“Jesus knowing that all things had already been accomplished, … He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:28, 30)
In the original Greek, the same form of the verb teleo is used in both vv. 28 and 30. When Jesus knew that all things were accomplished (tetelestai), He said, “It is finished” (tetelestai).
But what did Jesus accomplish? Christ’s redemptive work was accomplished. This is why we refer to it as “Christ’s finished work of redemption.” And since it has been completed, we can add nothing to it. We can do nothing to erase our sins. For Christ Himself has put away our sins once and for all by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9:24-26). That’s right. All the sins humanity will ever commit – from Adam until eternity – have been blotted out by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. And even today, when we commit sin, it is the same blood of Jesus that keeps on cleansing us (1 John 1:7).
Another aspect of Christ’s finished redemptive work is that we have been made the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that God made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. There is nothing we can add to that. No amount of good works or fasting or prayer can ever improve upon the perfect righteousness with which God has clothed us.
Now, although Christ’s redemptive work was accomplished on the cross, it has not yet been fully implemented. For example, the redemption of our bodies is still to come. It will take place at the resurrection (Romans 8:18-23). But God has sealed us with the gift of the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that He will consummate our redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14). Therefore, we are commanded, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). Instead, God wants us to cooperate with His Holy Spirit as He works in our hearts to make us desire to do God’s will and empowers us to do it (Philippians 2:12-13).
REFLECTION
- If Christ’s finished work of redemption has forever put away our sins, is there any room in our lives for feelings of guilt or condemnation?
- Though we can do nothing to save ourselves, what does God ask us to do?
- Let’s cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He works in our hearts to renew us, transform us, and motivate us to do God’s will.