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Text: John 19:28-30 Title: Word of Accomplishment

Intro - Illus. Paid car loan. Darkness is turned into light. It's like
it is announcing a new day. A new announcement comes from the lips of
Jesus. He proclaims, "It is finished". Gk word is tetelastai - meaning
"paid in full."

1. The word of Termination
This word of Jesus represents two completions.

A. The word of God fulfilled
All that the Scriptures had said about His birth, His life, His death
had now been fulfilled.
Words from Luke - 24:44,46 - "This is what I told you while I was still
with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the
Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." He told them, "this is what
is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day.

B. The work of God is finished
In His ministry, Jesus spoke several times about finishing the work
which He had been given.
Jn 4:34- "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his
work."
Jn 5:36- "I have a testimony weightier than that of John. For the very
work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing,
testifies that the Father has sent me."
Jn 17:4- "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you
gave me to do."
The great task of the ages, redemption of mankind had been fully
accomplished
All obstacles between man & God were removed.
Every demand of the law had been satisfied.
Quote: Stephen Olford - "The work of God which He came to do was complete."

2. The word of Triumph
"I thirst," express the tragedy. "It is finished," express the triumph.
We need to see that this was not the cry of a victim, but the shout of a
victor.
A. Victory over the World
The words of Jesus - Jn 16:33-"I have told you these things, so that I
me yo may have peace. In this w world you will have trouble. But take
heart! I have overcome the world
Biblical definition of the world - 1 Jn 2:16 - evil system of life
opposed to God
The world is what depraves human appetite - lust of the flesh
The world is what debases human esthetics - lust of the eyes
The world is what degrades human ambition - pride of life
The words of James - friendship with the world = enmity
Gal 6:14- "May I never boast except I the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the
world."

B. Over the Flesh
We are no longer slaves to sin.
We must recognize that the body of sin is done away with.
Gal 2:20-"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

C. Over the Devil
Col 2:15- "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a
public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."
Heb 2:14- "..by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of
death- that is the devil.."
James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil and he
will flee from you."
3. The word of Testing
This word on the cross marked three things.

A. The believer's certainty in Christ
Our justification is secure - Rom 3:24,25- ""and are justified freely by
his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God
presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.
Our sanctification is obtained - Heb 10:10- "..we have been made holy
through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Our glorification is guaranteed - Rom 8:30;32- "..those he justified, he
also glorified. He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us
all - how will he not also along with him graciously give us all things?

B. The believer's victory in Christ
Every believer can share in the note of triumph
Our responsibility is to fight from victory
The result of what Christ accomplished - Rom 8:37- "No, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
Illus.. Michelangelo was a genius. He excelled as a sculptor, designer,
painter and architect. His statues of Moses and David, to name be but a
couple are widely recognized and appreciated. What many people do not
know is that in Florence, Italy, an entire hall is filled with his
"unfinished" sculptural works. As great as this art is was, he left much
unfinished. Jesus Christ left no unfinished works!

C. The believer's ministry in Christ
Illus. Poem:
There's a clever young guy named Somebody Else, There's nothing this guy
can't do.
He is busy from morning till way late at nite, just substituting for you.

You're asked to do this or you're asked to do that and what is your
ready reply?
Get Somebody Else to do that job, He'll do it much better than I.

So much to do in this weary old world so much and workers so few,
And Somebody Else, all weary and worn, is till substituting for you.

The next time you're asked to do something worthwhile, just give this
ready reply:
If Somebody Else can give time an support, my goodness, so can I!

Our privilege - begin where Christ finished
2 Cor 5:15,18,20

Conclusion:
God has completed the work of salvation. God has paid the price for you
and me. You no longer have to work to be accepted by God. It is finished!
Illus. Beggar reaching for bread. You and I are beggars who have the
responsibility to share with other beggars where they can find bread.
Those of you who have accepted God's accomplishment for sin now have the
rest of your lives with which to say "thank you" through your service
and witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. In this context we must commit our
lives to living for Christ & sharing for Christ.