Though the serpent separated man from God in the Garden, it wasn’t going to last. The prophets of old foretold of a time when a savior for mankind would appear on the scene and would crush Satan and the evil he brought upon the earth.  Thus we learn that Jesus was born of Mary to begin the ministry that would end in his death on a cross … but he would rise from the dead to usher in a new age which gives new meaning to the words, “It is finished.”

Jesus confounded the people who heard him say, (John 2:19) Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. He spoke of his body, but they didn’t understand. Death would not and could not hold Jesus in the grave and therein lies another part of It is finished. The Hebrew writer wrote of the sacrifice of Jesus: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10:12) Two facts are apparent. One, death and the grave couldn’t hold him, and two, he is sitting at God’s right hand, the place of pre-eminence. The death on the cross destroyed sin’s hold on mankind due to his perfect life and sacrifice. We know he conquered death and the grave, which is empty, tells us he was resurrected and therein lays the hope that he gives us. Without the cross there would be no putting away of sin (Hebrews 9:26) and without the resurrection, death would be the victor.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he told them about their coming immortality when Jesus returns to put away death for all who believe: 54 Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:54-57) The victory over death came because of the putting away of sin, the sting of death. That victory was set in motion the day the serpent beguiled Eve and disobeyed God.

The victory of salvation that Jesus brought was according to God’s plan. We read in I Peter 1:18-21: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. One can have faith and hope in a lot of things, but only in Jesus Christ is there the living hope of salvation.

When one draws his or her last breath, no matter what causes it to occur and goes to the grave, those who have faith in Jesus Christ have no worry. Remember, the believers are protected by the Holy Spirit and as such, death due to the sacrifice of Jesus has no hold on them. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  (Romans 8:10-11) Then Paul wrote in verses 16-17: 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. As a child of God death has no hold, and therefore should not and must not be a worry for those who have faith in Jesus. For those who die in faith shall live again.

Jesus went to the cross and said “It is finished.” His life and death put away sin and His resurrection ended the power of death to keep us in the grave. When he returns the second time and all comes to an end, Satan and death will be in evidence no more; they will be indeed finished for eternity. And we believers will have eternal life.

09-01-2007 DEC

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