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Sermon #2464 — Miscellaneous Sermons

 

Title:                           Done!

 

Text:                            Hebrews 10:9-14

Subject:                     Redemption Accomplished by Christ

Date:                          Sunday Morning — January 6, 2019

Reading:       Hebrews 10:1-22

Introduction:

 

The 19th century Irish Plymouth Brethren preacher, C. H. Mackintosh, once told of an old woman who was a believer witnessing to a lost religious man. The old saint said to her friend, ÒThere is a wide difference between your religion and mine.Ó ÒHow is that?Ó he asked. ÒYour religion,Ó she replied, Òhas only two letters in it and mine has four.Ó

 

The poor man was one of those religious people like the rich young ruler who hope to get to heaven by the things they do, by observing ordinances and ceremonies, keeping the commandments, and doing good works, by what the apostle in the 9th chapter of Hebrews calls Òdead works.Ó But he did not understand what the old saint was saying.

 

He asked her, ÒWhat do you mean by two letters and four?Ó She replied, ÒYour religion is d-o Do. Mine is d-o-n-e Done.Ó

  • ÒDoÓ is the religion of the legalist, the religion of works, the religion of Babylon. ÒDoneÓ is Christianity.
  • ÒDoÓ is the false gospel of antichrist, the lie of Satan. ÒDoneÓ is the proclamation of the gospel, the good news of grace, the truth of God.

 

If you will open your Bible to the 10th chapter of Hebrews, I want to talk to you very plainly about — Done! Four golden letters — D-O-N-E. Precious letters! Precious word — Done! Who can describe the relief to a guilt-plagued heart when it discovers that all is done? What joy to know that what you have been toiling for, it may be many a long year, was all done more than 2000 years ago on the cross! Christ has done all.

  • He has put away sin.
  • He has Òmagnified the law and made it honorable
  • Christ has vanquished Satan!
  • He has taken the sting out of death and victory from the grave!
  • The Lord Jesus has glorified God in the very scene in which the Almighty had been dishonored.
  • He brought in everlasting righteousness.

 

All that is wrapped up in these four golden letters, d-o-n-e — Done. That is the title of my message — Done! Our text will be Hebrews 10:9-14.

 

Proposition: Done is GodÕs proclamation of emancipation in the soul of every sinner who trusts the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Oh, may God the Holy Ghost give you life and faith in the ever-blessed Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and graciously cause you to cease from your deadly doing and to rest in ChristÕs eternal — Done!

 

(Hebrews 10:9-14) ÒThen said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (10) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (11) And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; (13) From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.Ó

 

Five Pictures

 

IÕll come back to Hebrews 10 in a few minutes. But, first, let me give you five pictures of Christ, as he is revealed in Holy Scripture, which form the basis of my soulÕs hope, comfort, and expectation before God. I have hope of eternal life, I expect to stand accepted before God forever, not because of anything I have done, not because of anything I have experienced, and not because of anything I have felt, but because of what Christ has done for me in these five things.

 

1.    The Eternal Christ

 

I have hope before God because Christ stood as my Surety in the covenant of grace before the world began. By his own oath, from which he will not repent, the Lord Jesus Christ was made Òa Surety of a better testament,Ó Surety of a better covenant, in the eternal councils of the Triune God before time began (Hebrews 7:22; Genesis 43:8-9; Job 33:24).

 

In that covenant, the Son of God agreed to satisfy the law and justice of God for his people and bring all the host of GodÕs elect safe into glory. God the Father entrusted his elect people into the hands of his Son as a Surety (Ephesians 1:12). And ChristÕs suretyship engagements will not be finished until all that the Father gave him have come to him and he has raised them up at the last day, presented them to the Father, and said, ÒBehold, I and the children which God hath given me.Ó (See John 6:37-40; 10:16; Hebrews 2:13).

 

2.    The Incarnate Christ

 

The fact that the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world as a man gives me hope as well (Matthew 1:21). Immanuel, God with us, God in our nature, is God come to save. The Son of God would not have become one of us were it not his purpose to show us mercy. — ÒFor God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be savedÓ (John 3:17). This is good news indeed: ÒThe Word was made flesh and dwelt among usÓ (John 1:14).

 

3.    The Obedient Christ

 

I have hope before God because Christ obeyed the law of God as my Representative. Though I am a sinner, without any ability to produce righteousness, I have hope before God who cannot accept anything less than perfect righteousness. My hope is Jehovah-tsidkenu, ÒThe Lord our RighteousnessÓ (Jeremiah 23:6). Christ lived in this world in perfect obedience to God as my Representative and brought in an everlasting righteousness. It is this righteousness, the righteousness of God, the righteous obedience of the God-man Christ Jesus, which God has imputed to me and imputes to all who believe on his Son (Romans 5:19).

 

4.    The Crucified Christ

 

But before righteousness could be lawfully imputed to me my sins had to be both atoned for and put away. And I have hope before God because the Lord Jesus Christ died as my Substitute under the penalty of GodÕs holy law at Calvary (Romans 3:24-26; 2 Corinthians 5:21). My God, by a marvelously legal and infinitely wise and gracious transfer, transferred my sin to Christ and punished him for my sin and then transferred ChristÕs righteousness to me and rewards me for his righteousness. Christ became what we were so that we might forever be what he is. Christ stood in our place so that we might forever stand in his place. Christ died, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God so that we might live forever with God. And now God is faithful and just to forgive the sins of all who confess their sins, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 1:9).

 

5.    The Exalted Christ

 

And I have hope before God because this Christ, who lived and died as the sinnerÕs Substitute, arose from the grave, ascended back into heaven, and has been exalted as King over the universe. The Lord Jesus Christ, Òwhen he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on highÓ (Hebrews 1:3). The fact that he arose from the grave assures us that Christ has completely satisfied the lawÕs claim against our sins. The fact that he ascended back into heaven assures us that he is accepted of God as the Representative of his people. And the fact that he is enthroned as King over all things assures us that Òhe is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by himÓ (Hebrews 7:25).

 

Evidence of Faith

 

I am confident that Christ has done all of this for me, as my Surety, my Representative, my Substitute, because I honestly acknowledge my sin before God and trust him alone as my Lord and Savior. My faith does not save me. Only Christ can save. But my faith gives me a confident hope that I have been saved by the grace of God through the righteousness and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 11:1; 1 John 5:10-13). My God given, God wrought faith in Christ is the evidence of myÉ

á      Election.

á      Redemption.

á      Calling.

á      Salvation.

 

(1 John 5:10-13) ÒHe that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (11) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.Ó

 

Now, I want, by the power and grace of God the Holy Ghost, to persuade you to let go of every vain self-confidence and trust Christ as your only, all-sufficient Savior. And I want to give you who believe a message that will inspire your confidence in Christ, your love for Christ, and your worship of Christ. I know of no better way to do that than to set before you the message of Hebrews 10:9-14 — Done!

 

In this chapter the Holy Spirit is showing us the superiority of Christ over the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament. — The priests of Israel, like the pretentious priests of Rome today, stood and offered every day the same sacrifices, which could never take away sins. — ÒBut this man (the God-man, our Savior), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.Ó

á      Those priests under the law were many. Christ is one High Priest over the house of God forever.

á      They offered many sacrifices. Christ made one sacrifice.

á      They offered their sacrifices often, every day. Christ offered himself once.

á      They stood ministering in the holy place. Christ sat down.

á      Their sacrifices could never take away sins. Christ by his one great sacrifice Òhath perfected forever them that are sanctified,Ó having put away all our sins.

 

"Not all the blood of beasts

On Jewish altars slain,

Could give the guilty conscience peace,

Or wash away the stain.

 

But Christ, the heavenly Lamb,

Takes all our sins away;

A sacrifice of nobler name

And richer blood than they.Ó

 

Divisions: Now, that Christ who redeemed sinners by his blood reigns in heaven to save every sinner for whom he died by the power of his grace. — Let me show you four things in this text and I will be done.

1. The Expiation of Our Sins

2. The Exaltation of Our Savior

3. The Expectation of Our Sovereign

4. The Extent of Our Sanctification

 

Our Sins

 

1st — We are assured of the expiation of our sins (vv. 9 and 12).

 

(Hebrews 10:9-12) ÒThen said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (10) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (11) And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God

 

Our LordÕs work of redemption is done. His atonement is complete. The sins, which he bore in his body on the tree, have been fully purged away, completely atoned for, and entirely removed. All that Christ came to do he has completely done. The priests of Israel could never sit down, because their work was never done, their sacrifices could never take away sin. — ÒBut this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.Ó

 

Law and Grace

 

In the 9th verse we read, ÒHe taketh away the first that he may establish the second.Ó — That is the doctrine of this chapter. Our blessed Redeemer took away the old ceremonies, sacrifices, priesthood, and ordinances of carnal worship, when he came to do the will of God. While they lasted, those things were good. — ÒThe law is holy, and just, and good.Ó During that age of legal, ceremonial worship, those things were both useful and good. But when Christ came, he took them away.

 

He took them away because they were no longer needed.         The types served their purpose; but now Christ has come. Who needs a picture? The God-man himself is here! The Savior is present with us.

 

Christ took those things away because the observance of those things now is forbidden. God destroyed the temple, the altar, the priesthood, the ark, the mercy-seat, every particle of law and the carnal worship of that age to keep us from returning to legality and to keep us from ritualism and idolatry. The destruction of every particle of the Old Testament legal system is a declaration that redemptionÕs work is done! Christ has finished the work. If we still had those carnal implements of worship, they would only take our minds off of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Illustration: The Rent Veil

 

(Colossians 2:8-23) ÒBeware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (11) In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (12) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (13) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (14) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (15) And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (18) Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (19) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. (20) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not; (22) Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? (23) Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.Ó

 

But that is not all. Our Lord Jesus Christ, by his obedience unto death has fulfilled the law for us. — ÒChrist is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believethÓ (Romans 10:4). To all who trust him Christ is the end ofÉ

á      The Curse of the Law.

á      The Condemnation of the Law.

á      The Covenant of the Law.

á      The Constraint of the Law.

 

When our Lord Jesus took away the types he brought in and established something far better. — He brought in real, perfect, complete, everlasting atonement. — He took away the old legal, Mosaic covenant of works and brought in the new, everlasting covenant of grace (vv. 10-22; Galatians 4:21-5:4; Daniel 9:24).

 

(Daniel 9:24) ÒSeventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.Ó

 

He took away the first that he might establish the second; and this is far, far better.

á      Once we have seen Christ, we do not miss Aaron.

á      Once we have seen the simplicity of the Gospel, we never pine for the complexity and bondage of the law.

á      If ever a sinner enters into the holy place, he will not wish to rehang the veil!

á      No one who has experienced the liberty and freedom of grace will ever return to the bondage and terror of the law (Galatians 5:1-4).

 

(Galatians 5:1-4) Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (2) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. (3) For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. (4) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

 

Read the words of our text again. Here the Holy Ghost gives us both a word of assurance and a word of warning. — ÒHe taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.Ó The assurance is this. — Justice is satisfied! — Redemption is accomplished! — Sin is pardoned! — But, be sure you hear the warning.

á      We dare not seek to reestablish any ordinance of the law, lest we build again that which God has cast down.

á      We dare not seek to establish any ordinance of worship which God has not established in his Word, lest we be guilty of idolatry.

á      We dare not tolerate any notion that the second can fail. — ÒHe shall not fail!Ó — His blood shall not fail to atone! — His righteousness shall not fail to satisfy! — His intercession shall not fail to prevail! — His grace shall not fail to save!

 

A Seated Priest

 

Here is proof positive that the work of redemption is done, completely and perfectly done: — Christ is sitting at the FatherÕs right hand.

 

Sitting down is a posture of rest. A man does not rest until his work is finished. Christ came to do his FatherÕs will, ÒBy the which will we are sanctified;Ó and he would not rest until he had completely and perfectly done his FatherÕs will. ChristÕs sitting in heaven is our assurance that everything required for the salvation of all his people is done (Romans 8:34).

 

(Romans 8:33-34) ÒWho shall lay anything to the charge of GodÕs elect? It is God that justifieth. (34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.Ó

 

á      Righteousness has been established.

á      Atonement has been made.

á      Sin has been put away.

á      GodÕs elect have been perfected (Hebrews 10:10, 14).

 

ChristÕs sitting at GodÕs right hand also implies that he enjoys great pleasure. The Psalmist, when he spoke of ChristÕs exaltation, wrote, ÒThou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermoreÓ (Psalm 16:11).

 

The highest joy and pleasure of our Savior is the salvation of his people. Our salvation was the joy set before him, for which he endured the cross, despising the shame (Hebrews 12:2).

 

How could he enjoy pleasure, if his people were in jeopardy? How could he have any joy, if he had not secured the salvation of every lamb of his flock? If he had not rendered the eternal salvation of every blood-bought soul as secure as his own throne, he would have no pleasure. There is a smile of pleasure upon our RedeemerÕs face, as he sits in glory, because all his ransomed ones are perfectly safe.

 

Not only is Christ seated, in the posture of rest and at the place of pleasure, our text tells us that, he Òforever sat down on the right hand of GodChrist, as our Surety, undertook the salvation of all GodÕs elect. It was for this cause that he came into the world. He has sworn to bring all the elect to glory and present them perfect, without blemish, without fault, holy before his Father. If that is not already secured as the result of his finished work, then he would be obliged at some point to get up off his seat and go to work again. But our all-glorious Christ has so thoroughly redeemed us that he forever sat down. He will never have to leave his throne, because he finished the work he came to do.

 

Here is another proof that our sins are completely expiated by Christ: — He is seated on the right hand of God. The very fact that Christ is in heaven, accepted by God as our Substitute, is proof that his work is done and that, as the result of his finished work, God has no quarrel with us.

 

Illustration: As long as the United States has an ambassador in Moscow, there is peace between the U.S. and Russia. And as long as Christ our Savior is at the FatherÕs right hand, we may be assured that there is peace between his people and God.

 

Since Christ is seated in heaven forever, it is no assumption, but a matter of infallible certainty, that our peace with God can never cease, and that the atonement for sin is both complete and effectual! God almighty made Christ to be sin for us, and he could not enter heaven until he had washed all our sins away in the fountain of his own precious blood. This Man, being our Substitute, could not enter heaven without two things: Perfect Righteousness and Complete Satisfaction. But, inasmuch as he is seated on the right hand of God forever, we cannot question this fact Redemption is done!

 

ÔTis done, the great transaction is done,

Christ died and did for sin atone:

An everlasting righteousness,

Which Christ brought in, this is our dress.

 

Our Savior

 

2nd — Having completely put away our sins by his one great atoning sacrifice, God the Holy Ghost here tells us of the exaltation of our Savior. — ÒBut this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God

 

Of course, I am talking now about Christ the Man, our Mediator and Substitute. As God, Christ was always on the FatherÕs throne. Even when he was upon earth, he was in heaven. The Son of God did not cease to be omnipotent and omnipresent, even when he was wrapped up in human flesh. Insofar as his divinity is concerned, our Lord never left his FatherÕs throne. He who is everywhere present cannot be anywhere absent. Our Lord himself said to Nicodemus, ÒNo man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is (at this very time) in heavenÓ (John 3:13). But Christ, as the Man-God, has assumed the glories and honors of heavenly exaltation. This Man, who died as the sinnerÕs Substitute reigns as the sinnerÕs God on the right hand of the glorious Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The Man Christ Jesus is exalted to the right hand of the Majesty on high. — He is that One whom John saw as a Lamb that had been slain rising up in the midst of the throne.

 

Let me tell you four things about the exaltation of our blessed Savior.

 

  1. It is a pre-eminent exaltation.

 

The triune God has ordained, Òthat in all things Christ might have the pre-eminenceÓ (Colossians 1:18). And he has given him the place of pre-eminence. God has crowned him with glory and honor above all the works of his hands. God has exalted Christ ÒFar above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in allÓ (Ephesians 1:121-23).

 

The dignity which Christ now enjoys is a surpassing dignity. No angel rivals him. No creature can compare with him. Christ is pre-eminent in all things. And Christ is pre-eminent above all things. Christ is —

á      The Pre-eminent Prophet!

á      The Pre-eminent Priest!

á      The Pre-eminent King!

á      The Pre-eminent Sacrifice!

á      The Pre-eminent Savior!

á      The Pre-eminent Brother!

á      The Pre-eminent Friend!

á      The Pre-eminent Husband!

 

2.    It is a real exaltation (Acts 2:33-36).

 

A good many men seek empty, meaningless titles, titles which give them a name, but no power or authority (Doctor Doodley-squat — Rev. Twiddle, D.D.). Christ does not wear a meaningless title. He wears a name that is above every name and he has power above all power (John 17:2). The scepter of universal monarchy is in his hand (Romans 14:9).

 

(Acts 2:33-36) ÒTherefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (34) For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, (35) Until I make thy foes thy footstool. (36) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.Ó

 

  • He upholds all things by the word of his power.
  • He is able to save to the uttermost all who come to God by him.
  • He is able to work all things together for the good of his own elect.
  • He is able to subdue all things unto himself.
  • He is able to preserve his own and to present you faultless before the presence of his own glory.

 

3.    It is a deserved exaltation (Philippians 2:5-11).

 

If God should put it to a vote, as to whether Christ should be exalted, it would be carried by universal acclamation. All would shout –

 

ÒCrown Him with many crowns,

The Lamb upon His throne!

Hark how the heavÕnly anthems drown

All music but its own!Ó

 

All the holy angels would acknowledge ChristÕs right to be exalted (Isaiah 6:2-3). — All the saints in heaven acknowledge ChristÕs right to be exalted (Revelation 4:10-11; 5:9-10). — Every believer upon the earth would have Christ exalted (Colossians 3:11; 1 Peter 2:7). — Every creature of God will in time acknowledge ChristÕs right to be exalted (Revelation 5:11-14). — No other being in heaven deserves to be there but Christ.

á      The angels are kept in heaven by grace.

á      The saints enter heaven by grace.

á      Only Christ is in heaven by right.

 

Do you see these things? ChristÕs exaltation is a pre-eminent exaltation, a real exaltation, and a deserved exaltation. Now be sure you do not miss this blessed fact. —

 

4.    It is a representative exaltation (Hebrews 6:20; Ephesians 2:5-6).

 

(Ephesians 2:5-6) ÒEven when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:Ó

 

(Hebrews 6:20) ÒWhither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.Ó

 

Just as you and I have our representatives in the houses of congress, every true believer has a Representative before God in heaven. Yet, Christ is more to us than a legal Representative, he is also a real Representative, because we are really and truly one with him. He is the Vine. We are the branches. He is the Head. We are his body. We are one with Christ!

 

ÒOne when He died, one when He arose,

One when He triumphed oÕer His foes.

One when in heaven He took His seat,

And angels sang all hellÕs defeat.Ó

 

á      Is Christ on a throne? He will give us to sit on the throne with him.

á      Does Christ wear a crown? He will give us a crown that fadeth not away.

á      Is Christ triumphant? He will make us triumphant too.

 

Child of God, set your heartÕs eye upon your exalted Savior. Behold him there in glory, with many crowns upon his head. And remember this — You will soon be like him! Let us be content now to live in obscurity or even in banishment for ChristÕs sake. Soon we shall wear the crown of glory!

 

Our Sovereign

 

We have seen the expiation of our sin and the exaltation of our Savior. AndÉ

 

3rd — In verse 13, the Spirit of God shows us the expectation of our Sovereign. — Christ our Savior, he who redeemed us with his own precious blood and saved us by his grace, has been exalted to the throne of sovereign dominion. And he reigns upon that throne of universal monarchy, ÒFrom henceforth expecting till his enemies has been made his footstoolEvery foe of Christ shall become his servant and his footstool (Isaiah 45:22-25).

 

(Isaiah 45:20-25) ÒAssemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. (21) Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. (22) Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (23) I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. (24) Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. (25) In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory

 

In one sense this crushing of his enemies into subjection beneath his feet has already begun. Christ is the sovereign ruler of the universe; and all rational beings, either willingly or unwillingly, are his servants (2 Peter 2:1). He has power over all flesh.

á      Satan himself is ChristÕs slave, beaten into subjection (John 12:31).

á      Wicked men are the servants of Christ, the errand boys of his providential rule.

 

Many of ChristÕs enemies are conquered by his grace through the preaching of the gospel (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

 

(2 Corinthians 10:4-5) Ò(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.Ó

 

Illustration: Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9).

 

When Christ comes the second time, he will come to crush all rebellion. The second advent will not be a time of salvation, but of judgment upon all unbelievers. — ÒThe Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospelÓ (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

 

At last, in the day of judgment, every enemy shall bow to Christ as Lord. In that great and glorious day at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess, in heaven, earth, and hell, that Jesus Chris is Lord. And God shall be all in all. — In the end, because Christ is exalted, I am sure that

á      All who believe shall be saved.

á      Every enemy of Christ shall be destroyed.

á      All of GodÕs elect, all the redeemed, shall be saved (Romans 11:26).

á      Christ shall be triumphant and glorious (Revelation 19:6).

 

(Revelation 19:1-6) ÒAnd after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: (2) For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. (3) And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. (4) And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. (5) And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. (6) And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.Ó

 

á      The Expiation of Our Sin

á      The Exaltation of Our Savior

á      The Expectation of Our Sovereign

 

Our Sanctification

 

4th — Look just briefly at the extent of our sanctification in verse 14. — ÒFor by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified

 

GodÕs salvation is a thing accomplished — Done! It is true, there is a very real sense in which we yet look to the future, confidently hoping for GodÕs salvation, because we have not yet experienced the fulness of it. Oh, what that will be! Still, GodÕs salvation in all its fulness is ours right now in, by, and with Christ (Colossians 2:9-10; 1 Corinthians 1:30). Christ has obtained eternal redemption for us by his blood (Hebrews 9:12); and we have obtained an eternal inheritance in him (Ephesians 1:11). Righteousness has been brought in. Our great Savior has made an end of our transgressions. These are not things we hope for, but facts. They are things we now possess by faith in Christ. — ÒFor by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.Ó

 

I have turned this text over, and over, and over in my mind, and prayed about it, and looked into it, and have sought illumination from God the Holy Spirit for years concerning it. It is one of those verses my mind keeps going back to virtually every day, countless times in a day some days. I love to roll it around in my soul like a good piece of candy in my mouth. It is one of those texts I like to mull over. The more I think about it, the bigger it gets. Every time I open one of its doors, I see another. Here the Holy Spirit declares that our Lord Jesus Christ has, by his one offering for sin, perfected all GodÕs elect and perfected them forever.

 

How do you spell salvation? God spells it D-O-N-E — Done!

 

(Leviticus 22:21) ÒAnd whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.Ó

 

(Hebrews 10:14) ÒFor by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.Ó

 

(1 Corinthians 1:30-31) ÒOf him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.Ó

 

ÒCast your deadly doing down,

Down at JesusÕ feet.

Stand in Him, in Him alone —

Gloriously complete!Ó

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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