The good news of the gospel boils down to one word, which in the original Greek language of the New Testament, is “tetelestai,” which literally means, “It is finished.”
According to a Bible.org post, “The word ‘tetelestai’ was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times indicating that a bill had been paid in full.
“The Greek-English lexicon by (James) Moulton and (George) Milligan says this: ‘Receipts are often introduced by the phrase (sic) ‘tetelestai’ … The connection between receipts and what Christ accomplished on the cross would have been quite clear to John’s Greek-speaking readership; it would be unmistakable that Jesus Christ had died to pay for their sins (in full).’”
So, what is it that Christ finished?
As I write on the opening page of my website, itisfinished.org, from John 19:30:
“When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is Finished!’ And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
Those last words of Jesus echo down through the ages as the most stupendous ever uttered by any human being, before or since.
Jesus Christ triumphantly declared from the cross as He was dying that His work of redeeming the human race was at last complete. Anyone who wished could now be set free from the penalty and power of their inherited sin state.
The singular condition is a willingness to abandon self-justification and rest entirely upon His substitutionary sacrifice that was offered on our behalf. It would then be possible to live our lives in the power of the Holy Spirit, who is given freely to anyone who consciously decides to make this risen Savior ruler in their hearts.
The finality of Christ’s atonement was best expressed by Oswald Chambers in his classic devotional book My Utmost for His Highest:
“I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” (John 17:4)
“The death of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment in history of the very mind and intent of God. There is no place for seeing Jesus Christ as a martyr. His death was not something that happened to Him — something that might have been prevented. His death was the very reason He came.
“Never build your case for forgiveness on the idea that God is our father, and He will forgive us because He loves us. That contradicts the revealed truth of God in Jesus Christ. It makes the Cross unnecessary, and the redemption ‘much ado about nothing.’ God forgives sin only because of the death of Christ. God could forgive people in no other way than by the death of His Son, and Jesus is exalted as Savior because of His death. ‘We see Jesus … for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor …’ (Hebrews 2:9)
The greatest note of triumph ever sounded in the ears of a startled universe was that sounded on the Cross of Christ — ‘It is finished!’ (John 19:30). That is the final word in the redemption of humankind.” — Oswald Chambers
The work of redemption accomplished by Jesus on the cross, as signified by his shed blood, can be compared to a spiritual vaccine: “knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” (1 Peter 1:18-20)
Why it’s so important to understand what Jesus was saying.
Biblical scholar William R. Newell wrote in Romans Verse-by-Verse, “There is no spiritual progress to be made until one is convinced that something final was accomplished at the cross (by Christ) in regard to sin. Nor will it do to believe that the thing accomplished applies only to such sins as have already been committed … Something has been done concerning every sin that ever has been committed, or that will yet be committed by man, and consequently every person has been vitally affected by the cross.”
How About You?
Are you still struggling to please God on your own? Still trying to pile up spiritual “brownie points” in heaven? Such things amount to trying to add to the work of Christ on the cross. He did all the earning, and our job is to do all the believing.
Theologian L.S. Chafer wrote:
“To have deposited one’s eternal welfare in the hands of another is a decision of the mind so definite that it can hardly be confused with anything else. On the deposit of oneself into His saving grace depends one’s eternal destiny. To add or subtract anything from this sole condition of salvation is most perilous.”
— D.C. Collier is a Bible teacher, discipleship mentor and writer focused on Christian apologetics. A mechanical engineer and Internet entrepreneur, he is the author of My Origin, My Destiny, a book focused on Christianity’s basic “value proposition.” Click here for more information, or contact him at don@peervalue.com. Click here for previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.