Prevailing and Availing in Prayer

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-27-2022

James 5:16-20

 

Introduction:

 

A.  As James concludes this book, he, through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, he ends with the effectual, fervent pray of the righteous man.

 

B.  I want to take particular notice to the words "righteous man," not sinless man.  Though still in a sinful state, the Lord has chosen to hear and answer our prayers.  Our righteousness is found in the person of Christ Jesus.  "Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne" are the words of "The Solid Rock," a song that we often sing.

 

C.  James ends with a familiar character of the Old Testament, Elijah.  He prefaces that greatness of Elijah's answered prayers with the words "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are."  Elias was a great prophet, not a perfect man.  Elias was a of great prayer, not a sinless man.  God honored Elias's position as a believer and his prayers as prevailing.

 

D.  Elijah both prevailed and failed but God was faithful to him.  God honors the man or woman who effectually and fervently prays.  Both Elijah and Hannah were great examples of prayer and prayer answered.

 

E.  Our prayer life is essential to living a godly, effective life for Christ.  Paul had much to say about our prayer life but one verse that I quote regularly is:

 

Ephesians 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (That we ask or think are the key words of the verse.  "We think" is the effectual part of prayer (pointed, specific, not to be consumed upon our lust) and "we ask" (continuance, determined) is the fervent part.)

 

1.  Thus availing prayer is pointed prayer.

 

2.  Prevailing prayer is persistent prayer.

 

F.  Our prayer life is to be well-balanced.  Our Lord gave us the Model Prayer or the example of prayer: worship, thanksgiving, requests, confession, and the forgiveness of others.  One of the least used parts of prayer is that of confession.  Our text defines the difference between our private and public confessions with the word "faults."  We confess our sins to God, but it is a good thing to confess our faults to men as it gives accountability.

 

G.  Whereas the first part of these verses dealt with physical sickness, this latter part deals with faults that are connected to chastisement.

 

1.  Fault – areas of weakness in one's life.  Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (I believe that every child of God has areas where he or she struggles.  An area of temptation to one may be an area of strength to another.)

 

James 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

 

H.  Dealing with faults.  This is not the confession of sin!  Keep your sin between you and God!  Public sin is to be publicly dealt with and private sin is to be dealt with privately.

 

1.  To confess a fault is to recognize that we have one.  In James, chapter one, the Bible reads:  James 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  (23)  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  (24)  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  (25)  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

In these verses we find:

 

a.  Verse 23: The source of our recognition:  the Bible.  The first part of getting our faults healed is that of recognition.  As we read God's perfect Word, we see the imperfect man!

 

b.  Verse 25: The constancy of our recognition: stay in the Bible.  We find our faults from reading the Bible and we control our faults by staying in the Bible.

 

2.  To confess a fault is to find help in accountability with both God and man. 

 

Matthew 18:19  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

 

a.  We need first to confess to God.  1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

b.  In cases of faults or weaknesses, we need accountability when we continue to fail in the same areas.  I am not advocating AA, but one of the things that they do is confess their faults.  The same thing is done with Weight Watchers as they must weigh before others.  As God's children and a part of the family of God, we help each other in two ways:

 

c.  By confessing before others our faults, we show that we are all struggling together in this sinful body of death.

 

d. By praying for one another in such cases, we show our being there for each other in the matter of prayer and loving help.

 

3.  To pray for each other is to get help from God as God honors our prayers.  "Call unto me and I will answer thee."  "Ye have not because ye ask not."  This is why we take open prayer requests in church and prayer rooms. 

 

Matthew 18:19  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

 

4.  We find the possibility of healing, through sins confessed in cases of chastisement or faults confessed, God is both able and willing to give help to His beloved children by removing the chastisement of sinfulness.

 

5.  The conversion of the sinner is the covering of a multitude of sins that have been committed or that would have been committed had he not requested help.  It is also a covering for all who hear because it manifest's our personal weakness in the matter of sinfulness and we strive harder to live lives that are pleasing to God.

God Is Faithful and True to His Word

Temple Baptist Church - 4-24-2022

Revelation 22:6-11

A. Verse 6. As we begin to finish the Book of The Revelation, we find a two-fold promise given in 22:6. The Faithfulness of God to the Veracity of the Word of God. God declares His faithfulness to His Word because all that can be known of God and our future comes from the Bible.

We can trust God. Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Hebrews 6:17-18 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: (18) That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

We can trust what God says about God's Word. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

B. The antecedent of the word "he" found in this verse is one of the seven angels mentioned in 21:9. His message is that God is faithful to His Word of Prophecy. As we finish Revelation, we have discussed the three-fold breakdown of the Book: Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

The things which thou hast seen is chapter one (the years previous to the writing of the Book of Revelation); the things which are is chapters 2-3 (time of the writing of Revelation to the seven churches of Asia Minor) and prophetic of the impending of the church age; the things which shall be hereafter (chapters 4-22: beginning with the Rapture of the Church through eternity future). From chapter 4 and the rapture of the church to the final "Amen" in chapter 22 is future to us and, therefore, prophetic in nature.

C. As we look back over history, the Word of God has been faithfully recorded, from Adam's day to John's Day. Everything that God prophesied came to pass. From John's Day to our day, with everything prophesied coming to pass. As we approach the impending rapture of God's church, we find these last perilous days to be as it was in the days of Noah and Lot, the falling away from the Word of Truth by deceitful men, and the emergence of the Laodicean Church Age.

D. As we find the faithfulness of God in recording our day, we can also put our faith and trust in His prophecies concerning chapters 4-22: "the things which shall be hereafter." In God's faithfulness to the past and present, we find His veracity or truth concerning the things to come. If God said it, and He did, you can "take it to the bank!" The angel is reconfirming the blessing to those who hear, read, and keep the prophecies of this Book.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

What we read must be in our hand. What we hear must come from what we have in our hand. What we obey must be clear and in the Bible.

E. "His servants" encompass both the seven churches of Asia to who He has written individual letters and to those of us who faithfully read, hear, and keep the prophecies of the Book of Revelation. If we walk in the light of God's Word, we will walk as examples to this present evil world in which we live.

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

F. Verse 7. In this verse, we find both the shortness of time and the suddenness of our Lord's promises to come quickly. The word "quickly" refers both to when and how He will return: the shortness of time, though 3,000 years must come to pass is still but a moment in eternity and also the suddenness of time expresses that He will come instantly and without warning.

In verse 7, we also find the sixth of the seven Beatitudes of the Blessed that are given in the Book of Revelation. 1) 1:3 – blessed is he that readeth, heareth, and keepeth 2) 14:13 – blessed are they which die in the Lord hereafter 3) 15:16 – blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments 4) 19:19 – blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper 5) 20:6 – blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection 6) 22:7 – blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book 7) 22:14 - blessed are they that do his commandments.

G. Verse 8. When John saw and heard these things, he fell face down in worship before the angel. Throughout the Bible, God's people have always fallen on their face before God while the wicked of this world have always fallen backward away from God. When watching the Charismatics of our day, the people "slain in the spirit" always fall backwards to the floor. I find no place where God's people react to the things of God in such manner.

H. Verse 9. As John fell at the feet of the angel to worship, we find his immediately giving God the glory for what has been seen and what has been told to him. In Revelation 21:9 and 22:6, the Bible is clear that this one to whom John bowed is an angel. This verse is problematic with some commentators as they believe that the Bible is saying that this one speaking is both angel and human. I believe that he is an angel, not human as there are certainly no transgender or trans angel people in the Bible. The angel is referring to his being a prophetic source that God has chosen which classifies him as a "fellowservant" and, not "one of they brethren" but "of thy brethren the prophets … of them which keep the sayings of this book." I find no contradiction in the verse. The angel is placing himself with those humans who do such things, not saying that he is one of them.

J. Verse 10. When God gave the Book of Daniel to Daniel, he was admonished to "shut up the words, and seal the book" until the time of the end: Daniel 12:4 "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." In John's Day, we find that he was told to "Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand." With the coming of Christ, we entered into the "last days." There were 4 "days" or 4,000 years from the beginning to the coming of the Christ, Israel's Messiah the Promised Seed of the Woman. After the resurrection of Christ, there were to be 3 "days" or 3,000 years until the end of all things. Thus, these, being the last and lesser portion of years were biblically called the "last days" or the "last times."

Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (This was accomplished on the Day of Pentecost in Acts, chapter 2.)

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (The last days began when Jesus Christ spoke to Israel on earth.)

K. Verse 11. Many people believe that their person and desires will not be the same in eternity but the Bible is clear at this point: if you are not justified in this life, you will not be justified in eternity; if you are filthy now, you will be filthy still in eternity; if you are righteous now, you will be righteous in eternity; and if you are holy now, you will be holy in eternity. Though we that are saved are still sinners by birth and by choice, there is a part of us "sealed" until the day of redemption that is sinless.

2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

The Resurrection

Temple Baptist Church - 4-17-2022

Matthew 27:45-61; 28:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

 

Introduction:  Today, we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

 

A.  This morning, I took time to read the entire gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ—the blessed hope of the Christian as well as the world.  It is only through the finished work of Calvary, of which the resurrection is the acceptance of sin’s price paid in full, that we find eternal life and the hope of Heaven.

 

B.  Paul said, " I preached …Ye have received … wherein ye stand!"  That is the salvation of the gospel.  I am glad that I heard the gospel preached, received the gospel, and now stand upon the gospel as a finished work that brought me salvation.

 

C.  Often, we sing the song “Because He Lives!”  Because He lives, I can face tomorrow; because He lives, all fear is gone.  The “Capstone of Christianity” is that there is life beyond this life and that life is eternal.

 

1.  The gospel gives hope to the hopeless.

2.  The gospel gives encouragement to the discouraged.

3.  The gospel gives light and life to the spiritually blinded.

4.  The gospel gives joy unspeakable and full of glory to the downtrodden.

5.  The gospel gives peace and joy to the bereaved.

6.  The gospel gives comfort to the sick unto death.

7.  The gospel gives courage to the oppressed.

8.  The gospel gives strength to the weary.

9.  The gospel gives victory to the defeated.

10.  The gospel gives expectancy to the watcher.

 

D.  One day He is coming, Oh glorious day.  He is coming back as He said and we will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

 

Romans 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

 

John 14:19  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

 

1.  Because Of The Resurrection There Will Be A Glorious Appearing - Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

2.  Because Of The Resurrection There Will Be A Glorious Body - Philippians 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

 

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

3.  Because Of The Resurrection There Will Be A Glorious Reunion - 1 Thessalonians 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

4.  Because Of The Resurrection There Will Be A Glorious Joy - 1 Peter 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

 

Jude 24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

 

5.  Because Of The Resurrection There Will Be A Glorious Presentation - Ephesians 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

6.  Because Of The Resurrection There Will Be A Glorious Home - John 14:1-3  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

Conclusion:  The greatest day of the life of the believer will be when he sees Christ.  This is a wicked, troublesome world and the longer I live the more I Pray with the Apostle John:

 

Revelation 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

That Sounds Like Home To Me! - Part 3

Temple Baptist Church - 4-17-2022

Revelation 21:27-22:5

 

A.  We saw last week that the New Jerusalem was going to be a place of unimaginable beauty.  Walls of Jasper, gates of pearl, foundations garnished with precious stones, a street of transparent gold, ivory palaces, angels attending the gates, having the glory of God, and the light of God to lighten it: like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone as clear as crystal.  A place of unimaginable size.  1500 miles long, 1500 miles wide (From New York City to Colorado and from Canada to Miami, Fl), and 1500 miles high containing 3,375,000,000 cubic miles cube laid beside cube would stretch to the sun 36.29 times,

 

B.  As we end chapter 21, we see that the New Jerusalem is a Holy Place.  A place of absolute purity.  Once again in the last verse of chapter 21, the Bible reiterates that sin is gone from all aspects of eternity.  As it was with "In the beginning God," so will be "In the beginning" of eternity with God.  The sinful who have rejected Christ will be at home in the lake of fire while the sinful who have received Christ will be at home in the New Jerusalem.

 

Revelation 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

 

Revelation 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

 

No sinners, no sin, and no temptation to sin.  The residents of the New Jerusalem have had their sins washed in the blood of Christ and their righteousness found in the person of Christ.  Their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life because they are His.

 

C.  Verse 22:1.  The word "And" shows the continuity of the context: the description of the New Jerusalem.  We saw the City of God in chapter 21 from the outside: its glory, wall, gates, foundations, and Light.  The only description given inwardly thus far was the "street" of transparent gold.  Chapter 22 gives a more vivid picture of certain aspects of the New Jerusalem.  The silence of the Bible on the other inward beauty and design speaks of our inability to imagine such beauty and radiance.

 

D.  "A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal."  In Revelation, chapter 22, we find the Last Mention of "river" found in the Bible. The source of this beautiful river is the "throne of God and the Lamb."  James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."  It is a pure river; it is a life-giving river; it is a beautiful (clear as crystal) river. 

 

Joel 3:17-18  So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.  (18)  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

 

John 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

 

John 4:13-14  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  (14)  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

 

Revelation 7:15-17  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  (16)  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  (17)  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

 

Revelation 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

 

The First Mention of "river" found in the Bible is consistent with the last mention. 

 

Genesis 2:10  And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. (As it was in the beginning, so shall it be in eternity.)

 

E.  Verse 2.  This verse has always thrilled my soul.  Three things are depicted here and the visual that we are granted is a glorious sight. 

 

We have already seen that there will be a "street" of transparent gold and here the "river" of life.  One leads to and the other proceeds from the throne of God and the Lamb.  The street is a boulevard.  A boulevard is a divided road or street with one lane going one direction and the other lane the opposite direction.  The area between the two parts of the street or road, called the median, are normally beautified with trees or plants.  Look at the description that the Bible gives.

 

Here, we find the Tree of Life in the midst of the street.  The Tree of Life is only mentioned in two books of the Bible: Genesis, chapters 2 and 3, and Revelation, chapters 7 and 22. 

 

In Genesis, chapter 2, we find its availability to mankind in the midst of the garden of Eden.  In Genesis, chapter 3, we find its unavailability to mankind, protected by a flaming sword and Cherubims.  As to when God moved the Tree of Life to Paradise, we do not know.  If the Tree of Life was there, then was the River of Life there also.

 

Genesis 2:10  And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

 

 

In Revelation, chapter 2, we find its availability in the paradise of God, the restoration of eternal things that were from the beginning, and in chapter 22, we find its accessibility to those who are saved for all eternity.

 

The Tree of Life is also found here on "either side of the river" as well as "In the midst of the street of it."  Here is the picture that God gives us of the median of the Street of Gold.  The Street of Gold that leads to the Throne of God and The Lamb is divided by The River of Life flows which flows from the Throne of God and the Lamb. 

 

The Tree of Life is also divided as it is in the midst of the street and on either side of the river.  I get the picture of one of the giant sequoia trees out in California that has a road through the middle of it. The Tree of Life has a River of Life running through it.

 

Here is the picture:  we see the Throne of God and the Lamb with the Street of Gold leading to it and, in the median of the Street of Gold, there is the River of Life flowing out of the Throne of God and The Lamb, through the middle of the street and the Tree of Life will grow on both sides of the River of Life. 

 

F.  The Tree of Life will bear "twelve manner of fruits."  There are no identifications of what these different kinds of fruit are but the number twelve, a perfect number in the Bible, will be a perfect variety of fruits.  They will be both available, yielded her fruit every month, and accessible.  In the First Mention of the Tree of Life in the Book of Genesis, we find that Adam and Eve were able to put forth their hand and eat of the Tree.

 

G.  It will be a Tree of Life.  Our trees today either have a dormant season or, once they bear fruit, they will bear no more: such is the Banana Tree.  There will be no dormant season, nor will there be any lack of bearing.  The Bible does not expound upon the phrase found in Genesis, chapter three, which says, " lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever."

 

H.  The leaves of the Tree of Life will be for the healing of the nations.  This is not the healing of the individual because there will be no more sickness there.  Our bodies will be perfect in every way and will need no healing.  The healing of the leaves of the trees has to do with the healing of the nations on earth.  Throughout the history of mankind after the curse, nations have risen against nations with these conflicts of interest in most cases ending in wars. 

 

The leaves of this tree will evidently be used to heal, or to maintain, the relationships of the nations toward each other as eternity will be a time of peace and goodwill among the peoples of the earth.

 

J.  Verse 3.  Here it is reiterated that the curse caused by sin will be no more as God and the Lamb will both reign forever and his servants shall serve Him.  Paul spoke of the requirement of stewards in 1 Corinthians 4:2: "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." As God has been faithful to His people, His people will be faithful to Him.

 

K.  Verse 4.  "And they shall see His face."  Because of the sinfulness of men and the absolute holiness of God, no man had ever seen the face of God.  In eternity, we shall see His face.  Both the face of His person and the face of His audience.

 

Exodus 33:18-20  And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.  (19)  And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.  (20)  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

 

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

L.  "And His name shall be in their foreheads."  Ownership of mankind is once again restored as we were created by God and created for God.  Song of Solomon 2:16 says, "My beloved is mine, and I am his!"  Here, we find ownership: both by the Master and the Bond Slave.  We love and serve God because He has loved and served us.

 

Exodus 21:5-6  And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:  (6)  Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

 

M.  Verse 5.  There will be no night, no canopy of celestial lights, for God will be the Light of eternity and we will "reign for ever and ever" with Him.  Eternity will be structured as God is a God of order and this restored earth, and the New Jerusalem will be the busiest places that you will ever see.  That sounds like home to me!

It Is Finished

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-10-2022

 

Introduction:

 

A.  This morning, I want to take one more look at the Cross of Christ. 

 

1.  There is so much that could be said but I wanted to "zero" in on one final aspect of the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Too often people look beyond the cross because of how they celebrate Resurrection Sunday. 

 

2.  Without the cross there would be no resurrection and without the resurrection there would be no salvation and without salvation there would be no eternal life.

 

B.  This morning, we come to Calvary’s Purpose Completed.  “It is finished!” 

 

In 1921, Jennie Evelyn Hussey wrote the hymn “Lead Me To Calvary. It starts out:

“King of my life I crown Thee now— Thine shall Thy glory be;

Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow, Lead me to Calvary.

“Lest I forget Gethsemane; Lest I forget Thine agony;

Lest I forget thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary.”

 

C.  In verse 30, we find words of finality, the words of completion!  Years ago, I heard Dr. James Crumpton preach on this subject ("It is finished") and remember well his emphasis on the Greek word used here: “teleo.”  The last stroke of the artist’s paint brush!

 

Jesus Christ, Jehovah God incarnate, came to die for the sins of the world.  He came to finish the work that the Father gave Him to do. 

 

In the phrase “it is finished” we find accomplishment.  His life: His work finished and summed up in one short phrase.

 

1.  Calvary, where redemption’s price was paid.

 

2.  Calvary, where the Just became the Justifier.

 

3.  Calvary, where the Innocent took the place of the guilty.

 

4.  Calvary, where the blood shed covers my sin, my guilt, and my shame.

 

5.  Calvary, where God’s mercy is great, and His grace is free.

 

6.  Calvary, where the burdened soul finds true liberty!

 

D.  When Christ cried out “IT IS FINISHED,” we find not a distressed voice, not a cry of defeat, BUT a clarion cry of victory!

 

E.  As I thought on the words "It is finished," I pondered on just what Jesus Christ had finished.  I hope and pray that these will be a blessing to you as they are to me.

 

1.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Word Of God Verified – Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

There were hundreds of prophecies written concerning Jesus Christ and He fulfilled every prophecy, every promise, every “jot and tittle” perfectly and completely!  God’s Word can be depended upon not only in the performance of this life but also the expectation of the life to come.  Jesus Christ left nothing undone!

 

2.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Work Of Propitiation Done – John 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 

 

At Calvary, we find the finishing of 4,000 years of sacrifices!  Millions and millions of lambs had died while awaiting the death of THE Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.  Mankind had long awaited Messiah’s coming, and we look back to His coming in wonder and amazement.  When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He was saying that the substitutionary work on the cross for us had been accomplished.

 

Peter said, in I Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”  (Jesus Christ became the “scapegoat” for you and me.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for taking my place and dying for my sins!)

 

3.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Way Of Salvation Established – John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

Proverbs 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

 

1 Corinthians 1:17-18  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  (18)  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  (Man can teach and preach anything that he chooses but it does not change the fact that salvation is through Jesus Christ and Him alone!  Not a church, not a denomination, not a movement, not a baptism, not a sacrament, not a dogma, and not an individual theology—but the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Man can go his own way but he will not go to heaven until he comes God’s way!)

 

4.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Wages Paid In Full – Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Ezekiel 18:20a  The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

 

Jesus Christ became the “Sinner’s Substitute.”  Our sin separated us from a holy God and Jesus Christ, our Propitiation, reconciled us back to Him through the finished work of Calvary.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

Hebrews 9:26  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  (The cross upon which Jesus died was an “altar” and He was the “sacrifice.”)

 

5.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Lost World Condemned – John 3:16-18  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  (18)   He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

1 John 5:10  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

 

John 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  (As Christ suffered for us as no man ever suffered, so the sinner who rejects Christ will one day suffer for all of eternity!)

 

6.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Works Of The Devil Destroyed – 1 John 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

 

Revelation 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  (God will destroy Satan’s position, his purpose, his power, his people, and ultimately his person.  Because of Calvary, one day there will be no more Satan!)

 

7.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Wealth Of Eternity Secured – Revelation 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;  (Because of the finished work of Christ on Calvary, one day we that are saved will be “finally home!)