26/04/2026
A FINISHED WORK OR FINISHED WORKS?
I grew up learning about the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross on Calvary or Golgotha’s hill (that is the complete phrase or sentence). I have heard some of the finest preachers around, and read after a long line of fabled preachers who taught the central truth that it is a finished work; a completed job.
I have even heard the slogan repeated several times over the years: “Done. Finished. Accomplished”. A particular man of God so dear to my heart teaches it as: “the receipt of an accomplishment”.
But I have never heard of the “finished works of Jesus Christ”. Finished works? Oh! Wow! Many works! Great. Well, maybe not so great.
The phrase clearly suggests that there are many finished works that the Lord Jesus accomplished that are too numerous to mention. It sounds decidedly interesting, even tantalizing. The prospect of preaching such a message appears appealing already.
I daresay that the phrase the finished works of Christ Jesus suggests that there are several works that He did, others that He left undone and others still that He is currently in the process of doing - these unfinished works, will continue to do them and will yet do them.
Such a busy Christ Jesus!
Looking through the entire bible, both the Old and New Testament portions like it is generally classified, I do not find a single mention or appearance of that phrase: ‘the finished work of Christ Jesus’.
What I did find is the scripture or better still the verse of scripture at John 19: 30 which says thus: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (the bold letters and underline are mine).
Some have said that this phrase: “It is finished”, refers to specific prophecies of the scriptures or that it simply refers to the prophecy concerning his death which are numerous all over the bible.
Some have said that this refers to the spiritual death of Jesus since he made the statement “It is finished”, just before he died physically (N.B.: This is the subject of another teaching).
Others still have said that it refers to the end of the Old Testament as a dispensation and a way of worship because immediately he cried: ‘It is finished’ and gave up the ghost, the veil covering the holy of holies tore supernaturally from top to bottom see Matthew 27: 50-51.
Jesus said “It is finished”. He used the pronoun ‘IT’ which is specific and then he gave up the ghost or in other words he died.
There are various Greek expressions or words used to convey that word ‘finished’ in the New Testament. The word finished used at John 19: 30 is the Greek word ‘Teleo’ which means: to end i.e. complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt):- accomplish, make an end, expire, fill up, go over, pay, perform etc.
The word strongly suggests that a transaction was completed, concluded and executed when Christ Jesus died on the cross. A discharge from our debt was accomplished, our debt was paid when Christ Jesus gave His life on the cross: the ultimate price was made, the supreme sacrifice was made.
Some have taught that the death is part of a transaction which is incomplete without the resurrection and His ascension into heaven.
Now that is true in a context, but Christ Jesus in His resurrection appeared in heaven to label, smear, sprinkle and finally seal heaven with ‘the blood’ of the sacrifice that he offered on the cross (the italics are mine to underline that the blood is figurative since blood cannot enter heaven which is in the realm of the spirit 1 Corinthians 15: 50).
In essence, the sacrifice offered on the cross must be brought into the true holy of holies in heaven to make heaven man’s home eternally Hebrews 9: 11-12 says: “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us”.
Yet the sacrifice was the work He accomplished. The sacrifice is the fount or spring from which every benefit of redemption comes or flows. Atonement, redemption, forgiveness of sins, holiness, sanctification, sonship, the gift of the Holy Spirit, freedom from sin, the flesh and the law and lots more are benefits or New Creation Realities that we now have in Christ Jesus purely and strictly based on the death of Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus Christ was not scrambling about frantically and feverishly to accomplish various works after His sacrificial work of atonement on the cross, such as trying to accomplish the various benefits of redemption. Christ Jesus did one work which has made every other benefit or reality possible and binding on the believers.
Everyone that put their faith in the gospel today becomes a recipient of the one finished work.
Every other thing is a blessing of the gospel Ephesians 1: 3 says:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:…”.
Every single benefit, blessing or New Creation reality came to us by the cross. This is not a case of many finished works, but one singular sacrificial work on the cross that has forever changed our status and story; giving us a new song, new nature, new life, new hope, new family and a new birth. Not as though these things were accomplished seriatim or one after the other in some kind of human chronological sequence by different or separate finished works, but by one sacrifice everything was done; everything became real and binding upon our lives. Glory to God almighty! Hallelujah!
Let us pray, father thank you for the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross. We are grateful because the price has been paid in full. Our debts discharged forever. We give you all the glory and the praise. Amen and amen.
FOLA AWONUSI
