It is Finished

Wayne Roberson

December 3, 2010

It is Finished

(Christmas Message)

Intro:

What began in a manger was finished on the cross of Calvary

We have chosen this season of our year to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Why?  Because we KNOW Him and why He was born.

I. The Manger, God came to us

In the gospel of Matthew, our Savior's birth is foretold:

Matthew 1:23

    "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

Emphasizing the fact that Jesus was born to a virgin is referred to as the immaculate conception.  The point is, this is God's one and only son.

"Immanuel"  God with us....what does this mean?

Sure, I understand...... Jesus was with those He physically live around and with.....

but, what about me, TODAY?

            Reference if needed:

            Holeman:  IMMANUEL  (Im mahn’ yoo el), EMMANUEL  (Em mahn’ yoo el) Personal          name meaning, “God with us.” Name of son to be born in Isaiah’s prophecy to King Ahaz       (Isaiah 7:14) and fulfilled in birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:22-23).

            When King Ahaz refused to show his faith by asking God for a sign (Isaiah 7:10-12), Isaiah       gave him a sign of the birth of Immanuel, using the traditional form of a birth announcement             (Isaiah 7:14; compare Genesis 16:11; Judges 13:3; Judges 13:5). The Hebrew language          apparently indicates that the prophet and king expected an immediate fulfillment. Recent study        has pointed to Ahaz’s wife as the woman expected to bear the child and show that God was still     with the Davidic royal dynasty even in the midst of severe threat from Assyria. Such a sign          would give hope to a king who trusted God but would be a constant threat to one who followed      his own strategy. The double meaning of the Immanuel sign appears again in Isaiah 8:8. The    Assyrian army would flood the land until Judah was up to its neck in trouble and could only cry         out, “O Immanuel”; a cry confessing that God is with us in His destructive rage but at the same           time a prayer, hoping for divine intervention. Isaiah followed this with a call to the nations to        lose in battle because of Immanuel, God with us (Isaiah 8:10).

            The Bible says nothing else about the effects of the Immanuel prophecy in the days of Isaiah       and Ahaz. It does announce the great fulfillment in Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:22-23). Jesus’ birth     showed all humanity that God is faithful to fulfill His promises in ways far beyond human     expectations; for Jesus was not just a sign of God with us. Jesus was God become flesh, God        incarnate, God with us in Person.

Before Jesus' crucifixion He said: 

John 14:16-31

    And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- [17] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. [18] I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.  (Emmanuel?)   

    [19] "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. [20] At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

 [21] He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

[22] Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" [23] Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

[24] He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.

    [25] "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. [26] But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

[27] Peace .....I leave with you, My peace.... I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled, ( John 14:1) neither let it be afraid. [28] You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I.

[29] And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. [30] I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. [31] But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

II. The Walk God among Us

   

May I draw our attention to a some particular words and phrases in John Chapter 14 as we consider our savior's walk among us?

He will give v.16, emphasizes what God the Father is and does

abide v.16...the word abide implies intimacy

know v.17...to know reinforces the concept of abiding

He dwells v.17  reinforces the idea of God's acceptance

in you v.17  Who among us does not understand that we are helpless and hopeless without the                                   indwelling Holy Spirit?

I will come to you. v. 18.....Whether it is Jesus in the flesh or the indwelling Holy Spirit, God is with                                                   us....Emmanuel!

but you will see Me. v. 19  Even today, believe’s

                                                those who abide with,

                                                those who know Him,

                                                those who love Him,

                                                see Him

I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. v.19......In, how much more intimate can you be?

he who loves Me. v.21

Romans 8:28

    And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  [NKJV]

1 Cor. 8:3

    But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.  [NKJV]

1 John 4:20

    If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?  [NKJV]

1 John 5:2

    By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.  [NKJV]

What we love reveals who and what we are. 

It also reveals who's we are.

I submit to you that if you love God, you will not only desire to abide with Him. 

You will desire to please Him.

I hesitate to use the word Commandment because it carries with it the weight of legalism. 

But rather, I chose to think of my personal obedience as a token of appreciation.

Conversely, Jesus says in verse 24:

He who does not love Me does not keep My words;

Jesus knows our weakness as He mentions the Helper in v.25

Helper, the Holy Spirit, v.25

            The Holy Spirit is mentioned in Romans as the one who intercedes for us:

Romans 8:26

    Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The is one translation that translates "cannot be uttered"  too deep for uttering.  I can relate to the too deep part....can't you. 

You know, those times when the words for prayers just don't come. 

I call those wordless prayers.

rejoice v.28  As a believer, one who loves God, ours should be a life of rejoicing in light of our future.

In reference to the last days we are told to lift up our heads in Luke 21:26-28,

    men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. [27] Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

ruler of this world v. 30....Again, Jesus emphasizes the division between Him and the world we live in.

How often do we make the mistake of thinking that all of creation is God's children?

But rather, only those who love Him are known by Him and are called His, children.

John 1:12

    But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

 See also: John 11:52, Romans 8:16, 8:21, 9:8, Philippians 2:15, 1 John 3:1, 3:10, 5:2

            Reference if needed:

            BKC- 14:29-31. Fulfilled prophecy is a great comfort and support to believers (cf. Isa. 46:8-10).         Jesus had predicted His death and resurrection many times (e.g., Mark 8:31-32; 9:31). When       this came to pass, after their initial shock, it would greatly help their faith. His teaching time             was now limited because Satan, the prince of this world (cf. John 12:31; 16:11), was moving      his forces against Jesus through Judas (cf. 13:2, 27). And yet Satan had no hold on Jesus. Sin         leads to death (Rom. 5:12, 21a; 6:16), and sin and death give Satan a hold over people (cf. Heb.             2:14-15; Rev. 12:10). But since Jesus is sinless, Satan cannot claim Him for his kingdom of        darkness. Satan thought Jesus’ death was a victory for him, but actually it was Jesus’ victory       over Satan (John 16:11; Col. 2:15).

      Because Jesus loves the Father, He did exactly what the Father… commanded (cf. John     10:18; 12:49-50) including being “obedient to death” (Phil. 2:8). Then He said, Come now; let    us leave. Jesus had been with the disciples in the Upper Room. He now prepared to go to the        Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. Whether Jesus’ words in John 15-17 were        spoken in the room or on the way to the garden is uncertain, but probably they were given in the        room.

III. The Cross, God's expression of love

 The words of the song express my thoughts:  "Why the cross, why a road marked with suffering?"

The answer is found in omans 8:3

Romans 8:3

    For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

   

We have seen God's hand throughout the scripture.

Now, we see Him sacrificing His only son on the cross of Calvary for Us.

Hear the words of Jesus from the cross recorded in the gospels:

Luke 23:34

    Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Luke 23:43

    And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

John 19:26-27

    When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" [27] Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

He took care of His mother.

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.

Conclusion:

What began in a manger was finished on the cross of Calvary

We have considered "Why Christ Came"

We have considered "His Walk among us."

Now we come to His words on the cross, "It is Finished"

What is Finished?

The need for a blood sacrifice is what was finished?

Romans 8:3

    For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

By faith in the accomplished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary:

            We can know God

            We can be indwelt by His Holy Spirit

            We can know the fellowship of His suffering

            We can walk in intimate fellowship with Him

            INVITATION:

                        In Luke the we read:

Luke 24:32

    And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"

Today, you are heard the scripture read.

            you have head the emphasis place on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross

If you know Him, surely your heart burned within you as you considered what He has done on your behalf.

However, there may be those among us who's have never heard or never received the gospel.

That is, those who have never come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you have never realized:

Romans 3:23

    for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23

    For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8

    But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:13

    For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Realizing there is no other way to Know God and spend eternity with Him,

we come to Him, receiving His Son, Jesus Christ as our substitute on the cross of Calvary

agreeing with Paul in Philippians:

Philip. 3:3

    For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

We ask Him in faith to forgive us our sins and come into our hearts to indwell us and walk in intimate fellowship with Him.

Won't you come to Him?