I'd like for you to open your
Bibles to the 20th chapter of the Gospel according to John. Hanging on the cross near the
end of his life, he said to the beloved John,
and to his mother. He told his mother, he said,
behold your son, John will be unto your son. And he said to
John, behold your mother, she will be unto your mother. And after this, verse 28, after
this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished."
What a mind to understand the Scriptures. Know that all things
were now accomplished. That the Scriptures might be
fulfilled, he said, I thirst. He did that, that the Scriptures
might be fulfilled. Now there was set a vessel full
of vinegar, and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon
his sop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus, therefore, had received
the vinegar, he said, It is finished. And he gave up his spirit to
the Lord. He yielded up the ghost. laid
down his life, gave up the gospel. I want to talk to you this morning
about one word that those who stood around the cross, those
who understood the Greek language, they understood the word quite
plainly, but they had no idea what it meant. And that's translated
into three words. And it's spoken of in English
and understood in English, but the people today in religion
have no idea what it means. Most of them still trying to
do something to earn salvation, work their way into glory by
some act of their own. This word is teleo. It is finished. Teleo. Teleo! You read the Gospels
together, the four Gospels, you find out that when He said this,
He cried with a loud voice, It's finished! What's finished? It's finished! Tell you. It's finished. One small word. And yet this word, heard and
understood, is the greatest encouragement to the saints of God. This word,
heard and understood, is the greatest encouragement to unbelievers. It's finished. It's finished.
What's finished? That's what we're going to look
at a few minutes this morning. These are the last and final
words of our Lord hanging on the cross. It's finished. It's
accomplished. It's done. Whatever He's talking
about, it's finished. It's finished. This is not the
cry of a man in despair. but a victorious cry of one who
had accomplished what he came forth into this world to accomplish.
It's accomplished. It's done. It's finished. I've
finished that which the Father gave me to do." That's what he
says in John 17. I've finished before the foundation of this
world. I'm not going to turn there and read, but before the
foundation of this world, the father had a book of decrees,
his purpose, his counsel. And the son looked at that book,
and thus he said, thus it's written in the volume of thy book, O
God, to do thy will. It is written
of me to do thy will. In the next verse, I delight
to do thy will. That's written in the counsel
of God before we ever made this world. In the book of eternity,
the eternal decree, before the earth was formed, it was written
in the book of God's eternal counsel. Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast
thou prepared me to give himself, to sacrifice himself, to live
before God and die under the wrath of God. I delight to do
thy will." He came to do the will of God. Twelve years of age, he stayed behind at the temple
as his parents were on the way home, Joseph and Mary. They came back and when they
found him, they questioned him and he said, what? I'm paraphrasing. Don't you understand that I must
be about my father's business? He came into this world on an
errand from the Father. He came into this world to do
the works the Father gave Him to do, speak the words the Father
gave Him to speak, perform the miracles God gave Him to perform. That's why He came into this
world. I must be about my Father's business. John chapter 4, He
told the woman of Samaria, or He told His disciples after He
had talked to that woman, He said, my meat, my meat, that's
what I live on. That's what I live for. My meat
is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish that work. Finish that work. And here he
hangs on the cross and cries out with a loud voice, it's finished. It's done. It's finished. Then he said in John chapter
5, he said, the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, they
bear witness of me that the Father has sent me because I'm doing
what it's written that I will do. John 17, speaking in anticipation,
he says, I finished the work which you gave me to do. Finished. It's finished. The work of the Father, that
which he sent the Son into the world to do, whatever that work
is, it's finished. It was finished when He cried
that cry on the cross. Tell you, it's finished. All
that the Father sent me into this world to do, I delight to
do it, and I declare unto you, it's finished. It's done. What was finished? What was finished was His substitutionary Sacrificial life and death. His days were over. The fullness
of time had come. His hour had come that he must
die. He had finished his days. He must still deliver up the
spirit, his spirit, to the Father. But he said, it's finished. The
sacrificial work of the Son of God is all done. He hung down that cross, and
men scoffed at Him, derided Him, and mocked Him, gambled for His
clothing. And the Father poured out His
wrath upon Him. For three hours, the world turned
to darkness. Darkness! That work is finished. What was finished? When he knew
that he had fulfilled all the scriptures, all the Old Testament
prophecies, predictions concerning himself, what he would do, he
said, it's finished. When he knew that all the scriptures
concerning him for this part of his life were done, he said,
it's done, it's finished. It's finished. He is the fulfillment. He Himself is the end of every
offering, every sacrifice, every type in the Old Testament. He is the fulfillment. Those
things were just that, types and pictures. He's the reality. He's the sum and substance, the
reality of all those things. The Bible said, He would be born
of a woman's seed. He would be a woman's seed. He
was. It's done. The Bible said he'd
be born of a virgin. Came into this world born of
a virgin. It's done. The Bible said he'd be the seed
of Abraham. He was. It's done. It's finished.
That prophecy had been fulfilled. The Bible said he'd be a descendant
of David. He was. That prophecy is fulfilled. It's finished. Now he sits on
the throne of David. The Bible said he'd be born in
Bethlehem and on and on and on and on and all those things.
They're finished. They're done. Sufferings, death, resurrection,
enthronement. It's all done now. Adam and Eve's coverings of skins,
typified Christ who wants to come. It's finished. He came. Abel's more excellent sacrifice,
a picture of Christ. He came. It's done. Gave himself. It's finished. Sin's put away.
Abraham's offering up his well-beloved son Isaac on the mountain. Now
God has fulfilled that picture, offered up his own son, spared
him not. Noah's Ark, the only place of
salvation in all the world, fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. There
is none other name under heaven given among men whereby you must
be saved. It's finished. All of these prophecies. Passover lamb, that's who He
was. The cure for the serpent's bite
back in the wilderness, He's that cure. Look to Him in the
obedience of faith and live. The smitten rock, on and on and
on. Isaiah 53, it's finished. He's hanging there on the cross,
beaten as no man was ever beaten before. He hardly looked like
a man at all. Yet he had the presence of mind
to go through the Old Testament Scriptures and realize that they
were all finished. Knowing that the Scriptures must
be fulfilled, he said lastly, I thirst to fulfill the Scriptures. What's finished? Thank God His
sufferings are finished. All those types and shadows,
but His sufferings are finished. He came into this world to suffer.
He said in Psalm 88, I'm afflicted and ready to die from my youth. Hebrews suffered the contradiction
of sinners against himself all the days of his life. But it's
finished now. Thank God it's finished. No more
suffering. He was truly, as no other man,
a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. But that's all done. It's finished. He suffered at the hands of men
and at the hands of Satan. It's finished! And lastly, and
worst of all, he suffered at the hands of the Holy Father. But no more. It's all done. It's finished. Sin has been paid
for. Justice is satisfied. It's finished. The Bible says, smitten, forsaken
of God, and afflicted. But it's finished. What's finished? The sacrifice
for sin. The propitiation for sin has
been offered unto God. It's done. It's finished. There'll
never be another offering. There'll never be another offering
that God looks at it all. He looked at the Old Testament
offerings that never put away sin because He saw in all of
those sacrifices and offerings His only begotten Son. Now the
Son's come. The reality. The end of those
types and shadows. Offered Himself. Gave Himself.
And by one offering, He put away sin. He satisfied God. He was
made a propitiation. Satisfaction for our sin. It's
finished. It's done. You don't have anything
to offer God for your sins. Except Christ. If you could offer
unto the Father, His only begotten Son, with all your faith, hope,
and trust in Him. That's enough. That's all God
accepts. And that's all He desires. Sacrifice
of His Son. Forsaken, smitten of God, and
afflicted. But it's finished. Sacrifice,
perfect sacrifice for sin. If His people are to be saved,
if there's anybody in this world ever to be saved, now listen
to me carefully. This is not understood very well
in our day. If anybody in this world is ever
to be saved, their sin must be paid for. Justice must be satisfied. God can by no means Exodus 34,
7 or 8, God can by no means clear a guilty man. Sin has to be paid
for. Sin has to be punished. The law
has to be satisfied. Justice has to be satisfied.
The requirements of holiness must be satisfied. The awful
debt we incurred before God must be paid. And that's part of what
he meant when he hung down that cross and said, it's finished.
It's finished. It's finished. The sins of old David Edmondson,
they're put away. Put away. Justice is satisfied. Holiness is satisfied. The law
is satisfied in every way. And God is now faithful and just
to forgive those. Faithful and just to forgive
those for whom He died. The big question of all times
is how can God remain just and justify the ungodly? How can
the law giver remain just and holy? and justify those who are
guilty. Let them walk away because their
sins are paid for. Their sins were paid for. Law and justice were satisfied.
Propitiation was made for their sins. All that the Holy Father
requires, it's finished. Let me read you a passage. Turn
here. I want you to see this. Real close. Hebrews chapter 10. I've read this often to the church
here and I want to read it to you one more time. I never get
tired of reading it because right here is my hope. By one man, one man's act, many
became sinners. The act of Adam back in the garden.
By another man's one man's disobedience, another
man's obedience, the obedience of Christ. Many shall be made
righteous. That's the only way that I can
ever stand righteous before God. By the actions, the conduct,
the attitude, the perfect life of the Lord Jesus Christ. The
only way I can stand before God without being cast into outer
darkness. Look at verse 11 and notice these
verses carefully. Every priest, these Old Testament
priests ordained of God, every priest standeth daily, ministering,
offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which never took away
sin. They were typical. They were
temporary. But this man, I love that, this
man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat
down on the right hand of God. He offered one sacrifice for
sins forever. These priests down here offered
the same sacrifice and offering day after day and never took
away sin. But this man offered one sacrifice
for sins forever and sat down at his door. It's finished. It's
finished from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his
footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected forever them
that are sanctified, those who are set apart, those who are
chosen of God, the elect of God. By one offering he hath perfected
them forever. Judgment God cannot twice demand. First, at my substitute's hand,
and then again at mine. Sin must be paid for. And when
Christ stood as a representative, a substitute, and surety for
his people, their sins were paid for. And God is faithful and
just to forgive them. God will forgive them. God will
bring them to Christ. Every one of them. Every one
of them. Perfect atonement has been made.
Infinite holiness and justice has been satisfied. Now God is
faithful and just to forgive these people. Upon a life I did
not live. Upon a death I did not die. Another's death and another's
life. I rest my soul eternally. On a life I didn't live. On a death, I didn't die. On that man who lived and died,
I rest all my hopes. He only satisfied God. Bold shall
I stand in that great day, for who ought to my charge can lay. Fully absorbed by Christ I am,
from sin's tremendous curse and shame." It's finished. It's finished. The sacrifice
for sin. I love the words of Daniel the
prophet. Daniel the prophet. Misused a lot nowadays, but here's
what he said. Just take them at face value.
Talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, He shall finish
the transgression Make reconciliation for iniquity. Make an end of sin. Make an end
of sin. Finish the transgression. And
bring in everlasting righteousness for us. By his life and his death, He
brought in everlasting righteousness. He perfected forever those that
are chosen of God and precious in His eyes. Salvation. What's finished? Salvation. God laid on Him, the Bible says,
the iniquity of us all. Substitution. Satisfaction. He bore our sins in His own body
on the tree. Substitution. Satisfaction. He died just for the unjust that
He might bring us to God. Substitution. Satisfaction. It's finished. It's finished. What should I do to have peace
with God? Look to Christ. He is our peace. He's the Prince
of Peace. He established our peace. It's
all in Him. It is finished. There is nothing
for a sinner, nothing left for a sinner to do. He bore our sins
in His own body on the tree. By one offering, He perfected
us forever. Listen now. Wherefore the Holy
Ghost, verse 15, Verse 14, "...for by one offering," here's one
offering for sin, "...by one offering he hath perfected forever
them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is
a witness to us. For after that he hath said before,
this is a covenant that I will make with them after those days,
saith the Lord, put my laws in their hearts, in their minds
will I write them, and listen to these glorious words." But
we should be expecting it because it says, By one offering, He
has perfected us forever. He made an end to sin. Listen,
and their sins, those for whom He died, and their sins, the
elect of God, and their sin, all who believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and their sins and iniquities, well, I remember no more. If
you're a child of God, If you're a child of God, you're like David,
your sin is ever before you. Like the Apostle Paul, you see
that in yourself dwelleth no good thing. You see your sins,
you can't forget them. God doesn't remember them. Because
of the sacrifice of Christ, God doesn't remember them. It's finished! He put an end to sin. Establish righteousness. One other verse. Now where the
forgiveness of sin is, verse 18, no more offering. You don't need another offering.
The offering has been made. The offering has been accepted.
The offering has satisfied God. There is no more offering for
sin. What must a sinner do? Believe what I've told you. Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ. It's finished. Nothing left for
the sinner to do. Salvation is a free gift of God
to those who believe. And even their faith is a gift
of God. No work to be done. What must
I do to be saved? No work to be done. What must
I do to be saved? No price to be paid. Salvation is a gift of God. No
more offering for sin. It's been offered. It's satisfied
the Father. It's finished. It's finished. Now, like the Philippian jailer
came running to Paul in silence and said, sir, it's failed ever.
Sir, what must I do to be saved? He said, believe. Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, thou shalt be saved. Not maybe, not I hope
so, you shall be saved. By believing, through believing.
In whom you trusted, after that you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation, Ephesians chapter one. In whom
you trusted. Faith comes by hearing, hearing
by the word of God. Whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved. But Paul asks three very important
questions, four after that. How can they call upon Him in
whom they've not believed? How can they believe in Him whom
they've never heard? How can they hear without a preacher?
How can they preach except to be sent of God? We must hear the truth about
the Lord Jesus Christ. Who is He? Well, listen to Peter
on the day of Pentecost. He said, this same Jesus that
you crucified, He was delivered by the purpose of God into your
hands for a little while. And you took Him and you crucified
Him. You killed Him. But God raised Him from the dead. Set Him on the throne of David.
It's all in Acts 2, latter part, beginning with verse 22. Set
Him on the throne of David. Made Him to be both L-O-R-D,
Lord and Messiah, Lord and Christ. He was in your hands a little
while. Delivered by the determinate counsel and full knowledge of
God. You killed Him. Now you're in His hands forever.
You're at His disposal. And He's going to dispose of
you one way or another. And the cry of every heart here
this morning should be, pass me not, O gentle Savior. Listen,
hear my humble cry. While on others thou art calling,
don't pass me by. Don't pass me by. Preachers are
saying today, don't pass Jesus by talking to sinners, you know.
Don't let Him be a failure. Let Him have His will. Let Him
have His way. He's going to have His will. He's going to have
His way. He died that He might be L-O-R-D of the living and
the dead. Now listen to me. We're in His
hands. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
just a little, and you perish. Perish. May God bless these words
to every heart. May we be able to stand before
God, faith and trust in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe
we'll be able to stand before God as the Apostle Paul did and
said, I know whom, not about whom, in whom. I know whom. My faith is in a person. I know
whom I have believed. And I'm persuaded that he's able
to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day. That's
saving trust, saving faith, saving confidence. In a salvation, in
a Savior, it's finished. It's finished. Tell you, it's
finished. It's done. It's accomplished.
I finished the work you gave me to do. All my faith is in
the Christ who finished that work. God bless you. Okay, David.