Condemnation is Finished

Introduction

Set up new series

Tetelestai - “It is Finished”

Instinctively know that something unique happened in that moment

Jesus’ death and resurrection changes everything

What is finished? Condemnation is finished.

What is the narrative we tell ourselves?

For many, it is negative self talk and recrimination. We are constantly being reminded by the recording playing in our mind of our failures. Of our sins. We have a spiritual enemy called the satan, which literally mean “the adversary”. The book of Revelation calls him “the accuser of the brethren”. He is part of this noise of condemnation we swim in.

But we also have our own negative self-talk. We play over and over our failures and regrets. I can’t tell you the number of people who have told me “I just can’t seem to forgive myself.”

The answer, of course, is not some kind of positive speech therapy. Rather, the task before us is to always be reminding ourselves who we really are.

“It is finished” means we can escape living in the litany of condemnation.

Peter’s problem

Peter said he would go all the way with Jesus, even if everyone else abandoned him. He could not even make it through the trial without denying him three times.

I can imagine the narrative that played in Peters head. Self- loathing. Self-condemnation. You've blown it beyond repair. I can hear in his statement "I'm going fishing" a kind of resignation that this is all that is left for him. He certainly can't be useful to God any more.

This was the narrative playing in Peters mind. He needed to be reminded who he was.

Our problem

We also need to be reminded of who we are. We fall victim to the same kinds of negative self-talk, recrimination, and condemnation as Peter.

Like Peter, we too have denied the Lord. If not with words, then certainly by our actions. We fall victim to false narratives about who are, our worth and where it comes from, and how much we are loved.

This forgetfulness is disastrous, because when we forget who we are, we forget whose we are, and this leads us down paths of self-deception a destruction.

We look for identity and worth from others, who themselves are people who don't know who they are.

We listen to the lies of the enemy about our value. We make assumptions about others thoughts toward us - which we think are almost alway negative.

In the end, we find ourselves in the same place as Peter, where the best we can hope for is to go fishing. And that usually meas fishing in all the wrong places.

Talk about my own negative self-talk this week...

The gospel for Peter

Into Peters' self-hatred, dejection, & condemnation, Jesus comes. But at first glace it seems that Jesus himself only offers more condemnation. You'll remember that Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. Now Jesus pulls Peter aside and asks him three times "Do you love me?"

Again, at first glance, this looks like Jesus is rubbing salt in the wound. Peter certainly thinks so. It says he felt hurt that Jesus asked a third time. From one point of view, it could look like Jesus has lost confidence in Peters love and now must ask multiple times to reassure himself.

But there is actually something else going on. Jesus does not need to be reassured of Peters love; Peter needs to be reminded of the love they already share. Jesus knows Peter loves him - good grief, he dove out of the bout to get to him first! But Peter needed a gentle reminder of who he is, what his worth is, and who loves him in spite of his failure.

Jesus reminds Peter who he is, then he restores him to his calling. “Feed my lambs." " Tend my sheep." Feed my sheep.” Peter thought he had lost everything. That he was beyond restoration. That his sin had disqualified him from ever being of any use to Jesus. But in this three-time command Jesus tells Peter that his confession is still the Rock he will build the church on. Peters condemnation is finished!

The gospel to us

Here is the gospel to us. When Jesus said "It is finished," it means condemnation is over. As the apostle Paul would later write, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1, NRSV)

Jesus is reminding you this morning who you are - his beloved child. He is telling you that your negative self-talk, your self-condemnation, and the accusations of the enemy, are not the truest truth about you. What God says of you is more binding than what you say of yourself.

Tell about conversation with someone who couldn't forgive herself...

Holding on to self-judgment says you are a greater judge than God. That your opinion of the matter holds more weight than his.

What God says at the Cross is truer and more binding. He has spoken love and forgiveness. “It is finished” means we can escape living in the litany of condemnation.

Conclusion

Are you bound up with self-defeating, condemning thoughts about your past, your worth, or Gods love? He wants to put that to bed today! He wants you to leave this place free!

Have you asked Jesus to forgive you? Would you like to have the freedom and forgiveness I've talked about this morning?

Admit you need God. That you're made a mess of your life.

Believe that Jesus died and rose to forgive your sin and to bring you to God.

Commit to follow Jesus. "Follow me!

Ministry time…

Communion

“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?” Each week we come to the table where we are reminded of Jesus sacrifice for us and how his blood frees us from condemnation. As we eat and drink we share in his forgiveness and cleansing. Let us begin by praying as Jesus taught us:

The Lord’s Prayer

Words of Institution

Invitation

This is the table, not of the church, but of the Lord,

It is made ready for those who love God and for those who want to love Him more.

So come, you who have much faith and you who have little;

You who have been here often and you who have not been here long;

You who have tried to follow and you who have failed.  

Come, because it is the Lord who invites you.

It is His will that those who want Him should meet Him here.