Some people may say, “Why do we have to go and dredge up all this stuff from the past? Didn’t Jesus pay the price for the required justice?” Yes! Jesus did take the judgment and wrath of God that is due us. However, the real question is, “Have I appropriated (personally received and applied) what He did for me?” We need to receive the freedom Jesus bought for us by using God’s provision. We do that by confessing the sins of our ancestors and our won sin and then breaking their power to continue to affect us. Salvation through Jesus has been available for over 2000 years, yet none of us were automatically “born again” at our birth. We must by faith receive (appropriate) salvation for ourselves.

“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then god made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14) (NLT)

The same is true for physical healing, deliverance, direction, gifts of the Spirit, love, etc. All are received by faith. Faith is believing that a promise of God applies to you and receiving that promise. Until we know about these promises and provisions, we cannot receive what Christ has provided for us. This is true for everything that we receive from God. We must receive and apply the wonderful freedoms gained for us at the Cross. Since there was no way for us to escape by our own efforts from this continuous cycle of sin and judgment, it was necessary for Christ to come and set us free.

“But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing.” (Galatians 3:13a)

“God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (II Corinthians 5:21)