You and I live in a fallen creation that is no longer perfect and not even good. Sin and death have entered the world. Everyone is born with a rebellious sin nature. Our Creator’s solution for our sin problem, which separates you and me from our Creator, is the Savior, Who is both God and man, the propitiation for your sin and my sin.

When Jesus took our judgment on the cross and conquered death, He made it possible for you and me to be forgiven, to receive eternal life and to be adopted into the family of God. John documented His last words.

John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

‘It is finished’ in the original text is the word tetelestai which means ‘paid in full’.

What do these words tell you about the love of Jesus for you?

What do these words matter to you?

Paul reminds you and me in his letter to the church at Corinth that we have been bought with a price.

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

How should you and I live our lives, as ones bought with a price?

What do Paul’s words matter to you?

Jesus Paid it All -Elvina M. Hall, 1865

Verse 1
I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all.”
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Verse 2
Lord, now indeed I find Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots And melt the heart of stone.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Verse 3
For nothing good have I Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Verse 4
And now complete in Him My robe His righteousness,
I’ll rejoice with all my might, I am now divinely blest.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Verse 5
And when before the throne I stand in Him complete,
“Jesus died my soul to save,” My lips shall still repeat.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Our focus – Hebrews 12: ¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; 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

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!