Casting Deadly Doing Down

A young girl came to Charles Spurgeon one day, distraught because she wasn’t sure she was saved.

She struggled with assurance, concerned there was something she should feel or do.

Spurgeon told her to write the words “I do not believe in Jesus” at the top of a piece of paper.

He then asked her to sign the statement.

Knowing she could never sign a statement like this, this young believer went away rejoicing, never again to wonder if she belonged in the family of God.

She believed Jesus died for her.

He did it all.

By faith, she knew there was nothing to do but rejoice and be awed by His finished work.

A hymn by James Proctor addresses those, like this young girl, who are burdened by doubt.

Nothing, either great or small—
Nothing, sinner, no;
Jesus died and paid it all,
Long, long ago.

“It is finished!” yes, indeed,
Finished, ev’ry jot;
Sinner, this is all you need,
Tell me, is it not?

When He, from His lofty throne,
Stooped to do and die,
Ev’rything was fully done;
Hearken to His cry!

Weary, working, burdened one,
Wherefore toil you so?
Cease your doing; all was done
Long, long ago.

Cast your deadly “doing” down—
Down at Jesus’ feet;
Stand in Him, in Him alone,
Gloriously complete.

Too often we want a feeling. A work to do. A sense that we had a part.

When Jesus said, “It is finished!” He was telling us that “God is satisfied.”

We can rejoice in the satisfaction of the God who could have poured out His wrath on you and me, but poured it out on His Son instead.

We can cast all “deadly doing down.”

It is finished.

“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14)

Click here to listen to "It is Finished!" (a lesson in the series on "The Words from the Cross").