Easter Message : It Is Finished

Jesus made this statement on the cross

John 19:30. '...Jesus said "It is finished" With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.'

The word 'Finished' here is 'Teleo' in the Greek, which means ‘End, goal, to make an end or accomplishment, to complete anything, not merely to end it but to bring it to perfection or its destined goal, to carry it through. Generally it means to carry out a thing’.
Jesus completed by His death and resurrection everything that needed to be fulfilled by Gods righteous requirements for mans reconciliation to Himself.

It is also the baptism Jesus spoke of in
Luke 12:50 'But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed.'

Jesus died once for all -
1 Peter 3:18 : 'For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous and the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.'

Jesus crossed from death into life [passed - done in the past that has continuous results today].
John 5:24 : 'I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.'

1 John 3:14 : 'We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.'

Jesus obviously had come to achieve that which God longed for - Relationship with mortal man whom He created in his own image.

John 3:16: ‘For God so loved the world, that He Gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life’.

Jesus had come to be the conclusion eternally of the saving work of redemption through his own blood.

Hebrews 9:11-15.

Colossians 1:13 ‘Who has delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.’ A.V.

Jesus demonstrated the power over sickness, death and destruction by the works He did while still alive on earth. Not only physically, but also control over nature and the material world. Indeed all creation was made subject to Him.

Because of Gods sovereignty and His truth, the things He had said, had to be seen to be fulfilled. People wrongly have a view of God as a tyrant or oppressor when actually He has always given us free will and a choice, to be obedient or not.
Unfortunately we have always listened to the lie and chosen something that seems totally useful, but in reality has its roots in destruction.

Genesis 3:1-5.
‘You Surely Shall Not Die’ How this lie has brought about an intolerance for discipline and a heart for rebellion in the world .

The young people today quite rightly accuse us of having ruined the world for them. What are they inheriting? To appease them we let them do what they want without ever showing enough concern to tell them the truth that such things lead to death.

James 1:13-16: 'When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.'
God in the bible is seen intervening again and again in the lives of His people to try and reverse the greatest lie ever told in History and restore a people back to Him.

We have been so enslaved to the lie that we have sought to regenerate ourselves by physical means. Skin creams, fitness programs, vitamin supplements etc.

The thing is that Jesus came and defeated the real enemy of our lives Sin.

Satanists and witches, people who follow black arts seek to gain control of others by manipulation, magic, domination, because they want power now. They are under no illusion this power is secondary or temporal, despite what they may tell you to the contrary. They know Gods power is far superior but have been deceived into the fact that they can get away with it and at the end God will embrace them. Believe this at your peril. The effectiveness of Satan’s lie does not have eternal qualities. It is for this age only. The power of Christ’s statement on the cross is eternal.

The power of Christ’s death and resurrection have gone from this age into the age to come:
Yes there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

Revelation 21:1 'Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.'

The way has been made through one event in history not many.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through Me.'

What man really needs is forgiveness of sins. We have been bound by guilt and it has enslaved us.
Was Jesus the answer?
Matthew 9:1-8, 1 John 1:5 - 1 John 2:2
Indeed we need to know that the punishment we deserve is not going to be meted out to us who will pay the price?
Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by his wounds we are healed
1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

What man needs is assurance of life after death.
Was Jesus the answer?
Hebrews 2:14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is the devil. And free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

What man needs is restoration with the Father.
Was Jesus the answer ?
Ephesians 1: 3-6
Romans 8:15-17

What man needs is release from poverty.
Was Jesus the answer?
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Deuteronomy 28:11 The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity - in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground - in the land He swore to your forefathers to give you.

What man needs is release from shame.
Was Jesus the answer?
Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 13:12-13 amp [Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city’s] gate, in order that He might purify and consecrate the people through [the shedding of] His own blood, and set them apart as holy - for God. Let us then go forth [from all that would prevent us] to Him outside the camp, [at Calvary] bearing the contempt and abuse and shame [with] Him.

What man needs is release from curse.
Was Jesus the answer?
Galatians 3:13-14 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.' He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

What man needs is acceptance not rejection.
Was Jesus the answer?
Ephesians 1:6 NKJV ‘To the praise and the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved’

What man needs is release from sickness.
Was Jesus the answer?
Exodus 15:26 He said 'If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases i brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.
Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by his wounds we are healed
1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.

Is God still prepared to have mercy today?
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever

Man ultimately needs relationship not religion. Religion is unacceptable to God because it focuses on material things and God wants us to focus in on Him. He wants us to know Him and not just about Him. Break away from religion, seek God now. Jesus says in-
John 14:6 ‘I am The Way, and the truth, and the life; and no one comes to the Father but through me’. We say many times, why is there only one way and so seek many different ways. Yet we are so fickle, we readily accept in the world we have a choice, however when we find the best way we stick to it. Often there is no choice. God gives you a choice ‘Life now and forever’ or what may seem like window dressing now, a poor alternative for life, followed by eternal misery. I made my choice how about you?

If you do not already know Jesus and you have realised that you need to be released from the power of death and enter into life. Then to invite Jesus into your heart this would be your first step.

Jesus says in John 14:6 'I am the way and the truth and the life, No-one comes to the Father except through Me'

Peter said of Jesus
'You have the words of eternal life' John 6:68

The Lord Jesus is ready to help you as soon as you ask to know Him as Lord. Jesus Christ has paid for your sin, my sin and every ones sin by living a life free from sin and dying in our place so that we might know forgiveness of sin, and freedom eternally from the power of death and fear.

The bible says in Romans 10:9-10 'If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.'

Remember you can only deal with your own sin. Everyone has to answer to God for what they have done, but God is merciful and will forgive them too, when they are ready to come to Him. He will always accept you, and makes you the offer now of real, genuine love and resurrection life.

You need to say sorry to God for having offended Him by your sinful actions, and choose to walk in His ways instead. Ask Him to forgive you for your sins, repent of your sins and tell God you need His help to stop living in a way that pleases you, and tell him you want to live to please Him.

Invite Jesus Christ to come and be Lord of your life. Thank Him that He has bought you back from the road of darkness and destruction by giving His life for you, and releasing you from the burdens of rejection, guilt and shame. Bringing you fully into His wonderful light. Thank Jesus for this, and acknowledge His death and resurrection and ask His Holy Spirit to come into you right now and give you the power to change and you will find real acceptance in Him and He himself will show you the way forward.

Next step is to tell someone you have received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and find a church that really loves Jesus and lives for Him.

It will not be easy but will be the greatest and most joyful decision you have ever made.

If you have made this decision today E.Mail us and we will send you a Gospel of John and some helps to get you started in your new and exciting walk with Jesus.