[0:00] Please take your Bibles and turn now to the Gospel of John and chapter 19.
[0:21] The Gospel of John and chapter 19. We'll read verses 28 to 30.
[0:41] This is right at the end of John's account of our Saviour's crucifixion. John 19 at verse 28.
[0:54] After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said to fulfill the Scripture, I thirst.
[1:08] A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.
[1:20] When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, It is finished. And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
[1:35] It is finished. Three words in English.
[1:50] Just one word in Greek. And what a word. There is, says one writer, A word of which the immense weight cannot be exaggerated.
[2:09] A word, he says, which may be said to have in it the whole of the Gospel. Think about it as the word of the Lord's servant.
[2:23] He has come into the world with a great work assigned to him by his Father in Heaven. To so live and then to so die that God's great, age-long, age-long, worldwide purpose of grace might be fulfilled.
[2:47] And now it's done. Finished. Accomplished. All that the Father has given him to do. All that the Father has ordained that he should suffer.
[3:03] Perfectly. Completed. It is the sixth of the seven words that our Savior spoke from the cross.
[3:16] And swiftly on its heels comes the last word of all. We heard it earlier in Luke's Gospel, chapter 23. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.
[3:31] What does it tell us? It tells us that Calvary is no scene of defeat. Though that is unquestionably what it looks like.
[3:42] This is not the triumph of evil. This is a place of victory. Of glorious victory. These final words are telling us that the Jesus story is not ending in the darkness.
[4:00] But rather, in the light, it is finished. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.
[4:11] I mentioned yesterday morning a sermon by George H. Morrison of Glasgow.
[4:24] Another of the sermons is entitled, Is Life a Tragedy? And he begins by defining what he means by a tragedy.
[4:37] It is, he says, a play or drama that marches with stately movement to calamity. In tragedy, the characters move onward through love and hate and the passions of joy and sorrow to an end that is shadowed and an issue that is dark.
[5:03] Macbeth is a tragedy. Macbeth is a tragedy. Othello is a tragedy. Hamlet is a tragedy.
[5:13] But not the Jesus story. For all that he dies, the most painful and shameful of death.
[5:25] The Jesus story ends in triumph. The cry of accomplishment. With the committal of his spirit into the father's hand.
[5:38] And you know what the great proof is that this was no vain imagination on the part of the saviour three days later.
[5:50] God raises him from the dead. Well, it is around this glorious victory that we're going to gather our thoughts for a little this evening.
[6:04] And here is how we are going to approach it. We're going to think about the bearing of this victory. On a number of important things.
[6:15] And first of all, on the gospel. The victory of Calvary has a bearing, a profound bearing, on the gospel that we preach.
[6:31] For example, on what we can tell people about soon. And what we can tell people about sin is this. Bad as it is.
[6:43] Damning as it is. Impossible as it is for us to deliver ourselves from its guilt and its power. Because of Calvary's victory.
[6:57] Our sin. Your sin. My sin. Can be completely taken away. Put it against the backdrop of the sacrifices of the Old Testament.
[7:13] All these animals slain at the command of God. They did do something for people. Something at least.
[7:25] Within the framework of old covenant life. They delivered from certain penalties. And secured certain blessings. But they could not deal with sin once and for all.
[7:39] They could not put the sinner right with God. They could not deliver from final condemnation. And bless the worshipper with eternal life.
[7:53] For that. A better sacrifice. Was needed. In Isaac Watts' words.
[8:04] A sacrifice of nobler name. And richer blood. Than they. Well now. That greater sacrifice.
[8:17] Has been offered. The greater sacrifice. To which all these. Lesser sacrifices. Pointed forward. Hebrews 10.
[8:29] Verse 12. When Christ had offered for all time. A single. Sacrifice. For sin. He sat down.
[8:40] At the right hand of God. A single. Sacrifice. For sin. That was all that it took. And that is why he cried out.
[8:52] It is finished. And it means in turn. That we have the best. News. In the world. About sin. Isn't it. A wonderful thing.
[9:03] That we can go to people. With good news. About their sin. But we can. We can say to them. I can say to you. Bad as it is.
[9:15] Damning. As it is. Impossible. As it is. For you to deliver yourself. From his guilt. And his power. Because of Calvary's.
[9:27] Finished work. Your sin. Can be wholly. Taken away. So.
[9:39] The bearing of Calvary's victory. On the gospel. That we preach. And. Specifically. On what we can tell people. About sin.
[9:52] And to take a second example. On what we can tell people. About salvation. And what we can tell people. About salvation. In the light of.
[10:03] Calvary's victory. Is that that salvation. Is an already. Purchased. Gift. It is an already. Accomplished. Fact.
[10:15] The Bible uses. Some fascinating. Language. When it. Talks to us. About. What the cross. Of Calvary. Has achieved. Second Corinthians.
[10:25] Five. Verse. Nineteen. For example. In Christ. God was reconciling. The world. To himself. Not counting. Their trespasses. Against them.
[10:37] Doing it there. And then. Reconciling. The world. To himself. Romans. Five. The language. Is more definite. Still.
[10:48] While we were still. Enemies. We were reconciled. To God. By the death. Of his son. It happened. There and then.
[11:00] On the cross. Of Calvary. Now you. Contrast. That. With a kind of. Reconciliation. With which. We are familiar. Ourselves.
[11:11] He. Has offended. Her. Or. She. Has. Offended. Him. When is there. Going to be. Reconciliation. Only.
[11:22] When. Both. Parties. Are. Willing. To get. Together. And. Work. At it. It. Necessarily. Involves. Them. Both. But.
[11:33] With God. It. Is. Remarkably. Different. There. Is. A. Sense. In. Which. Reconciliation. Has. Been. Accomplished.
[11:44] Apart. From. Our. Involvement. Altogether. While. We. Were. Still. Enemies. All. The. Way. Back. At. The. Cross. Of.
[11:55] Calvary. That's. Why. Paul. In. Romans. Five. Can. Talk. About. Us. Receiving. Reconciliation. It. Comes. To. Us. As. An. Already.
[12:05] Accomplished. Gift. And. Similarly. With. Redemption. And.
[12:16] It. Is. In. That. Light. That. We. Are. To. Think. About. This. Cry. It. Is. Finished. At. Infinite. Cost. Says.
[12:26] James. Denny. He. Put. Away. All. That. On. His. Part. Stood. Between. You. And. Peace. And.
[12:36] What. A. Message. That. Gives. To. Us. For. Men. And. Women. Young. People. Boys. And. Girls. What. Can. We. See. The.
[12:47] Salvation. That. You. So. Greatly. Need. Is. Not. Something. At. Which. You. Need. To. Aim. Something. That. You. Need. To. Work. For.
[12:57] Something. That. Will. Hopefully. Be. Yours. If. You. Try. Hard. Enough. To. Gain. The. Favor. Of. God. The.
[13:08] Work. Is. Already. Done. It. Is. An. Already. Accomplished. Fact. And. You. Need. Only. Open. The. Arms. Of. Faith. To.
[13:18] The. Savior. And. You. Will. Receive. It. As. An. Already. Purchased. Gift. Calvary's.
[13:30] Glorious. Victory. It. Has. A. Bearing. On. The. Gospel. That. We. Preach. On. What. We. Can. Tell. People. About. Sin. On.
[13:42] What. We. Can. Tell. Them. About. Salvation. There. Is. A. Savior. To. Whom. You. Can. Come. Who. Has. Already. Dealt.
[13:53] With. Sin. And. Who. Now. As. A. Free. Gift. Will. Gladly. Put. You. Right. With. Himself.
[14:04] Then. Secondly. Think. About. The. Bearing. Of. Calvary's. Victory. On. The. Devil. And.
[14:14] I. Begin. With. The. Very. First. Gospel. Promise. Of. All. Way. Back. In. The. First. Book. Of. The. Bible. Genesis. Three. Verse. Fifteen. And. The. Lord. God. Has.
[14:24] Come. Into. The. Garden. And. He. Is. Addressing. The. Evil. One. Who. In. The. Guise. Of. A. Serpent. Has. Successfully. Tempted. Our. First. Parents. Into. Sin. Do you.
[14:34] Remember. What. He. Has. To. Say. To. Him. A. Descendant. Will.
[14:50] Appear. On. The. Scene. And. He. Will. Enter. Into. Conflict. With. You. And. This. Will. Be. The. Issue. He.
[15:02] Shall. Bruise. Your. Head. And. You. Shall. Bruise. His. Heel. Each. Will. Deal. The. Other. A. Blow. Each. Will. Wound. The. Other.
[15:12] But. In. The. Case. Of. The. Serpent. In. The. Case. Of. Satan. It. Will. Be. A. Fatal. Blow. Seed. Of. The. Woman. Will. Bruise. Or. Crush. Your. Head.
[15:23] It. The. Very. First. Promise. Of. A. Savior. And. It. Is. Couched. In. Terms. Of. Crushing. Victory. Now. Bearing. That. In. Mind. Hear.
[15:34] These. Wonderful. Words. From. Hebrews. Chapter. Two. Since. Therefore. The. Children. Share. In. Flesh. And. Blood. He. Himself. Partook. Of. The. Same. Thing.
[15:46] That. Through. Death. He. Might. Destroy. The. One. Who. Has. The. Power. Of. Death. That. Is. The.
[15:57] Devil. What. Does. That. Tell. Us. About. Calvary. Tells. Us. That. It's. Not. Satan's. Victory. But.
[16:09] His. Nemesis. By. The. Very. Act. Of. Dying. What. An. Astonishing. Thing. He. Has. Dealt.
[16:19] The. Evil. One. A. Fatal. Blow. And. The. Result. Of. Course. Is. The. Sinner's. Deliverance.
[16:31] Your. Deliverance. If. You're. A. Believer. In. Jesus. Christ. Can. Take. The. Devil's. Captives. The. Devil's.
[16:41] Victims. For. His. Own. Exactly. As. He. Wishes. And. Not. By. A. Mere. Act. Of. Power. Not.
[16:52] Merely. Because. He. Is. God. And. Has. All. Power. In. His. Hands. But. Justly. In. A. Way. To. Which. The. Evil. One.
[17:02] Can. Make. No. Reply. All. The. Way. Through. The. Old Testament. Scriptures. It. Was. The. Thing. That. The. Lord. Was. Doing. Delivering. Men. From. The. Power. Of. Darkness.
[17:13] And. Doing. So. On. The. Basis. Of. Of. A. Work. That. He. Would. Do. Of. A. Conflict. Into. Which. He. Would. Enter. And. A. Victory. He. Would. Win. And.
[17:25] Now. It's. Done. The. Fight. Has. Taken. Place. And. He. Has. Emerged.
[17:36] The. Victor. Now. Certainly. It. Is. True. That. The. Cross. Has. Not. Annihilated. The. Evil. One. It. Has. Not. Stripped. Him. Of. His. Power. But.
[17:47] It. Has. Disabled. Him. And. He. Must. Relinquish. His. Slaves. To. The. Will. Of. The. King. And.
[17:59] He. Will. Go. On. Doing. So. Until. All. Of. The. Elect. Have. Been. Set. Free. And. Brought. Into. Fellowship. With. The. Savior. And. The. Time. Has.
[18:09] Come. For. The. Evil. One's. Final. Destruction. It. Is. Finished. What does it mean? It means that our great adversary.
[18:24] Has been dealt at last. The promised. Blow. And. Christ's own. Are truly.
[18:35] And forever. Free. Think about it. In the third place. Calvary's victory.
[18:47] And. It's bearing now. On. The individual. Believer. And. I'm thinking here. Specifically. About. The death. That is ahead. For us.
[18:58] If the Lord Jesus. Does not return. In our lifetime. Jesus dies. And. So. Also. Shall we. But.
[19:09] It will be. At the end. Of a. Very. Different. Life. From. The one. That he lived. He. Can. Cry. It.
[19:21] Is. Finished. The life. That he. Has been. Given. To live. Perfectly. Lived. The work. That he. Has been. Given. To do.
[19:32] Perfectly. Done. No. Regrets. No. Shame. No. Failure. No. Sin. To. Confess.
[19:43] To his. Father. In heaven. That will not be our perspective. As we look back. Over our own life.
[19:55] And work. There is that first part of it. Before. We came to know the Lord. And how darkly. The shadow of sin. Rests. On that part.
[20:05] And even on the part. Subsequent. To that. Although. The light of heaven. Has shone. And there is much. There is good. Still. The shadow.
[20:16] Of sin. Lies. Athwart. Our lives. Or think of it. In terms of. The answer. To the first question. In the shorter catechism.
[20:27] Our chief end. What is it? To glorify God. And to enjoy him. Forever. You look back. On that. First part of your life. Before you were converted. There was none of that.
[20:40] And even in the part. Subsequent to that. And yes. By grace. We have been enabled. To glorify God. Somewhat. And to enjoy him. To some degree. We cannot.
[20:51] But hold our. Heads. And shame. Before him. That we have not lived. As we ought.
[21:03] And yet. Isn't it wonderful. To think. That for all. Our sin. And imperfection. We who are true believers.
[21:15] Can approach. The hour of our death. Without fear. With the peace of God. That surpasses. All understanding. Guarding our hearts.
[21:27] And minds. Making our saviour's. Final words. Our very own. Father. Into your hands. I commit.
[21:38] My spirit. Let me state it boldly. There is an all important sense. In which it won't matter.
[21:50] At the end. That your life. Has been stained. With sin. That the service. You have rendered. To your master. Has been so.
[22:01] Shot through. With failure. Not if you are a true believer. Painful. And shameful. As.
[22:12] So much. In our lives. And service. Have been. They will not affect. Our eternal destiny.
[22:22] For all the sin. That has stained. Our lives. For all the imperfection. That has characterized. Our service.
[22:33] Of Jesus. We will. At the end. If we are true believers. Be just. As warranted. In committing. Our spirits. With confidence. Into our father's hand.
[22:44] As Jesus. Himself. And you know. Why that is. So. Because of the foundation.
[22:55] On which we are building. The rock. Upon which we are standing. Our saviour's. Finished. Work. The question.
[23:08] And answer. Number one. In the Heidelberg. Catechism. What is thy only. Comfort. In life.
[23:21] And death. That I. With. Body. And soul. Both. In life. And death. I'm not my own.
[23:34] But belong. Unto my faithful. Saviour. Jesus Christ. Who. With his. Precious blood. Hath. Fully.
[23:45] Satisfied. For all my sins. And delivered me. From all the power. Of the devil. The bearing.
[23:57] Of Calvary. Upon the individual. Believer. Upon your. Future. As an individual. Believer. Because.
[24:08] Of. Jesus. And his. Perfect life. And his. Atoning death. You may. Anticipate. Entering. Glory.
[24:19] At the last. Sinful. As you are. Sinful. As you have been. Sinful. As you will remain. Till your last. Breath. And there to remain.
[24:34] In the father's presence. Until the last day of all. And our Lord's. And our Lord's. Saving work. In us. Is brought. To its. Glorious. Completion.
[24:47] Calvary's. Victory. The bearing. Of that victory. Upon. Ourselves. Jesus.
[24:57] Finished work. Covering us. And. Securing us. Eternal life. Think with me.
[25:11] In the fourth place. For a little. About the bearing. Of Calvary's. Victory. On the church. And by the church. I mean the church. As a whole.
[25:22] The body. Of Christ. Made up. Of. God's elect. From. Every nation. Tribe. People. And tongue. Every. Age. Of world. History.
[25:32] According to. Ephesians 5. And this is the. Key passage here. Christ. Loved. The church. And gave himself.
[25:43] Up. For her. To make her. Holy. And to present her. To himself. As a radiant. Church. Without stain. Or wrinkle. Or any other.
[25:54] Blemish. But holy. And blameless. That is. Our saviour's. Aim. That is his. Goal. In. Going to the cross.
[26:05] That there. The church. Whom he has loved. Might be. One. For himself. And that being so.
[26:17] You see instantly. The bearing. Of Calvary's. Victory. On the church. Had there been. Anything. Wanting. In what Jesus.
[26:28] Did. In living. And dying. For his loved ones. The church. Would never have been. And its glorious.
[26:39] End. Would never be. But there is nothing. Wanting. All that is needed.
[26:49] For the salvation. Of the church. Is done. Perfectly done. And God himself. Has borne witness. To that. By raising his son.
[27:00] To life again. And you appreciate. That that means. That our Lord. Will have the prize.
[27:12] For which he died. The radiant church. Without stain. Or wrinkle. Or any other blemish. But holy. And blameless.
[27:23] Think of him. Loving the church. As a whole. Loving. Every. Every. Individual member. Loving them. From eternity. And.
[27:36] He sees. In vision. What. The church. Will be. Glorious. Without stain. In his presence. And the enjoyment. Forever.
[27:48] And ever. How is that goal. That vision. Going to be realized. Not as creation. Was brought into being. By the mere. Word of his power.
[28:00] He knows. That between. What he desires. And envisages. And the realization of it. There is a cross. And a sacrifice.
[28:13] A death. That he must die. And now. It is done. And it means. That what he has.
[28:24] Loved. And longed for. Will certainly. Come into being. And you can.
[28:35] Break it down. Into. Its. Details. And. You can think about. Calvary's victory. Securing. The building.
[28:45] Of the church. And. The completing. Of the church. Every. Living.
[28:56] Stone. Added. To that temple. And to the last one. Is in place. And. You can think about. Calvary's victory. Securing. The uniting.
[29:07] Of the church. And I'm not thinking. So much. About the healing. Of those painful divisions. With which we are so familiar. But rather. Dealing with that most fundamental. Of divides. The fact that there is a church.
[29:17] On earth. And a church in heaven. One day. That. Divide. Will disappear.
[29:28] And there will be one. Church. In one place. And then. As the crown of it all. The church perfected.
[29:39] This radiant bride. Beautiful. Without blemish. See it. You can see it. Can't you? And it all goes back.
[29:52] To the cross. And to this single. Word. Finished. Finished. You. Find an acorn.
[30:06] And put it. In the palm of your hand. And imagine. Out of this. Little. Acorn. There is going to come. A mighty.
[30:18] Oak. That will withstand. The storms. Of centuries. And out of that. Little. Word. Finished.
[30:29] That has in it. The whole. Gospel. That has in it. The whole. Church. Glorious.
[30:40] Bride. Perfect. And complete. The bearing. Of Calvary's. Victory. On the church.
[30:51] Victory. So there are all these. Important things. On which Calvary's. Victory. Has a bearing. On the gospel.
[31:02] That we preach. On our adversary. The devil. On the future. Of the individual. Believer. On the church. As a whole. One last.
[31:14] Important matter. And that is the bearing. Of Calvary's. Victory. On the Lord. Himself.
[31:25] What does it all. Mean. For him. It is finished. Think about it with me. Think about.
[31:38] The bearing. Of Calvary's. Victory. On his spirit. And by his spirit. I mean his. Human spirit. How is it going to fare. With his spirit.
[31:49] Now that he has completed. The work. It is going to fare. Very well. Indeed. He commits it. Into his father's hand.
[32:00] And you can imagine. The father. Taking it. So. Lovingly. The precious. Human. Spirit. Of his beloved son. And bearing it.
[32:11] Safely. Into his presence. Or think about. The bearing. Of Calvary's. Victory. On his body.
[32:23] How is it going to fare. With his body. Now that he has. Finished the work. It is not going to be. Permitted. To suffer. Any. Further. Indignity. It is going to be.
[32:37] Lovingly. Taken. And lovingly. Washed. And lovingly. Wrapped. And placed. In a new tomb.
[32:50] And there. It is going to be. Preserved. From decay. We'll see. No. Corruption. Then. On the first. Day of the week.
[33:00] It will be. Reunited. With the Savior's. Spirit. Life. And. Life. Will come into it. Again. And he will emerge. In his. Reconstituted.
[33:12] Humanity. In his body. Now. Wonderfully. Enhanced. Sown in weakness. Raised in power.
[33:24] Sown a perishable body. Raised an imperishable body. Sown in dishonor. Raised in glory. As ours will be. As yours will be.
[33:36] If Christ is yours. And then I think of the bearing. Of Calvary's victory. On his reception. And by his reception.
[33:48] I mean. What happens. At the end. Of the 40 days. When he ascends. Before the eyes. Of his disciples. Into heaven. All that we could be there.
[33:59] To see it happening. A celebration. All. Heaven. A star. There he is.
[34:13] And he takes his seat. God's. Right. Hand. And all the angels. And all the spirits. Of just men. Made.
[34:24] Perfect. Celebrating. With all their might. All these. Old Testament prophets. That had been. Looking forward to this. All the saints.
[34:35] Who knew. That they were there. On the basis of him. Doing that work. And it's done. And he's there. The head that once was.
[34:47] Crowned with thorns. Is crowned. With glory. Now you see. The bearing. Of Calvary's. Victory. On his reception.
[35:00] Or think about. The bearing of Calvary's. Victory. On his reign. All authority. In heaven. And on earth. Now. His. Head over all things.
[35:12] For the sake. Of the church. And the result. A world. That is governed. And a church. That is built. Exactly. As has been. Planned.
[35:24] Do you know. The things. That can hamper. Even. The best. Administrations. On earth. And how the promises.
[35:36] Made. Even. With deep. Sincerity. It is so difficult. Often. Impossible. For leaders. To accomplish.
[35:49] But there is none of that. With the lamb. In the midst. Of the throne. He has. Everything. In his hands.
[36:01] And will infallibly. Bring to pass. All that has been planned. From eternity. Or again. Think about.
[36:11] The bearing. Of Calvary's. Victory. On his return. Calvary's. Victory. Have a profound. Bearing. On our saviour's. Return. And it's put so exquisitely.
[36:24] In Hebrews 9. Verses 27. And 28. Just as man is destined. To die once. And after that. To face judgment. So. Christ.
[36:37] Having been sacrificed. Once. To take away. The sins. Of many people. Will appear. A second time.
[36:49] Not. To bear. Sin. But to bring. Salvation. To those. Who are waiting. For him. He's not coming back. To do it. All over again.
[37:02] There's no need. For him. To do that. It was done. Perfectly. First time. Round. So that when he comes. The second time. It's to bring it all. To its. Magnificent.
[37:14] Climax. And specifically. To bring salvation. To all those. Who are waiting. On him. Calvary's victory. See the bearing.
[37:25] That it has. On Christ himself. On his spirit. On his body. On his reception. On his reign. On his return. And lastly. On his joy.
[37:38] The bearing of Calvary's victory. On his joy. When all the fruits. Are gathered in. When the church.
[37:49] For which he has died. Is perfect. And complete. And beautiful. What is it going to mean. For his joy. It's going to mean.
[38:01] That it's. Full. And everlasting. Joy. In the presence. He has gained. The prize. For which he died.
[38:14] Don't we sometimes. Save people. If. Anyone deserves. To be happy. It's. So and so. That is.
[38:26] Supremely. The case. With our Lord. Jesus Christ. If there is. Anyone. Who deserves. To have. Full. And everlasting. Joy.
[38:36] In the presence. Of God. It is our. Lord. Jesus. Christ. And it will be his.
[38:51] Because of Calvary's. Victory. History. And in the light. Of that. For his. Sake. We pray. Father in heaven.
[39:05] Hasten. The day. Let us pray. our Father in heaven we thank you for these things and we thank you that by grace so many of us here have a share in that victory we are the fruits of that victory and we bless you for that that Christ has loved us and has conquered us has set us free from our enemy has given to us eternal life and the assurance that we will share his joy
[40:11] Lord if there be any here tonight of whom that is not yet true be merciful to them that into the joy of Jesus the full and everlasting joy that will be his they too may enter and loving Father you who love your Son as we can never love him you to whom he is the most precious of persons you who delight in Calvary's victory as none of us can delight we pray that for the sake of your Son you will hasten the day when the full and perfect joy will be his when he will have around him his church perfected and completed the bride for which he died that in her company he might rejoice forever and ever
[41:28] Amen we're going to sing the last few verses of Psalm 16 in the Scottish Psalter this is on page 216 the last few verses from verse 8 to verse 11 words prophetic of Christ and of not being abandoned to the grave or seeing corruption and of the pleasures forevermore that are his and shall be his at God's right hand and in which we will share if we are his we sing Psalm 16 in the Scottish Psalter from verse 8 to the end before me still the Lord
[42:31] I set before me still the Lord I set set it is so that he doth ever stand at my right hand I shall I shall not move it be because of this my heart is glad and joy shall be expressed rest in by my glory and my flesh in confidence shall rest because my soul in grave to dwell shall not be left by thee nor will thou give thine holy one corruption to see thy wilt me show the path of life of choice that is full soar before thy faith at thy right hand are pleasures ever more number number number number number number number number number