Issue 1584 – Seven Sayings 14 – October 25, 2024
This morning, we wrap up our series on the Seven Sayings of Christ at “The Word of Contentment.” At this point, Jesus reconciled to the Father and commended His Spirit into the Father’s hands.
I am still using a combination of the two gospel accounts.
Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. It is finished. Bowing His head, He breathed His last.”
“It is finished”—three simple words in English (only one in the Greek … tetelestai). A specific, profound word is used only once in the Gospel of John. Tetelestai comes from the verb teleo, which means “to bring to an end, to complete, to accomplish.” Here, it can be understood as meaning “paid in full.”
What is paid in full? The required blood sacrifice for our sin. A pure, sinless life was given in propitiation for treasonous, rebellious sinners. It is the perfect sacrifice, once and for all time. Unlike the blood of animals, which could only give temporary covering, this sacrifice is valid forever.
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Hebrew 10:5-14
What else is finished? The task that Jesus set out to prove that a person could live without sinning was completed. Adam and Eve had failed, and their sin is in our nature. Jesus showed it could be done.
All prophecies about His first coming and death had been fulfilled, and they were finished.
It is finished. Our salvation is secure in Christ. We are saved and born again to eternal life through faith by God’s grace. I wonder if we really understand that.
How often do believers add to the task of salvation by trying to earn God’s approval? We do works or try to change things under our own power in a futile effort to make God love us more. Yes, works are part of our salvation, but they are the fruit, not the cause. Yes, we will be transformed into the likeness of Christ, but that, too, is a work of the Spirit and cannot be done under our own power.
How many Christians serve or give out of a desire to be blessed more by God or to look good in people’s eyes? Far too many of them do. They have forgotten that it is finished already.
When we hit those points in life where we have stumbled into repeated sin, or we “don’t feel God’s presence,” or the enemy attacks us with doubts, we can look to the cross and remember that it is finished. It is paid in full. It has already been accomplished.
My friends, if you are struggling, look to the Savior… He holds you fast. If you don’t know this Jesus but know you need to be changed, look to Him. He alone can save you. He will bring you from the pit of hell to the heights and wonders of glory if you will allow Him to.
So much more could be said, but I think we will move on tomorrow. If you want to study the Seven Sayings more deeply, download A.W. Pink’s book at https://www.monergism.com/seven-sayings-savior-cross for free. You can also download The Seven Utterances of Christ by Puritan John Flavell for free: https://www.monergism.com/seven-utterances-christ-cross-ebook
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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