It is finished

[wordsower]

The Cross: The Dividing Line of Human History

By Bob George

The French Philosopher, Pascal, stated, "There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ." Man, however, has sought to fill this vacuum through various ways: financial success, social status, education, sexual encounters, friends, marriage and children, and occupation. regardless of man's success in these endeavors, he still finds himself empty. H.G. Wells, famous historian and philosopher, at the age of 61 said, "I have no peace. All life is at the end of the tether." The poet Byron said, " My days are in the yellow leaf, the flowers and fruits of life are gone, the worm and the canker and the grief are mine alone."

Man has even turned to religion and social reform to fill the void. The great Hindu leader, Mahatma Gandhi, with his undying and sacrifical devotion to his religion, stated in his autobiography: "It is a constant torture to me that I am still so far from Him whom I know to be my very life and being. I know it is my own wretchedness and wickedness that keeps me from Him." Even religion is not enough.

The vacuum Pascal decribes is a basic need in the heart of every man to know God, to experience His forgiveness, to be freed from the bondage of guilt, and to know that he has been totally accepted by God. only God can meet this need, and he does so through His Son, Jesus Christ. Through His death on the cross, Jesus Christ demonstrated the love of God for you and me and ushered in a brand new covenant whereby we can experience forgiveness and have new life. it is because of this that we take a closer look at the finality of the cross.

Hebrews 9:16, 17

In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.

Q1. In the case of a will, what is necessary to prove for it to be in effect?

A1. "... it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it,..."

Q2. When does a will take force?

A2. "... a will is in force only when somebody has died;..."

Q3. Is a will in effect if the one who made it is still living?

A3. "... [a will] never takes effect while the one who made it is living."

Q4. Why did Jesus have to die?

A4. According to this passage, because a new will, or covenant, had been written and could not go into effect until He, the One who made it, had died.

Hebrews 9:15

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Q5. According to Hebrews 9:15, what is Christ the mediator of?

A5. "... Christ is the mediator of a new covenant,..."

Q6. When did this new covenant go into effect?

A6. When Christ died on the Cross.

Q7. What will those who are called under this new covenant receive?

A7. "... that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance..."

Q8. Not only did Christ's death usher in a new covenant, what else did Christ's death accomplish for you and me?

A8. "... he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."

Q9. What does Romans 10:4 say concerning the law or the old covenant?

A9. Romans 10:4 - "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."

The whole world, secular and religious alike, acknowledges that jesus Christ is the centerpiece of human history. Even our calendars divide history at the birth of Christ; BC, before Christ and AD, "anno Domini," in the year of our Lord. From God's vantage point however, history is divided at the cross. Christ's death on the cross fulfilled the old covenant and ushered in a brand new covenant. In this new covenant God meets the basic needs of the human heart by providing new life and the final forgiveness of sins. Since Christ's death and resurrection, all believers have lived in the age of the new covenant.

Hebrews 9:22

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Q10. In Hebrews 9:22, what does the law require everything to be cleansed with?

A10. "... the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood..."

Q11. What is necessary for forgiveness?

A11. "... without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

Q12. According to this verse, why did Christ have to die?

A12. Christ had to die to provide forgiveness of sins.

Q13. According to Matthew 26:28, why did Jesus pour out His blood?

A13. Matthew 26:28 - "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

Hebrews 10:16-18

"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Q14. Under this new covenant, ushered in at the death of Christ, what does God do for you and me?

A14. (1) He puts His laws on our hearts. (2) He writes His laws on our minds. (3) Our sins and lawless acts are remembered no more.

Q15. How does God remember our sins and lawless acts?

A15. "... their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

Q16. Under the new covenant, have our sins and lawless acts been forgiven?

A16. "And where these have been forgiven,..."

Q17. What brought about this forgiveness for you and me?

A17. Christ's death on the cross.

Q18. Because our sins have been forgiven through the death of Christ, is any other sacrifice for our sins necessary?

A18. "And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Q19. If we needed more forgiveness, what would have to happen according to Hebrews 9:22?

A19. Blood would have to be shed.

Q20. Based on Hebrews 9:26-28, is Christ going to die again?

A20. Hebrews 9:26-28 - "Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

Q21. According to Hebrews 10:10, what have we been made through the sacrifice of jesus Christ under this new covenant?

A21. Hebrews 10:10 - "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Q22. In Hebrews 10:14, what else have we been made?

A22. Hebrews 10:14 - "... because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."

Q23. Under this new covenant, ushered in through the death of Christ, how acceptable are we to God?

A23. We are completely acceptable before God.

Q24. Why then is it important for us to see the cross as the dividing line of human history?

A24. To see that Christ has indeed purchased our forgiveness and we are acceptable before God by His sacrifice.

[Guest Boron]

A great post, Wordsower.  I might add, that when Christ Jesus died, and resurrected in a new body, this same body is promised to us, His chosen. I Cor. 15:20-23)  Also, His death and resurrection, guarantees the Holy Spirit to indwell us, because we are accounted as righteous, not by our standards,  but by His.  The Holy Spirit will not inhabit any vessel that is unclean. (Romans 8:9-11).

[Guest shadow2b]

<font color='#8D38C9'>The Cross: The Dividing Line of Human History

By Bob George

The French Philosopher, Pascal, stated, "There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ." Man, however, has sought to fill this vacuum through various ways: financial success, social status, education, sexual encounters, friends, marriage and children, and occupation. regardless of man's success in these endeavors, he still finds himself empty. H.G. Wells, famous historian and philosopher, at the age of 61 said, "I have no peace. All life is at the end of the tether." The poet Byron said, " My days are in the yellow leaf, the flowers and fruits of life are gone, the worm and the canker and the grief are mine alone."

Man has even turned to religion and social reform to fill the void. The great Hindu leader, Mahatma Gandhi, with his undying and sacrifical devotion to his religion, stated in his autobiography: "It is a constant torture to me that I am still so far from Him whom I know to be my very life and being. I know it is my own wretchedness and wickedness that keeps me from Him." Even religion is not enough.

The vacuum Pascal decribes is a basic need in the heart of every man to know God, to experience His forgiveness, to be freed from the bondage of guilt, and to know that he has been totally accepted by God. only God can meet this need, and he does so through His Son, Jesus Christ. Through His death on the cross, Jesus Christ demonstrated the love of God for you and me and ushered in a brand new covenant whereby we can experience forgiveness and have new life. it is because of this that we take a closer look at the finality of the cross.

Hebrews 9:16, 17

In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.

Q1. In the case of a will, what is necessary to prove for it to be in effect?

A1. "... it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it,..."

Q2. When does a will take force?

A2. "... a will is in force only when somebody has died;..."

Q3. Is a will in effect if the one who made it is still living?

A3. "... [a will] never takes effect while the one who made it is living."

Q4. Why did Jesus have to die?

A4. According to this passage, because a new will, or covenant, had been written and could not go into effect until He, the One who made it, had died.

Hebrews 9:15

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Q5. According to Hebrews 9:15, what is Christ the mediator of?

A5. "... Christ is the mediator of a new covenant,..."

Q6. When did this new covenant go into effect?

A6. When Christ died on the Cross.

Q7. What will those who are called under this new covenant receive?

A7. "... that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance..."

Q8. Not only did Christ's death usher in a new covenant, what else did Christ's death accomplish for you and me?

A8. "... he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."

Q9. What does Romans 10:4 say concerning the law or the old covenant?

A9. Romans 10:4 - "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."

The whole world, secular and religious alike, acknowledges that jesus Christ is the centerpiece of human history. Even our calendars divide history at the birth of Christ; BC, before Christ and AD, "anno Domini," in the year of our Lord. From God's vantage point however, history is divided at the cross. Christ's death on the cross fulfilled the old covenant and ushered in a brand new covenant. In this new covenant God meets the basic needs of the human heart by providing new life and the final forgiveness of sins. Since Christ's death and resurrection, all believers have lived in the age of the new covenant.

Hebrews 9:22

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Q10. In Hebrews 9:22, what does the law require everything to be cleansed with?

A10. "... the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood..."

Q11. What is necessary for forgiveness?

A11. "... without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

Q12. According to this verse, why did Christ have to die?

A12. Christ had to die to provide forgiveness of sins.

Q13. According to Matthew 26:28, why did Jesus pour out His blood?

A13. Matthew 26:28 - "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

Hebrews 10:16-18

"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Q14. Under this new covenant, ushered in at the death of Christ, what does God do for you and me?

A14. (1) He puts His laws on our hearts. (2) He writes His laws on our minds. (3) Our sins and lawless acts are remembered no more.

Q15. How does God remember our sins and lawless acts?

A15. "... their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

Q16. Under the new covenant, have our sins and lawless acts been forgiven?

A16. "And where these have been forgiven,..."

Q17. What brought about this forgiveness for you and me?

A17. Christ's death on the cross.

Q18. Because our sins have been forgiven through the death of Christ, is any other sacrifice for our sins necessary?

A18. "And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Q19. If we needed more forgiveness, what would have to happen according to Hebrews 9:22?

A19. Blood would have to be shed.

Q20. Based on Hebrews 9:26-28, is Christ going to die again?

A20. Hebrews 9:26-28 - "Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

Q21. According to Hebrews 10:10, what have we been made through the sacrifice of jesus Christ under this new covenant?

A21. Hebrews 10:10 - "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Q22. In Hebrews 10:14, what else have we been made?

A22. Hebrews 10:14 - "... because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."

Q23. Under this new covenant, ushered in through the death of Christ, how acceptable are we to God?

A23. We are completely acceptable before God.

Q24. Why then is it important for us to see the cross as the dividing line of human history?

A24. To see that Christ has indeed purchased our forgiveness and we are acceptable before God by His sacrifice.</font>

RIGHT ON GAL---- :il: :t3: :t3: :t3: :t3: -----{Gary}

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings,

It seems part of this thread has disappeared. But in any case, here are some verses which indicate that the law is alive and well in this day and age:

Matthew 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

2647 kataluo {kat-al-oo'-o}

from 2596 and 3089; TDNT - 4:338,543; v

AV - destroy 9, throw down 3, lodge 1, guest 1, come to nought 1,

overthrow 1, dissolve 1; 17

1) to dissolve, disunite

1a) (what has been joined together), to destroy, demolish

1b) metaph. to overthrow i.e. render vain, deprive of success,

bring to naught

1b1) to subvert, overthrow

1b1a) of institutions, forms of government, laws, etc.,

to deprive of force, annul, abrogate, discard

1c) of travellers, to halt on a journey, to put up, lodge (the

figurative expression originating in the circumstance that,

to put up for the night, the straps and packs of the beasts

of burden are unbound and taken off; or, more correctly from

the fact that the traveller's garments, tied up when he is

on the journey, are unloosed at it end)

The LAW will remain until the very end. Too much of it remains to be "fulfilled".

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[wordsower]

Dad,

What specifically has left to be fulfilled in the law?

[Guest shadow2b]

Greetings,

It seems part of this thread has disappeared. But in any case, here are some verses which indicate that the law is alive and well in this day and age:

Matthew 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

2647 kataluo {kat-al-oo'-o}

from 2596 and 3089; TDNT - 4:338,543; v

AV - destroy 9, throw down 3, lodge 1, guest 1, come to nought 1,

overthrow 1, dissolve 1; 17

1) to dissolve, disunite

1a) (what has been joined together), to destroy, demolish

1b) metaph. to overthrow i.e. render vain, deprive of success,

bring to naught

1b1) to subvert, overthrow

1b1a) of institutions, forms of government, laws, etc.,

to deprive of force, annul, abrogate, discard

1c) of travellers, to halt on a journey, to put up, lodge (the

figurative expression originating in the circumstance that,

to put up for the night, the straps and packs of the beasts

of burden are unbound and taken off; or, more correctly from

the fact that the traveller's garments, tied up when he is

on the journey, are unloosed at it end)

The LAW will remain until the very end. Too much of it remains to be "fulfilled".

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

DAD-------where is the answer where out two strongs are soooooo different??.?? BUT even without an explanation --you are still NOT even understanding what you post---ALL THE LAW WAS FULFILLED AT THE CROSS--- your post & definitions DAD------dissolve,overthrow,destroy,bring to naught[nothing]

render VAIN----can't you understand the very definitions you post?? THE LAW is DONE AWAY WITH---

FULFILLED--------WHAT OTHER PART OF THE LAW IS UNFULFILLED??.??--------------{Gary}

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings,

The day the law is completely done away with - finis, done, over with, is the day there will be no more JUDGMENT. This won't occur till our Lord sits on His throne and you go before Him and he says: "Go away, I never knew you." or He says "Well done, my good and faithful servant, enter into thy reward". Some think the law is just the 10 commandments; others think that just the Torah is the "law"; while others may think it refers to the OT, however, in truth, it is ALL OF GOD'S HOLY WORD. When you realize that, then you will have received the truth. Jesus "fulfilled" those things as pertain to Him and His incarnation, life on this earth, His death and resurrection and His coming again, which by the way is yet future and has YET to be fulfilled. So is the myriad of prophecies that pertain to the "last days" as foretold in the OT and in the NT.

Without the law there can be no recognition of sin, and thus it remains today. It convicts the sinner and the saved who fall into sin and leads to the knowledge and salvation which is found in Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[wordsower]

DE,

I would suggest you re-read Galatians my friend.

Your post is about as far from the gospel as one can get.

[BlindSeeker]

When Jesus said, "It is finished," He was referring to the act of His sacrifical death and the duration of time needed to accomplish it.

What had fulfilled it's purpose of the OT was the ceremonial part of God's statutes which prophetically pointed to the cross.

Go'd judgements are still founded upon His righteous precepts. Both His judgements and precepts continue to day.

• Heb 12: 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
  26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
  27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
  28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
  29 For our God is a consuming fire.
  
  
  Wordsower, Paul addressed those who were forcing the rituals of the law . . . not the judgements or precepts thereof.
  
  Perhaps you should read Gatations once more.
  
  
  • Ga 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
    
    2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
    
    1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
    
    
    
    • I Cor3:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
      4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
      5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
      

How did Paul "judge" the matter?

Deut 20: 30 A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his father's skirt.

Deut 27: 20 Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

21 Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.

22 Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

23 Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Certainly we would not permit sexual act with animals, incest, or the rest . . . why? Because the morality God requires is clearly defined as requirements in God's moral laws.

Done away with? Foolishness. Fulfilled? When sin shall be no more maybe.

Hebrews 10: 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

[Brad]

1 Timothy 1

8But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

I