IT IS FINISHED

INTRO

OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS…WE’VE WALKED THE JOURNEY.

FROM THE GARDEN…TO THE ROAD…ALL THE WAY TO CALVARY.

WE’VE SEEN THE WEIGHT. WE’VE FELT THE PAIN. WE’VE WATCHED EVERY STEP.

AND TONIGHT…

WE DON’T TALK ABOUT THE JOURNEY ANYMORE.

TONIGHT…WE STAND AT THE CROSS.

BECAUSE EVERYTHING…LEADS TO THIS MOMENT.

MAIN IDEA

THE CROSS IS WHERE THE WEIGHT OF OUR SIN MET THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S LOVE.

1. THE CROSS REVEALS THE WEIGHT OF SIN

Isaiah 53:6 NLT

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

A. SIN IS SERIOUS.

Romans 6:23 NLT

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

SIN ISN’T SMALL, IT SEPARATES.

WHAT WE MINIMIZE, JESUS HAD TO DIE FOR.

THE CROSS SHOWS US HOW SERIOUS SIN REALLY IS.

B. THE WEIGHT WAS TRANSFERRED.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

JESUS DIDN’T JUST CARRY SIN, HE BECAME SIN FOR US.

THE WEIGHT THAT WAS OURS WAS PLACED ON HIM.

THE CROSS IS WHERE OUR SIN MET OUR SAVIOR.

C. THE COST WAS DEATH.

Hebrews 9:22 NLT

In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

FORGIVENESS IS FREE FOR US, BUT IT COST JESUS EVERYTHING.

GRACE IS NOT CHEAP, IT IS COSTLY.

THE CROSS IS THE PRICE TAG FOR OUR REDEMPTION.

2. THE CROSS REVEALS THE DEPTH OF GOD’S LOVE

Romans 5:8 NLT

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

A. LOVE MOVED FIRST.

1 John 4:10 NLT

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

GOD DIDN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO GET IT RIGHT, HE CAME TO YOU.

THE CROSS WAS INITIATED BY LOVE, NOT EARNED BY EFFORT.

BEFORE YOU CHOSE GOD, HE CHOSE YOU.

B. LOVE STAYED.

Luke 23:34 NLT

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

JESUS STAYED ON THE CROSS WHEN HE COULD HAVE STEPPED DOWN.

LOVE HELD HIM THERE WHEN POWER COULD HAVE FREED HIM.

THE NAILS DIDN’T KEEP HIM ON THE CROSS, LOVE DID.

C. LOVE PAID IT ALL.

John 19:30 NLT

When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

JESUS DIDN’T SAY “I AM FINISHED”, HE SAID “IT IS FINISHED.”

THE DEBT OF SIN WAS PAID IN FULL.

NOTHING NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO WHAT JESUS ALREADY COMPLETED.

3. THE CROSS OPENS THE DOOR TO GOD

Matthew 27:51 NLT

At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart,

A. SEPARATION WAS REMOVED.

Isaiah 59:2 NLT

It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

SIN CREATED DISTANCE, BUT THE CROSS REMOVED IT.

WHAT SEPARATED US FROM GOD WAS TORN APART.

THE CROSS CLOSED THE GAP BETWEEN US AND GOD.

B. ACCESS WAS GIVEN.

Hebrews 4:16 NLT

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

BECAUSE OF JESUS, YOU CAN COME BOLDLY TO GOD.

THE CROSS GIVES YOU DIRECT ACCESS TO GOD.

C. A NEW COVENANT WAS ESTABLISHED.

Luke 22:20 NLT

After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.

THE CROSS DIDN’T JUST FORGIVE YOU, IT REDEFINED YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

YOU ARE NO LONGER DISTANT, YOU ARE ADOPTED.

THE CROSS DIDN’T JUST SAVE YOU, IT BROUGHT YOU IN.

CONCLUSION/CLOSE

“TONIGHT…WE DON’T JUST REMEMBER THE CROSS…WE PARTICIPATE IN WHAT IT REPRESENTS.”

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NLT

For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

LEAD INTO:

BREAD = HIS BODY BROKEN

CUP = HIS BLOOD POURED OUT

ENCOURAGE REFLECTION:

GRATITUDE

SURRENDER

RECEIVING FORGIVENESS

CLOSE

TONIGHT…WE STOOD AT THE CROSS.

WE SAW THE WEIGHT OF SIN.

WE FELT THE DEPTH OF HIS LOVE.

WE EXPERIENCED THE DOOR BEING OPENED.

BUT THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY.

BECAUSE WHAT LOOKED LIKE DEFEAT…WAS ACTUALLY VICTORY.

LOOP BACK INTRO

WE STARTED THIS JOURNEY TALKING ABOUT MOMENTS WHERE YOU KNOW SOMETHING HARD IS AHEAD…

AND EVERY STEP FEELS HEAVIER.

JESUS TOOK EVERY STEP.

ALL THE WAY TO THE CROSS.

AND WHEN WE HE GOT THERE…

HE DIDN’T TURN AROUND.

HE FINISHED IT.

AND THIS SUNDAY…WE CELEBRATE WHAT THAT FINISH MEANS.

BECAUSE FRIDAY IS GOOD BECAUSE SUNDAY IS COMING.