GOD’S WORD FOR OCTOBER 23

We are using Charles Spurgeon book, “The Risen King.”  It’s a collection of well chosen excerpts from Spurgeon’s  “Easter” sermons in devotional form, put together by Jeff Medders.   Pastor Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892  in London, England, and had a unique gift of understanding and showing the depth of our faith.  Thus, his reverential title as the Prince of Preachers.   Even though we’re not in or near that season, every day is a good day to focus on Christ’s sacrifice and victory for us!

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IT IS FINISHED

John 19:30

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Let the day unfold in your minds.  Christ is brought to the cross;  He is nailed fast to the cruel wood.  The sun burns Him.  His brutal wounds increase the fever.  

God forsakes Him.  “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  (Matthew 27:47)

While He hangs there in mortal conflict with sin and Satan, His heart is broken;  His limbs are dislocated.  On and on He goes, steadily determined to drink the last dreg of that cup which must not pass from Him so His Father’s will would be done.  At last, He cries:

 “It is finished”

Christ dies.  Hear it, Christians.  Hear this shout of triumph as it rings today with all the freshness and force which it had years ago!  Hear it from the sacred Word and from the Savior’s lips, and may the Spirit of God open your ears that you may understand what you hear!

What did the Savior mean by “It is finished”?  First, that all the emblems, promises, prophecies, and Old Testament sacrifices were now fully realized in Him.

All the Scripture was now fulfilled.  When He said, “It is finished,” the whole book – from the first to the last – in both the law and the prophets – was finished in Him.  There is not a single jewel of promise or prophecy, from that first emerald which fell on the threshold of Eden to the last sapphire stone of Malachi, which was not set in the breastplate of the true High Priest!

When He said, “It is finished,” Jesus totally destroyed the power of Satan, of sin, and of death for you.

The Champion had entered the lists to do battle for our soul’s redemption, against all our enemies.  He met Sin.  Horrible, terrible, all but omnipotent Sin nailed Christ to the cross – but in that deed, Christ nailed Sin also to the tree.  There they both did hang together – Sin and Sin’s destroyer. 

Sin destroyed Christ, and by that destruction Christ destroyed Sin.  The words “It is finished” consolidated heaven, shook hell, comforted earth, delighted the Father, glorified the Son, brought down the Holy Spirit, and confirmed the everlasting covenant to all the chosen ones.

Dear friends, once more, take comfort from this finality, for the redemption of Christ’s church is perfected.  There is not another penny to be paid for her full release.  There is no mortgage upon Christ’s inheritance.  Those whom He bought with blood are forever clear of all charges – paid for to the utmost.  “It is finished”  — finished forever.  All those overwhelming debts, which would have sunk us to the lowest hell, have been discharged by the cross.  They who believe in Christ may appear with boldness even to the throne of God itself.

“It is finished.”  Your sins have received their death blow; the robe of your righteousness has received its last thread.  It is done – complete, perfect.  It needs no addition; it can never suffer any diminution.

O Christian,  lay hold of this precious thought, for it is enough to make you leap though your   legs were loaded with irons, and to make you sing though your mouth was mute. 

Oh, to think that we are perfectly accepted in Christ – that our justification is not partial;  it does not go to a limited extent but goes the whole way.  Oh, wondrous grace!  As far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions from us by the death of Christ.  This and this alone will put away sin.  Therefore in this cross of Christ we glory; yes, and in it alone will we glory forever.

Have you made the decision to accept this wondrous free gift from Christ?   Tell Him you’re sorry for your sins and from now on you want to live for Him as your personal Lord and Savior.   He suffered and died for you, but you won’t receive the benefits if you don’t accept the free gift of forgiveness from Him and dedicate your life to Him.

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Psalm 103:12

As far as the east is from the west,  so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, and let us reason together,”

Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are like scarlet,  they shall be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Galatians 1:4

who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Ephesians 1:7

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Ephesians 2:1

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

Hebrews 1:3

who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

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