Well, I believe I have a very
important message, especially in the day and age we live in,
where people in the religious world think that salvation is
somehow dependent upon what they do, along with what Christ did. And we know that's false, because
salvation's already finished. And that's the name of the message
tonight, already finished. already finished turn if you
would to john chapter nineteen john chapter nineteen i'm gonna speak on a topic which
i think will bless the souls of god's people we who are the
born-again people of god been washed in the precious blood
of the lord jesus christ saved by the pure free and sovereign
mercy and grace of god in christ we have ceased from our labors,
haven't we? And we trust in Christ and Christ
alone. A lot of people in the world,
through religious works or just works of their own, are trying
to reach heaven by something that they do. But biblical salvation
is not dependent upon the works, not dependent upon any of the
works of the sons or daughters of Adam, which include all who
have ever lived except for one man, except for one man. That's the man, Christ Jesus,
the seed of the woman, born of a virgin, who was God incarnate
in the flesh. Biblical salvation is in him,
and through him, and by him, plus absolutely nothing. There's no salvation outside
of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's biblical salvation. He
said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh under
the Father, but by me. He's the one who the Father sent
to save his people from their sins. We saw in our study in
John 17, he was sent by God. And I'm gonna preach tonight,
and Lord willing, until I breathe my last breath, I'm gonna preach
that salvation is in Christ and him alone. all by his perfect,
sin atoning, finished work. Oh my. And this is based on the
scripture here in John chapter 19. Look at verses 28 to 30. Where our Lord Jesus Christ,
God incarnate in the flesh, God incarnate in the flesh, proclaimed
that the work which he was sent to do is finished. Now, this isn't the words of
no mere man. This is the words of He who has God in the flesh,
the sinless one, the spotless one, the Lamb of God, sent by
God to save His people from their sins. Look at this in John 19,
28 to 30. After this, Jesus being hung,
hanging on the cross, right? Time's almost finished. After
this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished,
that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith I first. And there was
said a vessel of vinegar, and they filled the sponge with vinegar,
put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus, therefore,
had received the vinegar, he said, look at this, it is finished. And he bowed his head and gave
up the ghost. What was finished? One may ask, what was finished?
Well, the will of God concerning his incarnation, that Jesus Christ
our Lord would be exposed to shame and reproach, that he would
suffer much at the hands of wicked sinners. Oh my, also that he
would die, and the whole work that the Father gave him to do,
which was to preach the gospel, work miracles, and obtain eternal
salvation for his people, to save his people from their sins,
was now finished. Finished. Already finished, right
there. See, I preach a gospel that's
already finished. I preach a salvation that's already
finished. All we do is look to Christ and
live. By the power of God, we do that. Oh my. Think of this too, the whole
righteousness of the law was fulfilled perfectly, perfectly. So there's nothing for us to
do. Perfectly fulfilled by the sinless one. We couldn't fulfill
one jot and tittle of the law. He perfectly fulfilled it in
our room and place as our great substitute. He's the great substitute
of sinners. That's what he is. Oh, the law
was fulfilled by Jesus Christ as a substitute of his people.
He is sinless. He's absolutely sinless. He had
a holy nature. Oh my, he had a holy nature. And he yielded himself perfect
obedience to it. And the penalty of death endured
in the place of his people as the sinless sacrifice. He did
this. Oh, and a perfect righteousness
was finished. Agreeable to the law. He fully magnified the law.
He fully fulfilled the law. in our room and place. And He
did it for us. He's perfect. He's sinless. He did it for we
sinners. What a Savior. What a Savior
is Jesus Christ our Lord. Oh my, the law was magnified.
It was made honorable by Christ's death and the redemption of God's
people. Think of this. From the curse
of the law, from the condemnation of our sin, and the condemnation
of the law, It's finished. It's finished. How? How's it gone? By the shedding
of the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. And my, oh my, think of this.
His blood was shed for a ransom for all his people of all the
ages. A number that no man can number.
The scripture calls him the elect of God. We don't know who they
are, so we preach the gospel, put it out on the internet, let
it go forth, and God does with it whatever he wills. Calling
in his lost sheep, building up his sheep in Christ. Oh my. My oh my. Christ's precious blood
was a ransom for the souls of all God's people. Means he paid
the price, that's what it means. Means we're bought with a price,
scripture says. We're not our own. What are we bought with?
The precious, precious, precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh, it's wonderful. I'll tell you what. I got so
excited putting this message together. It's wonderful. Sin
was made an end of. Do you know, beloved, he made
an end of our sin? So that God doesn't see it anymore?
He paid everything God demanded? and now we're clothed in the
perfect righteousness of Christ? He made an end of our sin. Full
atonement was made for our sins, made for the sins of all of God's
people at Calvary's cross. And God was and is so satisfied
by the sacrifice of His Son in the place, room and place of
His people, He said, this is my beloved son in whom I'm well
pleased. And he accepted that sacrifice of Christ, didn't he?
He said, God will see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied.
God was satisfied with the sacrifice of Christ in the room and place
of his people. And with satisfaction for the
sins of God's people given by the Lord Jesus Christ, what is
also secured? Complete pardon. I mean, complete
pardon. Pardon in full. Made by Christ
and Him alone. My, secured. Do you know our
pardon is secured in Christ? It's already been done 2,000
years ago. That's wonderful. That's absolutely
wonderful. Do you know peace has already
been made with God for us? We have peace with God through
the Lord Jesus Christ. 2,000 years ago, God made peace
with the Father and his people through his sacrifice. This is
wonderful. And he made redemption from all
our iniquity. How? By his precious, precious
blood. When I see the blood, I'll pass
over you. Oh, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.
It's wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. So rejoice,
beloved of God. All our enemies are conquered
in Christ. All of our enemies. Our own sin
was against us. Our own flesh was against us.
The law of God was against us. The wrath of God was against
us. He silenced it all, didn't he? Isn't it wonderful? Oh, this is a wonder of salvation.
It's already finished. It's already finished. And all
the types and promises and prophecies in the Old Testament that spoke
about Christ were fulfilled. Oh my. And his own course of
life ended. The reason of his saying it was
finished was because all this was near being done. It's all
done. And in John 19.30, he speaks
these amazing words. It is finished. And then he yields up his spirit.
He gave up the ghost. He gave his life willingly for
you and I, beloved. Oh, my. He willingly gave his
life for sinners. That's amazing. And again, I
said the salvation of God's people is sure and certain. For he shall
save his people from their sins, and he did it. He did it right
here when he cried, it is finished. It's done. Praise His mighty
name. It's done. Oh my. And you know what? It's so certain
and it's so complete that nothing can be added to it, nothing can
be taken away from it. It's done entirely without the
help of man. It's all done by the Lord Jesus
Christ and Him alone. And it's wonderful, isn't it? Aren't you thankful the Lord
saved you, beloved? Praise his mighty name. What
a Savior! Oh my! Christ rose from the grave,
and he's seated right now at the right hand of the Father,
interceding for you and I, beloved. Oh my! And for the saints who
aren't even saved right now, that will be. Oh, what a mediator
we have. What a Savior we have. His name
is the Lord Jesus Christ. My oh my. And He obtained eternal
redemption for us. He obtained it, the scripture
says in Hebrews. We're going to look at that later on. He obtained
it. He, by His perfect work, He obtained eternal salvation
for us. And He can give it to whomever
the Father, He gives it to whomever the Father gave Him. He gives
it to poor sinners like you and I. Isn't that wonderful? Oh my. My people say, well, how
can I know if I'm one of God's elect? Do you believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ? Is He your Savior? Then you're
one of His people. Isn't that wonderful? Oh, are
you completely rested and trusted in Christ and His finished work?
And absolutely nothing we do? Oh, bless His name. Bless His
holy name. And our Master, our Lord Jesus
Christ, in John chapter 4 verse 34, He said these words, That's
John chapter 4 verse 34. My meat, His food, the whole
reason He came, Right? Is to do the will of Him
that sent me. Who sent the Lord Jesus Christ?
The Father. And then He says, and to finish
His work. And what does He cry in our verse tonight in John
19, 30? It is finished. It's done. Salvation's complete,
beloved. And the chief work of all for
Christ Jesus our Lord is the redemption and salvation of His
chosen ones. And this is a work that the Father
called Him to. This is a work that he willingly said, I'll
go, I'll go, I'll be their substitute. I'll be their sacrifice. Oh my. Father sent him into this world
to perform that work, which he gave to him. And Christ accepted
it, didn't he? The word of God, second person of the trinity,
accepted it. And he comes into this world. The word was made
flesh and dwelt among us. And they hung him on the cross,
all according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of
God. God didn't go to plan B, this is all part of God's plan.
Because the only way for us to be saved, God can't die so a
man has to die, so God becomes a man and dies for his people.
Wondrous, absolutely wondrous. And it was, I'll tell you what,
it was a toilsome and laborious work. Oh my. Think of this, there's a righteous
law to be fulfilled. He did it. There's God's justice
to be satisfied that would fall upon us. He must satisfy, he
must extinguish it, won't he? And he does it by his death.
And then he has to bear the sins of his people. He says, Father,
if it be thy will, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not
my will, but thy will be done. The only way we could be saved
is by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect, sinless,
spotless Savior and sacrifice. There's no other way. And He
bore our sins. And you know what else He bore?
He bore the wrath that was due us. He fully bore that. He fully bore it. And then He
cries, listen to these wonderful words, in light of that, it is
finished. Oh, hallelujah. What a Savior. What a Redeemer is Jesus Christ,
our Lord. And Christ, what else has He
redeemed us from? Well, He redeemed us from the curse of the law,
didn't He? Law had a rightful grip upon us, a rightful claim
upon us. He redeemed us, the scripture
says in Galatians, out from under the law. Oh my, being made a
curse for us. And you know, He defeated numerous
enemies of ours and numerous enemies of His. He defeated them. Oh my, and then he died in the
cursed death, hanging on a tree. My, as a substitute of God's
people, in all this, think of this, all this, he did and performed
for the joy of the Father's will. My, he did it to save us, beloved,
because of his great love for us. And he joyfully went to that
cross and hung on that cross and bled and died and bore our
sins and bore the wrath of God in our room and place that we
might be saved. What a Savior. What a Redeemer. My. Scripture says he endured
the cross patiently and despised the shame of it. My oh my. And in doing so, he accomplished
God's counsels and covenant. in his own engagements, obtaining
eternal salvation for us. And all the work of God required
for the salvation of chosen sinners was absolutely done and done
only by the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything that God required
for the salvation of chosen sinners, Christ did it all. It's already
finished. It's already finished. And He
did it with all faithfulness and integrity, and with the most
excellent wisdom. He's the Son of God. He's God
incarnated in the flesh. And with all application and
diligence and consistency, so as to finish it, and that without
the help of any other. No one helped Him. He didn't need any help, did
He? He came to die, beloved voice. He came to save us. And He did
it. And He cried, it's finished.
And so now I preach a work that's already done. All we do is look
to Christ by God-given faith. Isn't that wonderful? That's
wonderful. Oh my, I'll tell you. I'll tell
you. And he did it again without the
help of any other in such a manner that nothing can be added to
it and nothing can make it more perfect. It's already perfect.
The work's already perfect, beloved. What happens if a man adds something
to perfection? We ruin it. We've earned it. There's nothing to be added.
This work is perfect. It's finished. Oh, it's wonderful. I'll tell you. It's the most
wonderful message of God's grace in Christ. My, and it cannot
be undone. It cannot be undone by man. It
cannot be undone by Satan. It cannot be undone by devils.
It cannot be undone by anyone. It's finished. It's done. Isn't that wonderful? Our salvation
is not dependent upon us, it's dependent upon He who finished
the work. He who's God incarnated in the flesh. Praise the name of Jesus, our
Lord, who came to save His people. Sinners! Sinners! And He perfectly
finished the work which He was sent to accomplish. He finished
it completely. There's nothing left. Here are
four or five things for us to consider. Number one, salvation
is complete. It's complete! This wondrous
salvation is accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a
work of salvation that's already complete. It's finished. Listen to what
it says here in John 19, 30. Look at this. When Jesus had
received the vinegar, He said, it is finished. It's complete. Right? And he bowed his head
and gave up the ghost. Turn, if you would, to 2 Corinthians,
chapter 5. 2 Corinthians, chapter 5. Oh, rejoice, beloved of God. We have a Savior who finished
the work. He finished the work. There's nothing for us to do.
It's already done. Oh, and we're not made right
by anything we do, not by any personal righteousness. We don't
got no righteousness. Our righteousness is like filthy
rags in the eyes of the Lord. Right? Oh, Scripture says there's
none righteous, no, not one. For all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God. For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord. My, and this righteousness is reckoned to us. It's imputed to us, beloved.
It's what the old timers called an alien righteousness. It's
not ours, it's Christ's. And it's reckoned to us, and
we are saved eternally by that perfect, synodal work of the
Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary's cross. And that was accomplished
in time, wasn't it? God planned and purposed it in
eternity, chose us in Christ in eternity, but that which was
planned and purposed had to come to pass, and it came to pass
2,000 years ago. Christ redeemed his people from
all their sins. All the Old Testament saints
that looked to the Messiah, and all of us, and even the ones
who aren't saved yet. Did he save them already? Is
the work already finished? Well, they haven't been quickened
yet by the Holy Spirit of God, right? But the work's already
done, and they don't even know it. Isn't that amazing? Did we know it before the Lord
saved us? Did we have a clue we were one of God's elect? I
had no idea. Here I stand, and I'm gonna brag
on my king, I'll tell you that. Oh my, it's finished. My, this
righteousness is reckoned to us, we're saved eternally by
that which Christ has accomplished and finished in history. Because
he finished that work, because he saved us from our sins, we
shall live with him for eternity, beloved. And that's the only
reason. That's the only reason. Because
of the work he did. The perfect, sinatonic work that he did. That's
the only reason. My, oh my. Look at this in 2
Corinthians. Chapter 5, verses 19 to 21. To
wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,
not imputing their trespasses unto them. Our sins were imputed
to Christ. David said, blessed is the man
whom the Lord will not impute sin. Look at this. Not impugning their trespasses
unto them, but hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. See, the gospel is the word of
reconciliation. And it's the word of reconciliation
telling how Christ has reconciled sinners to God through his perfect,
sinless, atoning work. My. And it's God, the Holy Spirit,
who shows us we're sinners, isn't it? And we're born again by His
almighty power. And we're given faith to believe
on Christ and to run to Christ. And then to keep trust in Him,
right? Oh, it's wonderful. Look at this, now we are ambassadors
for Christ. What does an ambassador do? What
does the ambassador of the US do? He goes and tells other people
in other countries about the US of A. We're ambassadors for
Christ. Who do we tell people about?
Well, we tell them about Christ, hey. Isn't it wonderful? We're
ambassadors for Christ. As though God did besiege you
by us, we pray you in Christ's deed, be ye reconciled to God. Look at this. For He hath made
Him to be sin for us, so our sins were imputed to Christ,
who knew no sin. He's absolutely sinless. He's
hanging on the cross. Our sins are imputed to Him.
He's still the sinless, spotless Lamb of God, because Scripture
says He offered Himself up without sin. But our sins are upon Him. He's bearing them. And He bears the wrath of God
for us, who know no sin, that we might be made the righteousness
of God in Him. Look at that. clothed in the perfect spotless
righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. So rejoice, beloved of
God. Salvation's already accomplished.
It is finished. Isn't it wonderful? Oh, it'll
make you want to shout. Make you want to shout. And we
can either add to that salvation or take away from it. Why? Because
it's finished. Right? If it's finished, we can't
add anything to it. And we can't take anything away
to it from it because it's finished. My, and beloved God, rejoice,
salvation's already being achieved. How do we know that? It's finished.
It's finished. And so rejoice, beloved God,
salvation's finished. That means, what else does that
mean? That means we can't mess it up. If it's finished, we can't
mess it up, can we? That's glorious, isn't it? That's
amazing. I love this. My, listen to the
words of Brother Miles McKee, who again, I read an article
by him that inspired this message. He said this, it is said many
times, without Christ, we can do nothing. That is true. But
the reverse side is also true. With Christ, there's nothing
we need to do. We can't do anything with him,
without him, right? And with Christ, there's nothing
for us to do for our salvation. It's already finished. It's already
finished. Jesus has done and paid all to
redeem us. It is finished, end quote. It's
finished. Isn't that wonderful? That's
amazing grace, isn't it? Oh, the late Scott Richardson
said this, the voice from the cross did not summon men to do. The voice from the cross did
not summon men to do, but to be satisfied with what was done.
It is finished. Are you satisfied with that,
beloved of God? Oh, amen, we are, eh? Oh, my. The second point is we receive
this finished salvation by faith alone. We're being born again
by the Holy Spirit of God under the preaching of the gospel of
salvation in and through Christ alone. Now some people worry
that their faith's not strong enough. They worry their faith's
not strong enough. However, you know it's not the
condition of our faith that matters, but Christ's life of faith on
our behalf. Whether we have strong faith
or weak faith, praise God, we have faith from God. And sometimes
our faith is strong, and sometimes our faith is really weak. If
we're really honest, if we're really honest, But our salvation
is not dependent upon our faith, it's dependent upon the finished
work of Christ Jesus our Lord. Oh my. Christ has completed his
work, and sinners are saved by it. We're saved, we're saved
eternally. Trust him, rest on him, receive
him by faith alone. Listen to these words, sinner
friend in Matthew. Matthew 11, 25 to 29, or to 30. If you listen to this and you
do not know Christ, listen to these wondrous words. In people
of God, oh, let us draw nigh to Christ. Listen to these wondrous
words. They're for all of us. At that
time, Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, Father, O Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from
the wise and prudent and has revealed them unto babes. Verse
26 of chapter 11 of Matthew. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto
me of my Father, and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father. Neither
knoweth any man the Father, save the Son. Look at that. There's no way for us to know
the Father except through Christ. And look at this. And he to whomsoever
the Son will reveal him. We will not know who God is unless
the Son reveals him to us. So if you know God by revelation
of God through the preaching of the gospel, praise his mighty
name. Now look at this. Oh, are you
laboring? Are you laboring to try to work
your way to heaven? Sinner friend, are you laboring to try to work
your way? Friend in religion, are you trying to labor to work
your way to heaven by something you think you can do? Listen
to this. Come unto me, all you that labor
and are heavy laden, and I'll give you rest. Rest is found
in Christ. Look at this, take my yoke upon
you and learn to me for I am meek and lowly in heart and you
shall find rest unto your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden
is light. Look to Christ and live. The
work's already finished. It's already done. Come unto
me, he says, the king says, come unto me all you that labor and
are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Look at that, I will.
There's not one who's cast themselves upon Christ who hasn't found
rest for their souls. Oh my. Sinner friend, how can
Christ give you rest? Well, because He's God in the
flesh. And He's finished the work of salvation. Listen to
His words again. It is finished. It's done. It's done. Number
three. Have you ever thought this? I
don't love the Lord Jesus Christ enough. You ever thought that? I think we've all thought that,
haven't we? Oh, yeah? Well, that's true for all born-again,
blood-washed believers. Have you ever met one who loves
Jesus enough? Including you and I? Well, praise be to God. It's not because we love him
that he saves us. No, it's the fact that he saves
us because he loves us before we ever loved him. Isn't that
amazing? That's amazing grace. He loves
us with an everlasting, unchanging love, beloved. Scripture says
in 1 John 4, 19, we love him because he first loved us. Isn't
that wonderful? Whether our love is strong or
weak, who's the object of your love, beloved? It's Christ, isn't
it? Oh, so don't punish yourself
if you think, I don't love the Lord enough. None of us do. But
praise be to God. The scripture says, love God
with all your heart, mind, and soul. You know who did that for
us? The Lord Jesus Christ. He perfectly fulfilled that in
the room and place of his people. My, oh my. Isn't it wonderful,
eh? Oh, God didn't merely say, I
love you, to his people. No, he came down from heaven.
He came down from heaven. God himself became the representative
of man, the Word of God. He went to the cross. He fully
bore the wrath of God that should have came upon us. And I tell
you, what astounding love that is. That's love manifest, isn't
it? That's everlasting love manifest. He who knew no sin became sin
for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Truly, truly, this is amazing, immense love, and it's free. It's free. My, because He loved
us before we ever loved Him. My, what a Savior. So let us
never forget, it's His love for us that drove Him to save us,
that made Him come to this earth to save us, to cry, it is finished
on that cruel cross. It's His love for us, His everlasting,
unchanging love. Oh, praise his mighty name. My. So it's his love that saves us,
not our love for him. So rejoice, beloved of God, again.
Salvation's complete. It is finished. And the Lord
Jesus Christ has finished the work perfectly. Number four. It's not our attainments that
save us, but it's his atonement. It's his atonement, beloved.
My, oh, my. Jesus did everything necessary
to redeem us. In his doing and dying, he obtained
eternal redemption. He didn't just do everything
that needed to be done to save us, but he obtained eternal redemption
as well. You hear these false preachers
saying, God's done all he can do, now the rest is up to you.
That's a lie from the pit of hell, beloved. Christ did it
all. It is finished. That's what that means. It doesn't
mean he's done all... Does that sound like it means
he's done all he can do? He wouldn't have cried, it's
finished then, would he? But God himself incarnated in the
flesh. The scripture says this, listen
to this. Christ being come and high priest of good things to
come by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands,
that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of goats
and calves. All the blood from all those goats and calves in
the Old Testament could never take away sin. Neither by the
blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in
once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for
us. It's finished. He obtained it
by his perfect, perfect sin atoning work on Calvary's cross. My,
and you know, only death can put away sin. One may ask, well,
why? Well, because death came in into
this world by the sin of the first man, Adam. That's spiritual
death. And sin was bought in by one
man. And sin can only be put away by death, and that's the
death of the second man, the second Adam. There's the first
Adam, who was the representative of all human race, and now here's
the second Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, the representative of
all God's elect, of all the ages. That's who cried, it is finished. That's who did that. That's him,
the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh my! Oh my! So sin was bought in by Adam,
and sin can only be put away by the second Adam, the Lord
Jesus Christ. It was a man who got us into
this trouble. Therefore, it must be a man who gets us out of it.
And he's a perfect man. He's a sinless man. He's God
incarnated in the flesh, and his name is the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15, 25 to 27 says this, for he must reign till
he hath put all enemies under his feet, all of them. The last
enemy that shall be destroyed is death. He destroyed the power
of death, didn't he? Oh, death has no more sting for
the believer. It's our gateway to heaven. It's
our doorway to heaven. For he hath put all things under
his feet. Everything is under Christ's dominion. But when he
sayeth all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is
accepted, which did put all things under him. So rejoice, beloved
God. Salvation is finished. It's complete. It's perfect. and is done by
the Lord Jesus Christ. My sins were borne by Jesus,
the substitute from God. He took them all and freed me
from sins accursed load. My guilt was borne by Jesus,
who washed the crimson stains white in his blood, most precious,
till not a spot remains. Woo, my. My, oh my, so rejoice,
beloved God. Christ ascended into heaven.
And why did he rise from the dead? Why was he raised for our
justification? Because it's finished. The work's
complete. Oh my, he came into this world
to accomplish a work, a salvation for his people. He lived a perfect
life in our room and place, fulfilling the law of God. And then he hangs
on that cross, bearing our sins and all our iniquities, beloved.
bearing the wrath of God. And he cries, it is finished.
And he gives up the ghost, and he's buried. And three days later,
he rises from the dead for our justification, beloved. All because
the work's finished, and God is absolutely satisfied with
that work. Oh, it's wonderful. What a wondrous
salvation we have in Christ Jesus, our Lord. My. And he didn't ascend to complete
salvation. He didn't go up to heaven to complete it. It's already
done. It was done at Calvary's cross. My, his work of atonement
was finished. Oh no, he didn't ascend to complete
salvation. When he arrived in heaven, he
sprinkled his blood on the mercy seat, but that was not to achieve
a redemption, because listen to this, redemption had already
been obtained. Because as we read earlier, but
by his own blood, he entered into the holy place, having obtained
eternal redemption for us, Hebrews 9.12. It's already done. When he enters into the holy
place to sprinkle his blood, he's already got salvation for
his people. It's already finished. Oh my
beloved. Notice how eternal redemption
is already being obtained before Christ came to the mercy seat.
We have a comprehensive and finished salvation. We're not half condemned
and half accepted, beloved. No, we're not half saved, but
we are completely accepted in Christ, and we are completely
saved in Christ. Listen to this. Colossians 2,
verses 9 and 10. For in him, that's Christ, dwelleth
all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye, that's being
Christians, are complete in him, which is the head of all principality
and power. And that complete, as I've told
you many times in the creek, a friend of mine who reads and
writes Greek, he said, that word means you can't get another drop
in there. Not even another drop. It's complete. Remember, I said
that nothing can be added to it, nothing can be taken away
from it. The work is finished. It's perfect, and we're complete
in Christ. Oh, so rejoice, beloved of God. Christ Jesus, our Lord,
has completely finished the work of salvation. God's salvation is complete and
it's totally finished by the Lord Jesus Christ. And God so
loved us, loved his people, that he sent his son as a substitute
to die in our room and place, to die a gruesome and cruel death
on that cross. So may we who are redeemed of
the Lord embrace with gladness the love of the Lord revealed
in this great substitutionary work of salvation. May we just
embrace him. And when God saves a sinner, and it may well be without fanfare
as far as the world is concerned, but when God saves a sinner,
he convinces that sinner that this word right here is absolutely
true. It's absolutely true. And everything
else is a lie. Oh my, and he brings that poor
sinner, by his power, by his almighty power, he brings him
to Christ. And then being quickened by the Holy Spirit of God, we're
given life, beloved. The sinner's given life, spiritual
life, by the Holy Spirit of God. Given faith to believe on God,
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and given repentance before God.
And given the faith, the one object of that faith is Christ.
The one who he wants to trust or she wants to trust is Christ,
and Christ alone. No one else. Oh my. Why? Because he finished the
work, beloved. It's accomplished. It's complete.
It's a perfect, sin-atoning work. My, and we find in Christ, oh
beloved, we find in Christ all that is necessary for our salvation.
Everything that's necessary for our salvation is found in Christ.
Listen to this, Christ died for our sins, that's love. That's
love, beloved. He was wounded for our transgression,
that's love manifested. He was praised for our iniquities,
that's love. Christ was once offered to bear
the sins of many. That's love. He gave himself for us. Oh, what
love. He was delivered for our offenses.
Oh, what great love manifested there. Christ died for the ungodly. That's love manifested again.
He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. That's
love, beloved. Christ has suffered for us in
the flesh, the sinless one, dying for the ungodly. That's love
manifested. Christ has once suffered for
the sins, the just one, the perfect one, the holy one, for the unjust,
sinners like you and I, beloved. That's love. In his own self,
he bear our sins in his body on the tree. What a great manifestation
of love. Praise God for our substitute,
the Lord Jesus Christ. And may every one of us come
to know the assurance, this assurance that comes from these words.
It's finished. It's finished. What assurance for the believer?
And embrace the love of God demonstrated in and through the Lord Jesus
Christ towards his people. I'm gonna close with a favorite
stanza. Favorite stanza from the song,
It Is Well With My Soul. All this stanza, my sin, my sin,
Oh, the bless of this glorious thought. My sin, not in part
but the whole, is nailed to his cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord,
O my soul. My, what a Savior. Rejoice, beloved God. Salvation
is complete and it's absolutely finished by the Lord Jesus Christ. Glory to his name. Heavenly Father,
we thank thee for tonight and allowing us to gather together
in awe. Praise you, Lord Jesus, that our sin, not in part but
the whole, is nailed to your cross. nailed to your cross. You bore it all for us, Lord.
Oh, my. So we can sing, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord. My sin, not in part, but the
whole, is nailed to your cross. And I'm bare no more, Lord. Oh,
what a Savior you are, what a Redeemer you are, giving your life for
us and accomplishing a perfect salvation for we who are just
sinners. sinners from birth, sinners by nature, sinners by
choice, but all the great love you have for us. Oh, Lord. Wondrous, marvelous love. May
we think upon these things this week. May we meditate upon this
wonderful fact of your great love for us. And then the other
fact that it's finished. Our salvation is absolutely complete
in thee. We love you only because you
first loved us, Lord, in Jesus name, amen.