Fully Forgiven
Six hours on that cross, but he cried, “Finished!” Amen!
Now, how do you know it's finished? Because he cried, “Finished,” right? Yes! But then, they brought his body down.
He died. They brought his body down.
By the way, he did not die until he chose to die.
The Gospel of Matthew— which proclaims his kingship— says, “He dismissed his spirit.”
In Greek, it's like a king dismissing his subjects:
"Go. Do as I have bidden you."
Jesus, on the cross, dismissed his spirit.
I love it! That is power! I said, that is power! Amen!
So, he submitted himself to death itself.
He died. They brought him down. And what did they do?
They buried him.
Now, listen— they buried him.
Are our sins forgiven?
Because this verse says:
"If Christ is not risen, your faith is in vain. You are still in your sins."
If he only cried, “Finished” …
By the way, when he cried, “Finished,” what happened to the temple?
The veil in the temple was torn in two— from top to bottom!
Not from bottom to top.
That’s significant!
Because it shows a heavenly being tore that veil.
Access to the holiest of all is now open!
Amen!
So, all of that was done by his death— not the resurrection.
But then— if they kept him in the tomb… think of that!
He came from an empty womb… and left an empty tomb!
Just like it was a virgin womb… to a virgin tomb, where no one had ever been laid.
Amen!
So, what does it mean—
"If Christ is not risen, you are still in your sins"?
Okay, so they buried him.
Let’s say, on the third day… nothing happens.
Nothing at all.
To the Jews, they understood something:
On the Day of Yom Kippur— the Day of Atonement— the most significant day of the year…
That one day, the high priest makes atonement.
That’s why it's called Yom Kippur—
"Yom" means "day,"
"Kippur" means "covering."
Atonement— the day of covering.
On that day, the Jewish high priest steps into the Holy of Holies with the blood of bulls.
He sprinkles it seven times— seven times!— on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant… and seven times before the Mercy Seat.
Seven times— a perfect standing before God.
That blood of bulls and goats? It’s just a picture of the blood of Christ.
Can I get a good Amen?
But listen— what must happen after that?
How will Israel know?
How will they know that their sins are forgiven?
That God has accepted the sacrifice?
That the blood of the goat— the one they laid hands on—
the one over which they confessed the sins of Israel…
That that sacrifice was accepted?
They saw that part.
They saw the high priest lay his hands on the bull, confess the sins of Israel.
They saw the sacrifice.
Just like Israel saw Jesus— hanging on the cross— openly.
But then…
When the high priest takes the blood into the Holy of Holies…
No one sees him anymore.
Am I right?
Now— how do they know that God accepted that sacrifice?
How do they know?
When he comes out!
That’s right— when he comes out!
Just like in the days of Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father.
When he didn’t come out for a long time, the people knew something was wrong.
But when he finally came out?
They knew!
Hallelujah!
Our sins are forgiven!
We can expect another year of blessing!
Another year of provision!
Another year of health and peace!
Back then, forgiveness was year by year— temporary.
That’s why it was called “atonement.”
It covered sin— it didn’t remove it.
It’s like having a stain under your jacket.
You cover it— no one sees it.
But is it still there?
Yes!
But Jesus' blood— it doesn’t cover sin.
It removes it!
Now, our sins aren’t just forgiven—
Our sins are remitted!
Got it?
Amen!
That’s why the blood of bulls and goats could never truly take away sin.
They were just a shadow— a visual aid— to help us understand.
Are you with me so far?
So— when the high priest comes out—
That’s a picture of Jesus’ resurrection!
That means— what?
God accepted the sacrifice!
Our sins are forgiven!
Can I get a good Amen?
You know how Jewish believers see Jesus— sitting at the right hand of the Father?
That’s why the book of Hebrews is full of it!