Part 2 – The Blessedness of Believers Living under God’s Pure Grace

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called The "At Rest" Christian.

Trusting believers of all ages are in fact blessed. Blessed is that man who Maketh The Lord His Trust.” (Psa. 40:4).

After Adam fell to sin, God Himself provided of the “skins” of an innocent animal whose blood was shed to ‘cover’ Adam and Eve’s sin. After seeing what God had done, Adam then no doubt knew to make animal blood sacrifices to the Lord; this was to cover his sins and be counted for righteousness before God.

We as believers today are in fact blessed beyond belief and have the greatest reason to rejoice. To be “blessed” is greater than being happy. ‘Happy’ would be a superficial understanding of ‘blessed.’  To be “blessed” is one of the most wonderful words of Scripture. A fool can be happy, a drunkard can be happy, a wicked man can be happy for a time, but none of these are truly blessed. We as the truly blessed of God have a deeply valid reason to rejoice. Paul wrote here of how blessed we are to not have our sins counted by the Lord.

“David also describeth the Blessedness Of The Man unto whom God Imputeth (counts) Righteousness WITHOUT WORKS, saying, Blessed Are They Whose Iniquities (sins) Are Forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed Is The Man To Whom The Lord Will Not Impute (not count his) Sin.” (Romans 4:6-8)

This blessedness is not momentary happiness. Rather, it is our present and eternal state of being well off; with a deep and abiding reason… to rejoice in the free gift of Imputed Righteousness with All Our Sins Forever Forgiven (not just covered); thus having a secured destiny… to dwell with Him eternal in the heavens.” (2Cor 5:1. cf. Phili. 3:20-21)

When the Galatians turned back from grace… to “the Law” they stopped trusting in the Lord’s provision of Christ as Savior. Religious people from the Pentecostal Messianic Jewish church in Jerusalem had corrupted them, “spy(ing) out their liberty” in union with Christ (Gal. 2:4), telling them they needed to keep works of the Law and circumcision. This of course was contrary to Paul’s teaching that “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature (‘new man’ in Christ).” (Gal. 6:15). So, the Apostle Paul then asked them: “Where is then the blessedness ye spake of?” (Gal. 4:15). That blessedness was lost to them under the Law. The fact is that we are unconditionally blessed’ and have the greatest possible reason to rejoice, “in Christ” we are eternally safe, “blessed for evermore(2Cor 11:31).

We as believers today have received Christ as Savior are now “sealed” with the Spirit, and secure “in Christ”

“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21 Now he which Stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath (already) Anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also ‘Sealed us,’ and given the earnest (Gk. arrabon, ‘security deposit’) of the Spirit IN Our Hearts.” (2 Corinthians 1:20-22)

How are we so secure? It’s only because we are permanently Clothed In The Righteousness of Christ as our “garment” of righteousness, which we will study in the following installments. “For he (God the Father) hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; (so) that we might be made the righteousness of God In Him (Christ).” (2 Cor. 5:21) So, God’s justice is now fully satisfied with Christ’s offering of Himself on the cross “for us.” And, if God is satisfied, then we ought also to be satisfied in Christ’s ONE offering of Himself on the cross for all believers.

In Hebrews 1:3 we read how the Lord Jesus Christ, “when He Had by Himself Purged Our Sins, SAT DOWN on the right hand of the Majesty on High.” When one sits he is “at rest” – thus, God in Christ is at rest and we also ought to enjoy that rest, evermore resting in the finished work of Christ’s cross-work for us. There’s no work left for us to do in order to secure our salvation or to earn any added favor from Godthe work has been fully finished… for us.

Christ has “obtained (past tense) eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:12).

An indication that God is satisfied with the finished cross-work of Christ is found in Hebrews 10, clearly telling us WHY Christ sat down. It is because Jesus has fully accomplished the Father’s work for Him to do… for us.

“Every priest standeth, daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man (Christ) After He had offered One Sacrifice (of Himself) for sins Forever, SAT DOWN on the right hand of God ...FOR BY ONE OFFERING (of Himself) He Hath Perfected Forever, Them That Are Sanctified (set apart unto Him)” (Heb.10:11-14).

Note that the Father and the Son are depicted as being ‘seated’ in heaven because their work is done. Now God would have us simply trust in Christ… to enter and abide in ‘His Rest and in all that He may direct us to do.’

“There remaineth therefore a REST unto the people of God, For He That Has Entered Into His [God’s] Rest, He (the believer) Also Hath Ceased From His Own Works, As God Did From His(Hebrews 4:9-10).

Every Bible student knows there were several articles of furniture in the Old Testament Tabernacle, but have you noticed that there was no chair. Those priests could not sit down, because at that time and throughout the Old Testament the work of redemption from our sins was only seen in shadow as a metaphor (cf. Col. 2:17), but never adequately finished.

The fact that the priest had to offer ‘daily’ sacrifices emphasized the fact that it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins(Hebrews 10:4). “But this Man (Jesus) after He had offered ONE sacrifice for sins SAT DOWN.” By His death at Calvary, by that One Offering, Christ fully Paid for All the Sins of ALL Men of all ages Sins (past, present, and future)… they need only to believe and receive His atoning sacrifice on their behalf.

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened (made alive) together with him, having (already) forgiven you All trespasses (sins);” (Col. 2:13)

Now it’s simply a matter for men to trust in the finished all-sufficient Cross-work of Christ at the Cross of Calvary, and thereby receive the benefit of His work on their behalf… by which they may be counted asperfect’ in God’s eyes. This is why Paul by divine inspiration insists that salvation is by grace,” as “the GIFT of God,” which is received “by grace, through faith,” being NOT of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9).

The further truth is that God does have a “work” for His people to do (Eph. 2:10), except it is for them to do after their salvation, and even then it must be Christ working His will through them. For this ‘work,’ we must learn to be receptive of Christ moving us to do and oftentimes not to do. We are to live in union with Him according to His moving and restraining of us from within. Now we endeavor to be active only by the move of His life in us.

Before we can do anything for Him we must learn to rest” in Him, relying upon Him not only for our salvation, but also for His sanctifying work in us as He leads and guides us. We can trust Him to live His life through us… to do His work. Christ is the Christian within us, He must be the “Lord” (Gk. kurios, master) of the genuine Christian worker.

May we all grow in faith that... He now is the one who worketh in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

“For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes (credits) is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and Shall Live By Faith.” (Romans 1:17 (AMP)

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

Being inwardly yoked to Him, we bear life’s burdens jointly with Him, as what Jesus called ‘light burdens.’

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find REST unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:29-30)

May we all learn this ‘new way of living’by relying upon Christ’s life within us and to rest in Him… in His work, His life in us, and His undying love, grace, and mercy.

The following segments will clarify the issue for believers today during today’s age of “the grace of God.”