How do we appropriate the finished work of Christ?
Believers appropriate the finished work of Christ by faith, trusting what He accomplished on their behalf. Because He was smitten once for our offenses and rose victorious over sin and death, we do not appropriate it by another crucifixion but by fellowship, speaking, and communication with Him through prayer.
Les explains that on this side of the work of the cross—meaning Christ's death, burial, and resurrection—we appropriate that finished work by faith. But before we could appropriate it by faith, Christ first had to suffer, die, and be smitten for our offenses. He was smitten only once; Scripture emphasizes once, and He does not go to the cross again and again. After His smiting and resurrection, victorious over sin and death, we do not appropriate anything more by another crucifixion. Instead, Les teaches, we appropriate it by fellowship, speaking, and communication. That is why God has given us the power of prayer, so we can speak with Him, praise Him, and petition Him—not through another smiting but by speaking to Him.