“Unfinished” week 1

“Unfinished Atonement”

Opening . . .

We begin our new sermon series today that I have entitled: “Unfinished.”

Our theme verse for the series is found in Romans chapter 12, verse 2.

“Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith.”

To me, this simply means that not only does Jesus start His new life in us, but He will also finish what He started.

The concept of “finish” can mean to complete a task.

Equally, it can mean to finish is the same fashion as a master craftsman will finish their project.

For the one who works with wood, the finishing process can take several steps. These steps can include sanding, putting on a finish, and finishing with a protective varnish.

At the end of the process, the project can be considered finished.

This is not to suggest that we are merely “projects” for Christ to work on. It is to suggest that we are in the midst of being finished by the hands of the Master craftsman

To get started, I would like to make a few foundational statements which will provide some guiding thoughts for our series.

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross has purchased a complete salvation.

What I mean by this is that in the atonement of Christ, Jesus took upon Himself the needed sacrifice to purchase our forgiveness, our healing, and our deliverance.

Therefore, Jesus is not only our Savior, but He is also Christ our Healer, and Christ our Deliver.

Unfortunately, many stop short of receiving their full inheritance provided for by the blood of Christ.

Once we accept Jesus as Savior, we enter a time of sanctification which is progressive in nature.

The word “progressive” would indicate that our sanctification is not a one time event, but a continual process of becoming like Christ.

It is my belief that the process of sanctification will continue to progress until we receive our new bodies and join Jesus in heaven.

Our assigned commission given to the Church by Christ Himself is without recall.

We are called to the assignment of sharing the Good News of the Gospel as much today as the original disciples were at the time of Christ’s commissioning.

Unfortunately, many Christians believe that our primary task is to stay saved until Jesus returns to deliver us from this life.

This perspective is not false in the sense that Jesus is returning to take us into an eternity with Him. However, our continued assignment until He returns is to actively pursue His divine commission to be “salt and light” in a darkened world.

The hope of Christ’s return keeps us in anticipation of heaven.

In light of what I just said earlier, we do eagerly anticipate the soon return of Christ. It is this hope which provides us with a sense of anticipated face-to-face encounter with the One who died and rose again to bring us into restored fellowship with our Heavenly Father.

A clarification may be in order for this point. We eagerly anticipate the return of Christ not for the sake of “escaping” from this life. Rather, we anticipate the reward of receiving Christ to reign with Him throughout eternity.

Introduction . . .

Here are some textual and historical considerations in regards to the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah is considered by many as the “prince of prophets” in the Old Testament.

He ministered during a pivotal period in Israel’s history.

His ministry spanned over several decades, encompassing the reigns of multiple kings.

Isaiah was called by God to proclaim messages of judgment, restoration, and ultimately, the coming of the Messiah.

Isaiah 53, situated within the larger context of the "Servant Songs," is a vivid portrayal of the suffering and glory of the Servant of the Lord.

Written around 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, this prophetic passage stands as a striking testament to the divine foreknowledge and sovereignty of God.

Text: Isaiah 53:5

“But he was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities:

The chastisement of our peace was upon him;

And with his stripes we are healed.”

This singular verse in Isaiah 53 captures the fullness of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that mentioned earlier.

In our text we see Christ our Savior, Christ our Healer, and Christ our Deliver.

Christ our Savior . . .

In the prophecy of Isaiah, we hear that Jesus was “wounded for our transgressions.”

The sacrificial suffering of Christ on our behalf purchased our redemption and as we surrender to Him as Savior, restores us to full fellowship with the Father.

Several New Testament references reinforce the prophetic proclamation of Isaiah pertaining to Christ.

John 3:16 “For in this way God loved the world, so that he gave his one and only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life.”

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.”

Romans 5:8 “but God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Each of these verses, as well as many others, reveal Christ as our Savior. He is the One sent by the Father on behalf of a fallen world for the sake of redeeming a lost people back to God.

For many, their understanding of Christ’s accomplished work stops here. This is in no way intended to diminish the importance of our salvation, but it is to suggest that the atonement of Christ has accomplished more than only redemption.

Christ our Healer . . .

Isaiah 53 also indicates that Jesus provides for our physical healing according to the strips He bore on His back.

Christ our Healer is also supported in Scripture throughout the New Testament.

James 5:14-15 - "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven."

Matthew 8:16-17 - "When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.'"

The healing of Christ is still readily available for us today.

I would suggest that as much as we invite Jesus into our lives as Savior, we should invite Him in as Healer.

I will remind us at this point that healing is not an event, but is the reception of the person of Christ as our Healer.

When we pray for healing, we are inviting the Healer to enter into our life.

Christ our Deliverer . . .

Finally, we see Jesus presented in Isaiah as our Deliver.

“The chastisement of our peace was upon Him.”

This act of deliverance provided for by Christ’s atonement makes sufficient provision for the deliverance of souls from the oppression of the enemy.

The enemy comest to “steal, kill, and to destroy.” But Christ has come to grant us life and life more abundantly.

The oppression of the enemy can and must be broken through the acceptance of Christ’s accomplished work as our Deliverer.

To live with ongoing oppression is to forfeit the provision of Christ in this area.

There are however many who have sought deliverance from oppression and have yet to experience the reality of Christ’s deliverance.

The enemy is quick to condemn with thoughts of “I must not have enough faith,” or “It must not be God’s will.”

We must always remember that the enemy is a liar and the father of liars. Everything he promotes is based on a foundation of deception for the purpose of removing the promises of God from our hearts.

So why do some believers still battle with spiritual oppression?

Honestly, I don’t have the insight to adequately address this question.

I can say that the promise and provision of Christ is sufficient to break every aspect of oppression we can experience in our souls.

If or when there is a delay in receiving the provision, we must continue to place our full faith in the accomplished work of Christ and never allow ourselves a moments doubt as to God’s love for us.

We continue to pray and press into the promises of God and trust Him with the timing.

In summary . . .

Salvation is our first step.

The “unfinished” work of redemption is realizing that Jesus is our Savior, but He is also, Christ our Healer, and Christ our Deliverer.

We must pursue the fullness of Christ’s atonement in our lives.

Prayer . . .