It is Finished

Intro

In the book of Matthew Jesus’ first sermon was the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon Jesus would state, “You have heard it said...., but I say to you”. Jesus would take the Law found in the OT scripture and then bring its full intentions to our attention. The Law, as we know, is impossible to keep; Jesus would then make it even more difficult and with an explanation mark pointed us to our need for a Savior.

In John, just before Jesus dies upon the cross, John records the words, “It is finished”. These words would ring throughout history as a victory cry that our striving after our personal righteousness is completed. The Lamb of God, the one time sacrifice for all, had been killed his blood shed for the removal of sin for all.

But, it’s not an automatic removal. The provision is there, but a personal decision still must be made. John records in his gospel, “Everyone who recieved Jesus, those who believe in his same, will be called a child of God.”

The Insufferiency of the Law

The Insufficiency of the Law

The Law is shadow

If the Law is a shadow

Passover Lamb - Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world

Sin=brokenness/slavery

Sabbath Day - Jesus is our rest

Tabernacle - Jesus dwelt

Perfection is impossible with the Law

Law of Moses - The laws we find in the first 5 books of the Bible

Law of Man - The ideas we have about God and what we deserve or dont

The Law was reminder

Passover Lamb…continual feast to our God…a reminder…how long did it take for Isreal to long for Egypt…not long.

It preserved an awareness of divine holiness and revealed the need for atonement. Nevertheless, the repetition of offerings and sacrifices on the annual Day of Atonement never brought the worshipers into a permanent relationship with God. Why? Old Testament sacrifices reminded of sin but did not remove it. Lea, T. D. (1999). Hebrews, James (Vol. 10, p. 182). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

No one enjoys being reminded of our mistakes…in this case sin. This is exactly what the Law does. It shows us how awful we really are. We can use examples from the Law to show people are desperate need for Jesus

We can do two things when we are reminded of our sins

We can try to work harder to somehow prove our love for God

OR we can rest in God’s will for Jesus…God’s plan for man…that that is the perfect sacrifice of Jesus

The Law was temporary

I

“He takes away the first to establish the second”…This is the New Covenant established by my blood…Jesus says. If he takes it away, it is no more

Lea, T. D. (1999). Hebrews, James (Vol. 10, p. 182). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

The Sufficiency of the Law

Trying to hold on to something that has been removed only leads to heartache and anxiety

The Sufficiency of the Law

Rest in the climax of God’s redemption story

Rest in the completed work of Jesus

Rest in the convicting work of the Holy Spirit