Scripture Reference: John 19:28-30

Concluding Thoughts

From Last Lesson: There is no real and sincere wisdom, righteousness or true love among men unless it comes from Him who so loved His creation that He was willing to be forsaken of His Father for each of us.

There are among us some churches that would make men believe that the work of Christ was not yet finished when He spoke those words on the cross.

My prayer for each and everyone who reads this may be able to say to themselves, “It is finished” for me personally. Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer bore the penalty that was due to me, the wages I had earned for my sin, for my transgression, for my iniquity. Christ Jesus has sent His Spirit to testify with my spirit that I am now a child of God, reconciled to the Father, a fellow-heir with Christ of eternal life.

Satan will still try to sift each of us as wheat as he sought to sift Peter. He would have you imagine and believe that, even though we are not all were we ought to be at this point in life, loving the world, having our own way, doing what we want to feel good, if we are “good” enough then we are still able to escape from it all at the end into a better life, a life of which God will still approve.

I don’t mean to be harsh, but if this is your feeling today, then you are like someone adrift in a leaky row-boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. You may recite all the modern-day mantras that tell you are safe and loved, because God loves everyone and a loving God wouldn’t demonstrate His wrath on His own creation. You may even convince yourself that you are a good enough person in and of yourself and therefore you are not a sinner and thus a loving God will not punish you.

Don’t let Satan deceive you. Don’t deceive yourself. Look at Jesus as He hung on the cross accomplishing the work that we couldn’t begin to accomplish. Say to Him as did one of the criminals hanging at His side: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42), and you will be saved. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to sincerely cry out to Him, “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner. I deserve to be cast forever out of Your presence, but Jesus, by Your Spirit help me to realize and say that You, Lord, were made a curse for me because of Your love for me. I accept that truth and I accept Your gift. Now I am redeemed from the curse of the law. Now I am Yours and You Lord, are mine.”