It Is Finished!

 

~ You Cannot Add Anything! ~ 

Importance  ~  “It is finished” is the seventh and last statement from Jesus Christ while He hung on the Cross.  It is the most important thing that anyone can understand about the critical pivot point in all of human history. 

Common Misconception  ~  There is a widespread underlying assumption, or belief, that in order to get to heaven a certain standard of conduct is required.  But salvation is DONE and what you DO has nothing to do with entrance to heaven. 

Scripture  ~  “Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.  So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’  And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:29-30).

Another Misconception  ~  Some believe that the crucifixion caught Jesus by surprise or that He was powerless to stop it.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11).

Significance  ~  His destiny was the Cross.  His motivation was love.  His reason was you.

A thousand times in history a baby has become a king to rule a nation.  Only one time has a King become a Baby to save ALL nations. 

Jesus bore the crown of thorns so you could have the crown of life.

The Gospel is the only story where the hero dies for the villain. 

Jesus took all our curses at the Cross, so that we can take all His blessings.  Hallelujah. 

the key question:  “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).  This is the most important question you will ever answer.  If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

* * * * *

Wise or Foolish?

 

~ What Does Scripture Say? ~ 

Scripture  ~  “Where is the wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.  But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:20-31).

Quote  ~  “God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools… and He has not been disappointed…  If I have brought any message today, it is this… Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity.  Be fools for Christ.  And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.” –U.S. Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

* * * * *

God Our Rock, 7

 

~ Rock of Salvation ~

 

Introduction  ~  In Matthew 7:24-27 and Luke 6:47-49 Jesus relates the importance of building your house upon rock rather than sand.  This principle is even more critical when it comes to our spiritual life.  Each post in this series looks at a different Biblical passage which refers to our God as a Rock (not a complete list). 

Scripture  ~  “The Lord lives!  Blessed be my Rock!  Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!  It is God who avenges me, and subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man.  Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name.  He is the tower of salvation to His king, and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendants forevermore” (2 Samuel 22:47-51).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

* * * * *