This verse has become controversial in our time, largely by the teachings of R. B. Thieme and John MacArthur, through whose writings the teachings of Thieme have come into the mainstream of evangelical thought. Thieme and MacArthur put so much emphasis on this phrase, which Jesus uttered on the Cross at the end of His earthly life, that there is no room left for Christ to do anything for our salvation after that moment when He died, and said,

"It is finished."

So focused are Thieme and MacArthur on those words, that they leave no room for Christ to do anything else on our behalf. Dr. MacArthur gives a very clear presentation of the Thieme/MacArthur position when he says, "Blood is a symbol of death" (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary on Hebrews, Moody Press, 1983, p. 236). This is not a phrase drawn out of context from Dr. MacArthur's writings. It appears again and again in his commentaries. For instance, in his comment on Hebrews 9:14, "How much more shall the blood of Christ…cleanse your conscience," Dr. MacArthur says that "the blood of Christ is an expression that refers not to the fluid, but the whole atoning sacrificial work of Christ in his death. Blood is used as a substitute word for death" (The MacArthur Study Bible, note on Hebrews 9:14). So, we conclude, that the Thieme/MacArthur soteriological system rests in the Blood of Christ being merely a synonym (or metonym) for His death. This thought of the Blood being a synonym or symbol of Christ's death is repeated over and over, throughout his writings. In one particularly disturbing passage, Dr. MacArthur says,

It was not Jesus' physical blood that saves us [what other kind did He have?], but his dying on our behalf, which is symbolized by the shedding of his physical blood (commentary on Hebrews, page 237).

The problem that arises is this - the Thieme/MacArthur theory rests on the idea that the whole Gospel is founded on the death of Christ alone - and the Blood was merely a symbol, "an expression that refers not to the fluid, but the whole atoning work of Christ in his death" (MacArthur Study Bible, ibid.). "Blood is a symbol of death" (MacArthur Study Bible, p. 236). "The blood of Christ is an expression that refers not to the fluid, but…the whole atoning work of his death" (MacArthur Study Bible, note on Hebrews 9:14).

It was not Jesus' physical blood that saves us [what other kind did He have?], but his dying on our behalf, which is symbolized by the shedding of his physical blood (commentary on Hebrews, page 237).

I am not pulling these quotes out of context. I am doing my very best to articulate what Dr. MacArthur and R. B. Thieme believe. They believe that all of salvation was accomplished by the death of Christ, and that the Blood is simply a "synonym," "a symbol," "an expression that refers not to the fluid, but…the…atoning work of his death." So, to Thieme and MacArthur the Blood of Christ is only a synonym [They use the word "metonym" - a word meaning the same thing] of His death. They believe that the Blood is only "a symbol" or an "expression, that refers not to the fluid." These errors were originated by R. B. Thieme and adopted by John MacArthur.

But let us go back to John 19:30. Thieme, and subsequently John MacArthur, used this verse to say that the entire work of redemption was completed when Christ died. I have thought about that for years and here are my answers to the questions,

1. What did Christ mean when He said, "It is finished"?

2. Did anything happen after he said "It is finished" that contributes to our salvation?

I. What did Christ mean when He said, "It is finished"?

The Greek word is tetelestai, "It is finished." But what exactly did Christ refer to when He said, "It is finished"? What was finished was Christ's vicarious atonement for our sins - one person (Christ) dying as a substitute for another (the sinner). This is the first point of the Gospel,

"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures"
    (I Corinthians 15:3).

That was what was finished! As Dr. Gill put it,

Every promise, type, and prophecy recorded in the law, in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning his sufferings and death, had their fulfillment (John Gill, D.D., An Exposition of the New Testament, The Baptist Standard Bearer, 1989 reprint, volume II, p. 725).

Among the numerous Old Testament Scriptures that were fulfilled when Jesus died, was the great atonement passage in Isaiah 53, including these words,

"He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).

Thus, the atonement for sin was finished when Jesus "bowed his head, and gave up the ghost" (John 19:30).

But Dr. MacArthur is wrong when he says, "The entire work of redemption had been brought to completion" (The MacArthur Study Bible, note on John 19:30). The entire work of atonement was finished, but not the entire work of redemption. Two other events had to occur before "the entire work of redemption" was completed, for there are two more points to the Gospel.

II. What was not finished at the death of Christ?

To answer that question, please turn to I Corinthians 15:3-4. Please stand and read these two verses aloud.

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (I Corinthians 15:3-4).

You may be seated.

Christ's burial and resurrection were not finished when He died on the Cross. The second and third points of the Gospel were not yet finished. As Dr. Gill said,

That is, according to the scriptures, for he died and rose again according to the scriptures, he was buried according to them; which speak of him being in… sheol, in the grave, and of making his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death (ibid.).

Please turn to Isaiah 53:9. This is an important prophecy regarding the burial of Christ's body. Let us stand and read it aloud.

"And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death" (Isaiah 53:9).

Now turn to John 19:38. Read it aloud.

"And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus" (John 19:38).

Now drop down to verses 41 and 42. Read these two verses aloud.

"Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus…" (John 19:41-42).

You may be seated. That is the second point of the Gospel (I Corinthians 15:4). It fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9,

"And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death" (Isaiah 53:9).

Joseph of Arimathaea was a rich man. He took the body of Jesus and laid it in his new tomb. Dr. Gill says that His burial was necessary to

confirm the certainty of Christ's death, and the truth of his resurrection (ibid.).

The burial of Christ, in fulfillment of prophecy, was not finished when Jesus died on the Cross.

Then we come to the third point of the Gospel, in I Corinthians 15:4.

"And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (I Corinthians 15:4).

Christ rose literally and physically from the dead, in fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures, which said,

"Thou wilt not leave my soul in [sheol - the grave]; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption" (Psalm 16:10).

The glorious resurrection of Jesus, flesh and bone, from the dead, occurred on the third day after He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). So, it is clear, that what Jesus meant when He said, "It is finished" did not include the second and third points of the Gospel. Dr. MacArthur was wrong when he said "The entire work of redemption was finished when Jesus died." Oh, no! He had to rise physically from the dead! Please turn to I Corinthians 15:17. Stand and read this verse aloud.

"And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins" (I Corinthians 15:17).

We are not to look upon a dead Saviour! He is alive! He has risen, and is now ascended to the right hand of God, where

"He ever liveth to make intercession for [us]" (Hebrews 7:25).

That is the full gospel!

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God"
    (Colossians 3:1).

That's where Jesus is now! That's where "the blood of sprinkling" is now!

"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling…" (Hebrews 12:24).

Jesus is alive in Heaven! The Blood of sprinkling is there as well! He is not dead! He has risen as He said! That is the full, complete Gospel!

(END OF SERMON)
You can read Dr. Hymers' sermons each week on the Internet
at www.rlhymersjr.com. Click on "Sermon Manuscripts."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE MATERIAL ON DR. MACARTHUR AND THE BLOOD
 

Scripture Read Before the Sermon by Dr. Kreighton L. Chan:
I Corinthians 15:12-19.
Solo Sung Before the Sermon by Mr. Benjamin Kincaid Griffith: "The Strife Is O'er"
(translated by Francis Pott, 1832-1909).
 

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