“It is Finished” said Christ (John 19:30)—what was finished?

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Introduction

Christianity begins with what is ‘done’, and not with what needs to be done. The invitation from GOD to join His kingdom is based on what He has done for us. It does not depend on what we have to do in order to earn membership in GOD’s kingdom.

That is why Ephesians 1:3 says that GOD has blessed us with ‘ALL’ spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ. He has finished the work for us so that we could enjoy our heavenly citizenship whilst we are still on earth.

Christ is called the “Author and Finisher” of our faith (Heb 12:2). On the cross, the seven last words of Christ before His death, included the words, “It is finished (John 19:30)”. So we ask, what is it that was finished?

1. Finished Work of GOD

Christ entering Jerusalem on a donkey, with large crowds spreading cloaks and branches (Matthew 21)

Firstly, in John 4:34 Christ had said that His work was to do the will of GOD who sent Him and to finish that work. In His final prayer before His trial, Christ had said in John 17:4, that he had glorified GOD on earth and that He had finished the work that GOD had given Him to do. He had, on the cross, known that all things were completed, according to the prophecies of GOD. He was therefore able to say these words, finishing the work that the Father assigned to Him (John 19:28). Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary was according to the will of GOD. He offered His body (Heb 10:9 &10) to end sin and eternal death. Christ was obedient to the Father and He humbled Himself by being obedient to GOD by death on the cross (Phil 2:8).

2. Finished Suffering

Secondly, Christ’s grief and suffering ended with His death on the cross. His grief was there as He had suffered physically in the body as well as in His coming as GOD in man (Is 53:10). He was crucified as a criminal. He was described as a man of sorrows, who was despised and accustomed to grief (Is 53:3). However, Christ saw the joy before Him and He did not let the shame prevent Him from taking on the disgrace and physical punishment on the cross. This was because it would lead to Him sitting down by the throne of GOD (Heb12:2) to pray on our behalf.

3. Finished Power of Sin

An illustration of the Spirit of God descending like a dove on Christ (Matt 3:16)

Thirdly, the power of sin was finished off. Sin has no attachment to the life of a Christian anymore as Christ has defeated its power. It no longer has any manipulation and control of the individual. We are no longer subjected to the power of sin as the Holy Spirit dwells in us, the temple of GOD (1 Cor 3:17; 6:19). It is the Holy Spirit who is the Guide in our lives, living in us.

4. Finished Price of Sin

The work of GOD had also been completed as the price of sin was paid. Sin has been discharged. Man is no more in a position where his sin makes him an outcast from GOD’s kingdom. Sin was defeated finally (Rom 6:10). Christ had once and for all offered up Himself, becoming sin (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 7: 27). Hence, there would be no more offering required for sin (Heb 10:18). Christ had tasted death on behalf of those that believe on Him. He did this because GOD was gracious and loving towards man (John 3:16). Christ could now plead successfully for sinners to be forgiven of their sins (Is 53:12) by His victory over death, as the second Adam (1 Cor 15:22).The first Adam sinned: the second Adam (Christ) removed the price of sin.

5. Finished Purging of the Old Self

We who baptized ourselves in Christ are clothed in Christ (Galatians 3:27)

With the death of Christ, the old self has now been replaced with a new self as Christ had been sanctified for us (Rom 6:6; Eph 4:24).With the cross of Christ, those things held against us by GOD were nailed to the cross of Christ. All demonic principalities and powers have now been defeated and humiliated. We have been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20). No man can judge us on the basis of our past lives and this is a shadow of things to come as our bodies are of Christ (Col 2:14-17). We are to be risen with Christ (Rom 6: 5 & 8).

7. Finished Enmity with GOD

Christ has redeemed mankind from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us (Gal 3:13). Without Christ, we would be condemned to death by GOD’s law as we would continue in a state of sin. Christ has become a propitiation (the paying, sacrificing, alternative person to satisfy GOD’s justice) for our sin and freed us from the condemnation of GOD (Rom 3:25). The enmity between GOD and man (Gen 3:19) has been squared off/cancelled.

8. Perfected and Purified Life

Christ is now the door to abundant life (Jn 10:9-10) and to eternal life (Jn 10:28).The door for Christ to intercede for us is now open (Rom 8:34). Our lives are cleaned up before GOD. This is because the controlling effect and consequence of sin has been destroyed.

9. Finished Ransom & Purchase

The ransom has been paid off for the price of sin hanging over mankind’s eternal life (Mark 10:45; 1 Tim 2:6). We were captured and imprisoned by sin, the devil and eternal death in hell. The release from this captivity was given by Christ. He offered one sacrifice for all sins, once, and forever (Heb10:12). We are no more prisoners of sin, hell nor the devil. Christ has bought us over with His work of suffering on the cross (1 Cor 6:20).

10. Finished Redemption

Christ has redeemed us. He has obtained eternal redemption for us by His blood being shed for us. He has saved us from death and hell. Our conscience is purged from dead works in order to serve the living GOD (Heb 9:11-14). We are freed and restored to GOD through Christ.

11. Finished Remission

Christ who is at the right hand of God intercedes for us (Romans 8:34)

Christ entered Heaven to appear in GOD’s presence for us. He has put away sin by His sacrifice through his death and thereafter, resurrection (Heb 9:22-24). We have been pardoned by GOD for the sin of mankind. GOD is no longer angry with us for our sin. We are no longer condemned (Eph 1:7; Col 1:14). Our death sentence has been removed.

12. Finished Sanctification

We are sanctified by the offering of the Body of Christ once for all (Heb 10:10). By the one offering, He has perfected us for ever as we begin the starting process of being sanctified (Heb 10:14). This is progressing towards being holy, which is the ultimate state we are to be in when we are resurrected on the final day. Christ is at the right hand of GOD and has perfected forever those who are sanctified (Heb 10:12-14). The Holy Spirit is in us to guide us to all truth (John 16:13) and He dwells in us.

13. Finished Demands of the law

Christ’s death meant that the law had been fulfilled (Matthew 5:17). The penalty of the GOD’s law was death and Christ had ended the death sentence that had been imposed on mankind through the sin of Adam (Rom 6:23). Christ ends the law by being righteousness to everyone believes on Him (Rom 10:4).

14. Finished Powers of Hell

Hell has become a defeated power. Hell’s gates had been broken down by those that confess Christ as son of GOD (Matt 16:18). Through His death, Christ had defeated the devil who had the power of death over man because of sin. Christ’s suffering delivered those under the control and manipulation of the devil (Heb 2:14 & 15). Christ has by his death made His enemies His footstool (Heb 10:13), where they are under His suppression.

Conclusion

Christ on the cross spoke of finishing the work the Father had given Him, to destroy sin by standing in its place. When this happened, the power of death, the devil and hell were finished off. The old sinful nature of man is also disposed off, as united in Christ, we have our new nature. The plan of the Father which had been conceived before time began had been completed faithfully by Christ through His suffering in our place on the cross. Christ continues the progress of our sin-free life as our intercessor in Heaven.