The Wednesday Word ~ 17 September, 2025 A.D.
It is Finished, Part III
If we wish to be effective in the Christian life, we must never tire of hearing and meditating upon the Gospel. In the light of the cross, we can learn to agree with the old Puritan, John Flavell, who, referring to Christ, declared
"The condemnation was Thine, that the justification might be mine.
The agony was Thine, that the victory might be mine.
The pain was Thine, that the ease might be mine.
The stripes Thine, that the healing balm issuing from them might be mine.
The vinegar and gall Thine, that the honey and the sweet might be mine.
The curse was thine, that the blessing might be mine.
The crown of thorns was Thine, that the crown of glory might be mine.
The death was Thine, that the life purchased by it might be mine.
You paid the price, that I might enjoy the inheritance."
What a complete and perfect thing is the righteousness of Christ! Every believer is credited with this righteousness. Listen to me, this righteousness is neither a righteousness that looks like Christ’s righteousness nor a righteousness that is similar to Christ’s righteousness … it is the actual righteousness of Christ itself that is reckoned to us.
Let the searching eye of an all-holy and jealous God turn this righteousness in every way and view it from every side, and He will not find the least flaw or defect. Let God the Judge thoroughly weigh it and examine it, and it will always appear pure and perfect, containing in it all that is essential for our salvation. It is Finished!
But how do we get this righteousness? How does it become ours? What must we do to obtain it? It is ours by FAITH ALONE! Faith alone is how we approach God.
Faith alone receives our new verdict from heaven. Faith in what? Faith in Christ alone as our great sin bearer. Faith in the One who finished the work of our redemption.
When Jesus lived and died for us, He paid every debt sin had created. And God now reckons that salvation has been accomplished. It is Finished …All is paid in full. What is done is done. Our debt of sin is cancelled.
However, because we are accustomed in this world to time payments (buying something and paying it off by degrees), we bring that system over into our spiritual life. We think that, yes Jesus died on the cross for me, but I need to contribute something more. If God sees that I am serious about keeping His Law or sees that I have some holy affections or that I am performing some form of service and working at improving myself, ---then if He takes note of these things, He will be doubly sure to open heaven’s door for me!
Away with this thinking!
It is an abomination to God!
Let’s listen again to Jesus, "It is finished!" The way to God is now open in Jesus Christ because IT IS FINISHED!
Our sins are gone because IT IS FINISHED!
We have full assurance of faith because IT IS FINISHED!
Dear Christian---"Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you!! Your debts have all been paid through the blood of Calvary. Your conscience is now cleansed; you have eternal life and all because IT IS FINISHED!
And that´s the Gospel Truth!
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