04/07/2023
The Greek word for “IT IS FINISHED!” is “Tetelestai,” meaning “paid in full,” referring to mankind’s debt starting at the Fall of man who chose sin instead of life. This verb form of Tetelestai includes a COMPLETED WORK AT A POINT IN TIME as well as AN ONGOING EFFECT.
The work of Christ was 100% COMPLETE the moment He said, “It is finished!” on the Cross. Because God is not bound by time, what Christ did over 2,000 years ago went into full effect for you at the moment of your salvation. There is also the LIFETIME PROCESS of your growth into more mature expressions of this transformation. (Romans 6:23; Colossians 2:14)
"I have finished the work which You gave me to do." John 17:4
JESUS'EARTHLY MISSION was to live as the exact representation of the Father so we could know Him and experience His LOVE for us. He totally fulfilled the law and the prophets. He enacted the miracles proving His claim as the Messiah so people could believe in Him.
He proclaimed release to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed, and proclaimed the favorable year of the LORD. Having COMPLETED these things, Jesus loved them to the end. (Hebrews 1:3; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18-19, 21; John 1:14; 3:16; 5:36; 14:9)
(on the Cross) When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "IT IS FINISHED!!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:30
Here are just a few of the outstanding aspects of CHRIST'S FINISHED WORK for you on the CROSS, believer:
JESUS, YOUR SAVIOR,, TOTALLY REDEEMED YOU, satisfying the requirements of the law by paying your debt with His own precious, imperishable blood. You have eternal salvation as a free gift for the asking because the Eternal One lives in you. (Romans 6:23; Jude 1:24; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
JESUS ENTIRELY FORGAVE YOU of all your sins, past, present, and future before even one of them happened. Having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, He sat down at the right hand of God because He had FINISHED.
Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, but only those who believe in Christ will benefit. You, forgiven one, are EMPOWERED TO FORGIVE others as you have been forgiven. (Hebrews 10:12; Eph 4:32)
Jesus entirely finished RECONCILING you completely to God through His body. Although you were formerly an enemy of God, you are no longer an enemy. You are God’s child, Jesus’ friend, the Bride of Christ. You are God’s ambassador of reconciliation to others. (Colossians 1:20-22; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
Jesus made you a COMPLETELY NEW CREATION that never existed before. God personally joined your new human spirit to Christ in union with the Holy Spirit. You are dead to sin and alive to God. You are “in the Spirit” and now you have the choice moment by moment to walk by the Spirit and say no to the flesh. (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:8, 11; 8:6; Titus 2:11-14)
You were given a NEW SPIRIT and a NEW HEART in the New Covenant. He took you out of the performance system (Law) and placed you into the receiving system (Grace). (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 8:10-13; 10:16)
Jesus lavishly bestowed His RIGHTEOUSNESS on you as a free gift. The great exchange is this, God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin on your behalf, so you would become (now, not someday) the righteousness of God in Him. Righteousness means He made you upright and put you in right standing with God. (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Jude 1:24)
YOU ARE AS RIGHTEOUS AS YOU'RE EVER GOING TO BE, 100% by identity. However, you will increasingly live more righteously as you mature in Christ.
Righteous men live righteous lives, once they know they are righteous. You who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Christ Jesus. (Romans 5:17; 6:12-13, 17)
Jesus, the Victorious One, COMPLETELY DEFEATED sin and death, the devil, the world system, the grave, and hell. He rescued you from the domain of darkness and transferred you to the Kingdom of His Beloved Son.
You can walk in Christ’s VICTORY. You CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens you. (Colossians 1:13; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 15:57, Philippians 4:13)
He who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and GREATER WORKS THAN THESE WILL HE DO, because I go to My Father. (John 14:11-14)
Having FINISHED the work of the cross, Jesus now implements this life-transforming truth TO and THROUGH His people, multiplying His works in number and scope (“greater”).
You are FULLY EQUIPPED to grow in the grace and the knowledge of Christ, which glorifies Him.
You are designed to live in the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
He granted EVERYTHING you need for life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him.
It is GOD WHO IS AT WORK IN YOU to INSPIRE and EMPOWER you according to His good pleasure.
You are God’s WORKMANSHIP, created for good works, bearing abundant, lasting fruit.
(John 14:11-14; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Peter 1:3; Philippians 2:12-13; Eph 2:10; John 15:8)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24)
THIS EASTER SEASON, I invite you to marvel with me in awe of JESUS' FINISHED WORK on our behalf. We need to be CONVINCED OF THE SOLID BIBLICAL FOUNDATION for these beliefs.
The more we FOCUS ON THE TRUTH AND CHOOSE ACCORDINGLY the more we MATURE in Christ-likeness in our attitudes and actions and the more we glorify God in our lives.
All that I shared about THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST is only the tip of the iceberg, obviously. Really, if all that Jesus did (and continues to do) was written down, not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written. (John 21:25)
The NETWORK 220 CONVENTION, coming May 5-7
The Network 220 Convention, AWAKEN TO YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, coming to Plano May 5-7 is a great opportunity to be established in the GRACE MESSAGE.
STILL AMAZED BY GRACE,
Penny McAdams
Shepherd's Call
www.SCall220.org
