Jesus Did It All

Before you start todays devotional, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

No one could have or would have invented the gospel. It had to have come from God.

All the man-made religions of the world say you must “do” to satisfy God’s requirements. Work harder. Do more. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ says, “done.” Instead of making you do something, the gospel tells you God has done something for you. The only way you can come to Him is by faith (see Hebrews 11:6). We must put all our confidence in Jesus’ finished work.

The work of our salvation is done. Jesus did it all.

At one time, the apostle Paul knew what it was like to be under the Law. Before he met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, he really hoped he could work out his salvation. But once Paul stood in Jesus’ presence, he knew he could never make it on his own. Any righteousness he might have by the Law would never be enough. He needed the Lord. Paul says it was a new day for him. (See Philippians 3:8-9.)

It’s a new day for each of us, too, when we finally face how much we need God’s mercy. And because He loves us, He loves to give it to us. In His mercy, He provides a Savior for us, and now He saves us by His grace. That’s Him being wonderful!

We are saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ Jesus. However, after we have been saved, that gospel must live in us. We become a living example of the gospel. Our behavior shouldn’t contradict what we are preaching. We should act in a way Jesus would approve of. Not in hypocrisy. Not unrealistically pious. We’re not perfect, but we should walk in a way that pleases the Lord.

Satan blinds people from this glorious truth. He’s an enemy that opposes the gospel. We just need to remember that the gospel is not about us, but we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ. When we come to Him, He floods our lives with so much light that we understand our relationship with Him in new and beautiful ways. He shines His light in our hearts, so we see God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

See yourself correctly. You are just an “earthen vessel” (4:7)—a clay pot. But we carry this glorious gospel around in our little clay pot. We don’t tell others about our story, but about His story. We glorify Jesus Christ in our testimony, or there’s no point in telling it. No one would ever confuse God’s brilliance with ours. We point to Him.

The apostle Paul knew what it was to suffer for Jesus' sake. He compares his difficult situation in degrees, and we can all relate. But you may actually be your strongest at the moment you feel the weakest. Paul didn’t consider death to be the end. He looked beyond it. We’re joined to a living Christ, and that which raised Him up will raise us up.

In this life, we have a lot of trouble, but when we begin to measure it by the weight of glory that is coming someday, it feels like a light affliction compared to that weight of glory. Don’t look around at the things which are seen—it’s all passing away. The things which are not seen are eternal.

1. God has extended us great mercy. What kind of a response should that realization cause in us?

2. Christ’s work accomplished our salvation, but often we still struggle with confidence. Why do you think that is?

3. How many of your problems in life come from not seeing yourself as God sees you?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s complete teachings on 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 and 2 Corinthians 4:3-18.