It Is Finished!
“It is finished” was the sixth of Jesus’ seven sayings on the cross before He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. Let’s explore the significance of this statement:
Redemptive Work Completed: The chief purpose of Jesus’ coming to the earth was to redeem the human race. Our first parents, Adam, and Eve were created in the image and likeness of God, without sin and capable of living forever (Genesis 1:26–31; 2:15–17). But they sinned by disobeying God. Therefore, the whole human race, which sprang from them, was plunged into the condition of sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:12–19). The Bible teaches that there is a need for the redemption of the human family if it is to have a relationship with God (Romans 3:10, 23–25). Because of our sinful and imperfect nature, we cannot redeem each other. The psalmist says, “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him” (Psalm 49:7).
God Himself in His lovingkindness provided the perfect Lamb through His Son Jesus Christ as a ransom for our sin— “Behold! the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant His redemptive work was completed. His shed blood paid in full our debt of sin. The book of Hebrews tells us that Christ “did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption … But now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:12, 26).
Now let’s see some of the things accomplished for us through the finished redemptive work:
We Are Forgiven: Apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 1:14 that we have redemption through Christ’s blood, the forgiveness of sins. It means all the wrongs of our past, present, and future are totally washed away. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, it is your spirit that is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). We still live in a body that has fleshly desires; therefore, God provides a way for cleansing by confessing our sins (1 John 1:7-9).
We Are Justified: All who trust in Jesus Christ are no longer guilty (Romans 5:8-9). Justification is a legal term; no human being can justify someone who is guilty. You can pardon or forgive a guilty person, just like the president of the United States does sometimes, but the guilt does not leave his record. Justifying someone means he is no longer guilty, and he is acquitted. But, in our case, sinners are guilty and there is a penalty to be paid. Scripture says, “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20), and in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death.”
How could God, who is just, holy, and righteous, declare us “not guilty” without encroaching on His character as the Judge of all the earth? Job asked, “How should man be just with God?” (Job 9:2). God did it through the wonderment of grace! Hear what Paul says in Ephesians 1:7: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
We Are Reconciled: All who believe are now brought into relationship with God (2 Corinthians 5:18; Colossians 1:19-22). We are washed in the precious blood of Jesus, our sins have been forgiven, and we are now at peace with God through the reconciliatory work of Jesus the Messiah. “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10).
Also remember we are sanctified with His own blood (Hebrews 13:12). And we are healed by His stripes (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). So, as we celebrate Good Friday, let’s share the Good News—the Gospel—with our family, friends, and neighbors.