Sermon Central
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It Is Finished
Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Mar 8, 2018 (message contributor)
Summary: What did Jesus mean when He said, "It is finished" on the cross? What was finished? The crucifixion? His life on earth? Or, the plan of salvation?
Our quarterly memory Scripture:
“Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown
Himself.”
Our "memory refresher" Scripture:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.
“If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.”
Sermon body:
Please open your Bibles to John 19:28-30 which we will read in a few minutes.
Isn’t it a good feeling to accomplish something worthwhile? Even the Lord thinks so!
What did the Lord say about the first 5 days of creation? (It was good!)
What did the Lord say at the end of day 6 of creation? (It was very good!)
Look at the book of Proverbs and you will see that the Lord looks favorably upon diligent, earnest labor.
The Lord loves to accomplish things and He has built that into us as well even though it may be very painful going through the process as we will see in our Scripture today.
With that in mind let’s go ahead and read John 19:28-30
The part of this Scripture I would like us to look at today is the phrase Jesus spoke from the cross when He said, “It is finished!”
What is finished?
The plan of salvation is finished.
At this point a great transition has been accomplished; the transition from the time of the law to the time of grace.
Why was this accomplished at that very time?
Jesus the perfect Sacrifice had been offered once and for all!
The ONLY sacrifice that could truly take away sin.
The ONLY sacrifice that would never be repeated.
When was this planned?
1 Peter 1:18-20 (NIV), when Peter is talking about what would be needed as a sacrifice for our sin he says,
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold (you can’t buy your salvation) that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.”
Revelation 13:8 (NIV)
“All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast - all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.”
So, this plan has been a long time coming and was completed on the cross of Calvary when Jesus the Great High Priest sacrificed Jesus the Perfect Lamb of God for the all the sin of humanity! Thank you Jesus!
This sacrifice was never to be repeated in any form but it is to be remembered in Communion and in our worship. We are never to say, “Christ is being crucified again for our daily sins.” He did it once and for all and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father! Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient for all sin for all time for all people who will accept Him!
That is why we sing:
“In my hands no price I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.”
“What can wash away my sin? NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!”
“Would you be free from your burden of sin? There’s power in the blood!”
“I will praise Him, I will praise Him, praise the Lamb for sinners slain!
Give Him glory all ye people, for His blood can wash away each stain!”
“O the Blood, Crimson flood, price of love’s demand.
Shameful sin, placed on Him, the Hope of every man!
O the Blood of Jesus washes me! O the Blood of Jesus shed for me.
What a sacrifice that saved my life; yes, the Blood it is my victory!”
Those who were under the law in the time before Christ could live obedient lives out of love for God but even their sins would not be fully forgiven until the blood of Jesus was shed.
If we try to earn our salvation by good works we revert to the law.
When we revert to the law it is directly against the will of God and is therefore sin.
