IT IS FINISHED!!

 

True biblical Christianity teaches that Jesus completed, from beginning to end, the work of salvation for His sheep when He died on the cross.  The gospels tell of how just before He breathed His last, Jesus spoke the words, "tetelestai" or "It is finished" in English.

What was finished?

The word "tetelestai" is used in several different contexts.  The main definition of "tetelestai" is "to complete, finish, fulfill, accomplish".  In doing some research, I've found that the Hebrew word that correlates to "tetelestai" is "kalah" and it has the same definition.

Some argue that when Jesus said, "It is finished", he was saying that everything He came to do has been fulfilled.  They point to this verse for their interpretation.  Others argue that He said "It is finished" to show the sin debt had been paid in full.  I would state that it's all the same thing.  When Jesus uttered that one word, He was proclaiming His mission had been accomplished.  Everything He came to earth for had been completed and that included paying the ransom that was owed by us to satisfy God's wrath.

So, let me bring something else to the table.  The word "tetelestai" is what's called a Perfect Passive Indicative Verb.  What this means is that this action - Jesus dying on the cross - is one that has been completed in the past, is still being completed, and will continue to be completed in the future. 

The keyword in the English translation of this word "tetelestai" is the word "is".  He didn't say, "It MIGHT be finished", or "It WILL be finished", or even, "It's ALMOST finished."  Jesus said, "It IS finished".

What does this mean?

It means there's nothing else needed to be done for salvation.  It's not that He did part of it and is just waiting for mankind to do the rest.  There was nothing left undone.  He started it and He completed it.

With this in mind, we have to wonder why many so-called "Christian" denominations add in works?  There are denominations and cults that say God's grace isn't sufficient, nor was Jesus' death sufficient enough to save anyone, so you have to add in works of obedience and THEN that will make God's grace and Jesus' work on the cross sufficient for salvation.  Why would we proclaim "JESUS SAVES" if His death, burial, and resurrection wasn't enough to do the job?  In all honesty, we'd have to say we are our own savior if the rest was left up to us to finish.

As far as works are concerned, how will you know if you've done enough good works to merit God's grace?  Is it the same number for everyone?  Does one good deed hold more weight than another good deed?  Does volunteering at a soup kitchen give you 3 points while holding a door open for someone only gives you 1 point?

The Bible clearly says our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), so God will not and cannot accept our "good" works apart from Christ's righteousness.  Obedience is not what brings about salvation, but it is the PROOF of our salvation.  Big difference there.

If your church/church leaders tell you that you have to add in good works alongside Jesus' work on the cross, you're being deceived.  There is no amount of good works that we can do that will bring us to salvation.  You have to remind yourself AND your church leaders that Jesus said, "IT IS FINISHED", and it was HE who started it AND finished it.  You don't have to do anything to earn salvation.