freely given you all things. His resurrection life is your inheritance!
What need do you have in your life? Today, thank Jesus for the answer ahead of time, because you can receive it by faith!
Miracle #4: You Are In Christ
Up until now, you might have felt stuck trying to earn God's approval or see a prayer answered. Many churches actually teach that you have to obey all of God's commands in order for Him to bless you. But that couldn't be further from the truth. We can't put our faith in ourselves!
So what do we put our faith in? The finished work of Jesus.
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17 (NKJV)
As you go into God's Word, you begin to see who you are in Christ. You realize there is no condemnation for you, and that you are righteous because of Jesus (Romans 3:24 and 8:1).
When this truth sinks into your heart, it sets you free from wrong beliefs that try to hold you back. Instead of being weighed down by a sense of shame, you know that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross brings you acceptance and forgiveness no matter what you've done. His resurrection means the old you is dead, and you now have a new identity.
In 1 John 4:17 (NKJV), it says, "... as He is, so are we in this world." So anything that belongs to Jesus, you have! This is the Great Exchange:
- Jesus got our sin nature, and we got His God-nature.
- Jesus became the Son of Man, so we could be children of God.
- Jesus got the curse of the law so we could have the blessings.
- Jesus took our poverty so we could have prosperity.
- Jesus took our sickness so we could have His health.
When there's a need in your life, you can declare, "I'm more than a conqueror through Him who loves me (Romans 8:37)! No weapon formed against me can succeed (Isaiah 54:17). In every situation, I come out on top (Deuteronomy 28:13)!"
As you get to know Jesus, the truth sets you free to experience His abundant life in every way. He doesn't just want you to do well in your career while you suffer from sickness. It's not His plan for you to do great things for His Kingdom while your relationships fall apart. No, He has abundant life for you in every area.
You have His Spirit strengthening you from within to overcome anything. Through Jesus, you have a new identity and you're qualified for every promise!
Conclusion
What took place at the cross changes everything. As you meditate on Jesus' sacrifice, I want to encourage you with this incredible benefit He gained for us as believers: His life in us.
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10 (NKJV)
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of only focusing on our own strength, logic and willpower, but this leads to frustration and burnout. When we become more aware of the life of God within us, it empowers us to live His way.
Romans 5:10 speaks of this life of God, or zóé, as it’s referred to in Greek. Zóé means eternal, never-ending life, and it’s the life we have in Christ—the God kind of life! This is what comes into our spirit when we accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
This zóé life of God within you is what gains you His strength, power and resources. It empowers you to walk in victory and to be confident in your relationship with God. You don’t have to do a thing to earn it. However, the more you learn about all that God has provided for you in Christ, the more victory you will experience. You'll grow in strength and stamina, gain knowledge and insight...and the things you may have struggled with before, you'll begin to handle with ease.
Jesus did not leave you on this earth to struggle on your own. Never forget that He is in you! Because of the miracles that took place at the Great Exchange, you are a new creation in Christ Jesus—and you’re empowered by His nature and life within you!
