IT IS FINISHED part three
In part two we talked about Christ being the only worthly sacrifce and how He fulfilled the law. In part three we want to tell things Christ finished on the cross and to move on into the dispensation of grace.
God created for six days and He said that it was good, then, it was finished so He rested, Gen 2:2. Now Christ has finished His work of the cross and now He also has sat down. Heb. 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our rfaith. who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  These two scriptures let us know that up to this particular time, God’s plan is on schedule and this part is completed.
Now we know that Christ is not walking with His disciples today. The role of being the prophet, the sacrificial lamb is over.  The requirements for the law has been met. All the prophecies of the first advent has been fulfilled. Rom. 15:8, “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” Now it is time to move on to the dispensation of grace and leave behind the dispensation of law.
Now Christ has finished-
- The sacrifices. The atonement for sins. 1 Cor. 3:13. (A) Because Christ has now atoned for all sins past, present and future. (B) No longer is sin the judging criteria for man. (C) At the Bema Judgment Seat what is the evidence that will be pesented for judgment? [Works] (D) What evidence will be presented at the Great White Throne Judgment? [Works]
- Judaism that is Temple worship and sacrifices is of no avail and can now be put away. The Temple at Jerusalem can now be destroyed like it had been prophesied by Jesus in Matthew. This event occurred in 70 A.D. (A) Done away with having to go to a Temple in order to worship God. (B) Done away with having to go to a Temple to fulfill rituals, like sacrifices and required attendance at certain feasts. (C) Done away with having to go to the Temple to give alms, get forgiveness or to pray. (D) Done away with having to go to the Temple to have someone else talk to God for you. (E) In this dispensation of grace, you are the Temple. (F) Now the Holy Spirit is “indwelling” with a role of guidance and utterance.
The old covenant is now useless and this is where the new begins. The old covenant was OK, but Paul says the new covenant is better. This is the whole theme of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is telling the Jews to give up Judaism, the old covenant and take up Grace, the new covenant. Rom. 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law but under grace.”
The old covenant, the Mosaic Law. Rom. 10:14 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” The old covenant was between God and Israel and was an earthly covenant. The promised land was here on earth, the priest was here on earth, the kingdom was to be here on earth and the Temple was here on earth. This system was full of legalism. One must do it this way and not do these things. Full of do’s and don’ts, rules, regulations and rituals. Things of this covenant were physical,earthly, visibile or tangible. Enforced by punishement or even death for wrong deeds committed. The Jews were dealing with a God of wrath or anger.
The new covenant, that which we are under now, is called grace. This is a heavenly covenant between God, Christ and Christians. As the song says, “this land is not our home”, heaven is our home. Our head (the high priest) is not in this world today. Neither is our rewards of this world. We are not God’s “people”, we are His children. Israel is God’s people. God’s children are “translated into the kingdom of his dear Son” Col. 1:13. “They are not of this world even as I am not of the world.” John 17:16, “but ye (the Gentile and Jewish Christians that make up the Church) are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels (heavenly, not earthly). 23. To the general assembly and Church of the first-born, who are written in heaven, and to God. The Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. 24. And to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant. . .” Heb. 12:22-24a. These scriptures are referring to the Grace Age and being with Christ. Things of this covenant are spiritual, heavenly, invisible. Encouraged by promise of reward hereafter. The Church is dealing with a God of forgiveness or grace “For God hath not appointed us (the Chruch) to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess. 5:9. “Everybody now has access to God, we no longer have to go through a Temple, priest, sacrifices or rituals.
The Gospel of the Kingdom. This gospel was preached by John the Baptist, Jesus and the twelve. Mt. 4:23, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. . .” This gospel has been set aside till after the Church has been ratured. This gospel shows that God intends to set up an earthly kingdom that is prefect. This kingdom will be in fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.
The Gospel of Salvation which is also known as Paul’s Gospel. Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Also in Heb. 12:2 we find that Jesus is the author and  finisher of our faith. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Les Feldick says that “I don’t think any human being can comprehend all that was accomplished when He (Christ) finished the work of the cross.” He also says that “Faith + (Nothing) = Salvation”.
What can we add to what Christ did at the cross? What else must we do to be saved? Eph. 2:8-10. “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. [it is] a gift of God. 9. Not of works lest any man should boast. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  Romans 4:1-4 tells us that Abraham was given righteousness by his faith, no works involved here. What other Old Testament saint was saved by just faith alone?
Jesus came. He was crucified, buried, and then resurrected by the power of God. This fulfillment was in accordance to the prophecies of the Old Testament. Today by the gospel that Paul preached, we live under the Age of Grace and our only requirement for salvation in this age is faith.
