How do we now appropriate Christ's work if not by another crucifixion?
We now appropriate Christ’s finished work by faith through fellowship and communication with Him, not by another crucifixion. Since He was smitten once for our offenses and arose victorious over sin and death, believers approach Him in prayer—speaking, praising, and petitioning—rather than smiting Him again.
Les teaches that Christ first had to suffer, die, and be smitten for our offenses, according to the Old Testament term. The key is that He was smitten only once; the Hebrew word is once, and He went to the cross once, not again and again. After He arose from the dead victorious over sin and death, we do not appropriate anything more by another crucifixion. Instead, we appropriate it by fellowship, speaking, and communication. That is why God has given us the whole power of prayer: we can speak with Him, praise Him, and petition Him, not through another smiting, but by speaking to Him. Les connects this with Exodus 17, where Moses smites the rock and water comes out.