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Content type: Sermon Poem / Prayer Service / Tribute Incomplete Biography
Body: Introduction The date was May 10th, 1869. That was the day the first Intercontinental Railroad in the world was finished; and it was here in the USA. About 6 years earlier, the Central Pacific RR set toward the east-from Sacramento, California. Sometime a little later, the Union Pacific RR began to build west from Omaha, Nebraska. They were going to meet somewhere in the middle and tie this nation-east and west-together. They had unbelievable difficulties as they built through rough terrain-crossing the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains. They had to work through every kind of weather, but, in about 6 years the 2 RRs met in northern Utah. The officials of both railroads were present for the driving of the last spike, which happened to be a golden spike. The newspaper headlines across this country read: “IT IS FINISHED, EAST AND WEST TIED TOGETHER!” It was a far greater day when Jesus Christ said- from the cross on Calvary- “IT IS FINISHED.” Jesus executed God’s game plan perfectly and fulfilled His mission. (Speak about last Sunday) IT IS FINISHED! Throughout history the world has issued inspiring cries of victory and challenges. But the greatest cry of victory and triumph that has ever been spoken came from a dying man on a cross, when Jesus Christ lifted His head and with all the strength of His soul shouted out, “It is finished.” (Thirst) The power of those words are so great that they will continue to echo for all eternity, for they are not the words of defeat, but the words of great triumph. Those three words are among the most profound words ever spoken, by the man who lived the most profound life that has ever been lived. It is important for every believer in Christ to hear and understand the meaning of those three words when Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” Those three words, “it is finished” are filled with endless power and eternal authority. There is nothing in history that can compare to the eternal power and meaning of those words. Those words, “It is finished,” hold great eternal meaning for every believer in Christ. I believe the moment Jesus said, “It is finished,” those words echoed and exploded throughout the entire spiritual realm from one end to the other. Those words were not just spoken for God the Father and for the angels of heaven. He spoke those words for us to hear and remember. We find from Matthew 27 and Mark 15 that moments before He died, Jesus lifted His head and with what little strength He had in Him, He shouted, with a loud cry “It is finished.” Why did He shout it out? Because He wanted the whole world to hear it. He wanted all of heaven to hear it. He wanted all of hell to hear it. And He wanted every person of every generation to hear it. Today, He wants you to hear these words in your soul, “It is finished.” For the believer in Christ, the words” It is finished,” hold great eternal meaning. To understand the greatness and power of these words you need to realize that these three English words, “It is finished,” come from the single Greek word, Tetelestai. Tetelestai is an action word that comes from the Greek word “teleo,” and it is so rich in meaning that it is difficult to describe. Tetelestai means, “It is finished, it stands finished, and it always will be finished!” It means “the work is completely done, that everything has been accomplished and completed and that what is done cannot be undone.” It was not a cry of defeat; it was a shout of victory! It means the accomplishment of great success in completing and finishing a task. That’s just one way to describe it. The merchants also used this word in the marketplace to mean “That a debt is completely paid in full!” All of that comes from this one single word that Jesus spoke from the cross. And both meanings of this word apply to the life of a believer. I sincerely believe the meaning of this single Greek word as Jesus proclaimed it from the cross is so deep in its eternal meaning that it impossible for us to fully comprehend it on this side of eternity. However, by God’s grace we can still dig out its truths and discover some of the wisdom that come with it. So how does the words, “It is finished,” fit in with our lives as believers in Christ. How can we apply what Jesus said to our lives? Lets take a closer look. First, the word “it” tells us there is something here very important that has been completed and finished by Jesus. The world does not understand what that “it” is or what “it” means. The “it” involves God’s eternal plan, and that plan includes you and me. The word ‘it” tells us that something very specific has been done and fully completed. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He was speaking of the eternal purpose and task that God had set before Him to finish. Jesus words, “It is finished” takes us all the way to before the world began when we read that Jesus was the Lamb of God slain from the foundations of the world. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He was finishing what God had set into motion on that day in the garden when God said to the serpent (Satan) that He (the Son of God) will bruise your head and you will bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:15) From the very beginning when man first sinned, it was God’s full intentions to redeem us so that we could have eternal life in His great and glorious kingdom. It was and is God’s great desire for you and me to have eternal life in His kingdom and to make that happen, God set into motion a plan to save us from our sins and that plan required that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to die on a cross to pay the price for our sins. What God began in eternity past came to complete fulfillment at the cross when Jesus said, “it is finished.” Eternal life for all who would believe in His Name suddenly became a living reality the moment Jesus said, “It is finished.” Romans 6:23 gives us a picture of what this means for us. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV There are two pictures here and both are tied to Jesus words, “it is finished.” First, there is the picture of eternal death that comes to us because of sin. Romans 6 tells us that the wages of sin is death. However, Jesus changed all of that when He said, “it is finished.” Remember, the word Tetelestai not only means that something is finished, but it also means the total and complete payment of a debt. When Jesus said, “it is finished,” He was stating that at that precise moment that our debt for sin was now completely paid in full, because He became sin for us which is why the end of Romans 6:23 says that the great gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Eternal life in Jesus Christ is possible because He was able to say, “IT IS FINIHSED!” That means the moment you truly repent and confess your sins to Christ, Jesus says to you, “it is finished” and all your sins are forever forgiven. Because He said, “it is finished,” we are now covered and clothed with the righteousness that comes from Jesus Christ. Because “it is finished,” our sin is forever lifted from you and me and placed on Jesus. Because “it is finished,” we don’t have to experience the terrible wrath of God. Because “it is finished,” we have the promise of eternal life, in an eternal kingdom, that will never end. The moment Jesus shouted out, “It is finished,” heaven rejoiced, and hell trembled with terror and fear. The moment Jesus said, “It is finished,” Satan realized that he was forever defeated and that he had just helped to bring to pass the very thing he had been trying to stop. Not even Satan, God’s greatest enemy, could prevent Jesus from saying, “it is finished.” How important is it that Jesus said, “it is finished?” If it is not finished, then eternal life is impossible. But glory to God Jesus said those three monumental words. PAID IN FULL Again, remember that the Greek word “Tetelestai” that Jesus spoke from the cross is translated into English as “It is finished,” but that does not give us the full picture of the great eternal meaning that comes from this word. The word Tetelestai does mean that something is totally finished, but it also means that something is completely paid in full. I want you to hear this great truth in your heart and never forget it. Jesus Christ died for all of your sins, and He paid in full, the complete and total price required by God for your salvation so that you could have eternal life. Think about what this means. Jesus’ words, “It is finished,” literally means that all of your sins, your past sins, your present sins, and all of your future sins, have been lifted off of you and placed on Jesus. Yes, I still have a sinful nature within me that I battle, and will continue to battle, but my sins, have all been placed on Jesus at the cross. The moment you choose to believe in Christ and to accept Jesus Christ as the substitute for your sins, you are immediately forgiven and given the great gift of eternal life. (pause) So, the question is asked, what about my future sins? (pause) Let’s look at it this way. How many of your sins were future sins when Jesus died on the cross and said, “it is finished?” Yes, all of our sins were future sins. That means He paid in full for all of our future sins. When Jesus cried out, “it is finished,” God immediately canceled every debt against us because of our sin. Jesus paid off our debt of sin so that no future payments are ever necessary. Jesus paid in full every sin you and I have ever committed or ever will commit. Whatever it is in your life that has filled you with pain and remorse and guilt, write out next to it; PAID IN FULL. Lying: Paid in Full Stealing: Paid in Full Disobedience: Paid in Full Adultery: Paid in Full Selfishness: Paid in Full Dishonoring God: Paid in Full That means all of our sins, past, present, and future sins are totally and completely forgiven because Jesus has paid in full the debt for our sins and He says, “it is finished.” And with this comes an important truth that we must not miss. Some have this idea that since Jesus has forgiven us of all our sins, including our future sins, that we are free to live as we please in our sin, but that is not true and that is not what the Bible teaches. Our part in this involves two things that absolutely must be done in our lives. First, we must believe, that only in Jesus Christ, do we have salvation and eternal life. And for that to become a reality in our life, we must decide what we truly believe about Jesus Christ and His cross. We must decide what to do with Jesus Christ and His cross. We must decide that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. Second, and I cannot stress this enough, once you become a believer in Jesus Christ, you must learn to live your life as a believer who believes in the transforming power of the cross of Jesus Christ. We are to allow our lives to be transformed from living in sin to living holy and godly lives that bring glory and honor to the name of Jesus Christ. The real proof that you are a believer and that you have been forgiven is how you allow the love of Jesus Christ to transform your life. So first, know that God has an eternal plan, and that plan includes you and for that plan to become a reality in your life, Jesus Christ first had to pay in full, the complete and total price for your sins, so that you could have eternal life. Jesus words, “It is finished” reveals that God has a purpose and plan for your life. Every person here has a God given purpose in life. If you are a nonbeliever, who has never fully trusted in Jesus Christ and surrendered your life to Him, God’s great plan and purpose for your life is for you to be saved. This is first and foremost! Why hasn’t Jesus Christ returned yet? What is He waiting for? One of the great answers is found in 2 Peter 3:9. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. NKJV God is waiting on you to choose Him. So, God’s first great purpose for every nonbeliever is for you to repent and for you to receive eternal life that comes from Jesus Christ. God also has a great purpose for every believer. Now listen, I want you to hear this. Jesus Christ died on the cross so that we could fulfill our God given purpose. Jesus Christ said, “It is finished,” to make it possible for us to fulfill our God given purpose. And at this point many of you might ask, what is God’s purpose in my life and how do I find it? Every believer in Christ has a God given purpose and our number one job in life is to fulfill that purpose regardless of the cost. There are three very simple things that I believe reveals to us God’s purpose for our lives. If we would make every effort to do these three things, we will ultimately fulfill our God given purpose. First, give yourself fully to Jesus Christ. That means you must believe in Him with all that you are, and that you believe He is the only way of salvation and that He is the Son of God and the eternal King of kings. Second, if we really desire to fulfill God’s great purpose in our lives, then we must seek to do all that we can to bring people into His kingdom. Jesus Christ paid it all, and He wants people in His kingdom. There are many ways we can do this. If you can’t witness, then at least invest your tithes and offerings so that what you do give can be used to reach people for Christ. Third and very importantly; if you want to fulfill your God given purpose, if you want to say with Jesus, “It is finished;” then you must make a commitment to live your life to be worthy of the calling of Jesus Christ. The problem is that some of the churches in America are chasing the wrong purpose. Some Christians in America have bought into the idea that by fulfilling the American dream of riches, prosperity, and comfort, they are fulfilling God’s purpose, when in truth, God’s purpose for our lives may involve suffering, trials, scorn, ridicule and even our deaths. So, how do we find and live out our God given purpose? Paul gives us a great answer to that question in 2 Timothy 4. 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing. NKJV In this verse, Paul gives us the answer as to how we can fulfill our God given purpose. First, he says you must fight the good fight which means, disciplining our lives to Christ. To fight the good fight means we are determined to follow Christ and to live our lives to honor Christ. Paul faced numerous struggles and challenges and He refused to let any of those things keep Him from seeking and doing His God given purpose. Second, Paul says you must keep the faith. To keep the faith is to believe that even in the worst of times, God is still working and moving in our lives to fulfill His purpose even when we can’t see it. Third, Paul said he finished the race. Just as Jesus finished His race and Paul finished his, even so, we must finish ours. All of us are in a race called life and the number one goal of our lives in this race is to discover God’s purpose and then to do it with all our might and with all our understanding. That’s exactly what it took for Jesus to say, “It is finished.” So, in closing, I ask you, how do you want to be remembered in eternity? What legacy for the kingdom of God do you want to leave for eternity? Do you want to make your life count for eternity? Then finish the race. Do you want to fulfill God’s purpose in your life? Then finish the race. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He made is possible for us to finish our race and to finish strong for Christ’s kingdom and glory. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He made it possible… For you to have eternal salvation. For you to live victorious as a believer. For you to finish your race, and to finish strong for God’s glory and honor. To finish God’s purpose in your life will not happen by accident. You must decide that is what you want and then work to make it happen. I am convinced from God’s word that although there are times when God leads us down a path for a specific purpose, His most important purpose for our lives is that we choose to believe in Him, love Him and live our lives daily to honor Him in whatever way we can. Out there somewhere is a finish line waiting for you. None of us know when we will reach our finish line. All I know is there is a finish line out there somewhere. And between now and that finish line I want to live my life fully for Christ. And because He has said, ‘It is finished” I want to finish the race He has set before me. Today is your day to run the race and to finish what Jesus Christ has started in you. Jesus suffered greatly and faced many obstacles; He never gave up. He never quit. He never dropped out of the race. And neither shall we! Illustration Hours behind the runner in front of him, the last marathoner finally entered the Olympic stadium. By that time, the drama of the day’s events was almost over and most of the spectators had gone home. This athlete’s story, however, was still being played out. Limping into the arena, the Tanzanian runner continues with every step, his knee bleeding and bandaged from an earlier fall. His ragged appearance immediately caught the attention of the remaining crowd, who cheered him on to the finish line. (SermonCentral.com) Why did he stay in the race? What made him endure his injuries to the end? When asked these questions later, he replied, "My country did not send me to run just at the start of the race. They sent me to run at the start and to finish it." Likewise, we as Christians are to finish the race of life. Although we will stumble and endure many hardships, we must get back on our feet and continue running the race. We must make it to the finish line so that we may receive the crown of life. AS YOU LOOK AT JESUS: There is a Life that can never be copied; A Righteousness that cannot be tarnished; A Peace that cannot be taken away; A Rest that cannot be disturbed; A Joy that cannot be diminished; A Hope that cannot be disappointed; A Glory that cannot be clouded; A Light that cannot be darkened; A Happiness that cannot be stolen; A Purity that cannot be defiled; A Wisdom that cannot be baffled; A Beauty that cannot be marred; A Resource that cannot be exhausted. THERE IS NO NEED HE CAN’T MEET, NO HURT HE CAN’T HEAL. JESUS FINISHED WHAT HE CAME TO EARTH TO DO - SATAN HAS BEEN DEFEATED! IT IS FINISHED - - - TETELESTAI
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