When Jesus uttered the words “It is finished” on the cross, the echoes of this declaration resonate with profound implications. The significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection prompts us to delve into the meaning of this statement for our present lives, exploring how we can lead a life that is considered “finished,” a.k.a. “a finished life.”
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 (ESV)
Understanding “It is Finished”
To explore this, let’s begin by trying to grasp the true meaning behind the phrase ‘It is finished. Many believe that the answer lies in the explanation given in Hebrews 9:24-26 and ties in with the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. The whole concept of an animal being a substitute for penalty of sin was never intended to be a permanent solution, but was to be a visual and psychological hope that pointed to Jesus.
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 9:24-26 (ESV)
The concept of someone or something needing to die for my sins is, personally, quite unsettling, bordering on horrifying. In the modern world, where we are quite separate from the process of packages of meat showing up in the grocery store, the whole idea of slaughter is often quite repugnant. In ancient times this mentality was somewhat less prevalent and people might lovingly raise their baby cow or sheep and long for the day that they could invite their friends over for a celebratory feast. The idea that sin would require them to give up this party and instead give this animal over as payment for sin could be quite a deterrent! If you have any hunter friends, ask they would feel about handing over their fresh deer as payment for sin and whether it might alter their behavior.
Now, we have the concept that Jesus was this final sacrifice, and that it was so great that we need no other substitute. For people who witnessed his death, this was completely life changing. As you look at the disciples who were closest to him and fully understood his sacrifice, their lives were a living testament to the idea that his sacrifice meant something and that their lives were going to change as a result. Most of them dedicated their whole lives to spreading the good news of the gospel message. A few beatings, and even death were no deterrent to getting this message out.
Moving into modern times, we have a less than vivid view of this. In our churches, we will often see an empty cross next to some beautiful stained glass. While the idea is that we should rejoice that Jesus has been raised, and that we too can be raised, we really lose sight of the idea that it was a costly and brutal death that brought this about.
While I disagree with a lot of the ideas prevalent in the Catholic church, I do find the crucifix to be a very powerful image. Yes, we could argue all day long about whether the crucifix is or is not a graven image, but the fact is still there that we need to see Jesus’ death as costly, and, for many, the crucifix can really aid in this visualization.
I still remember one of our trips to Europe and the first time that my young son really “saw” a cross with a tormented Jesus hanging on it. When he turned to me and asked, “Is that Jesus dying on the cross?” He then proceeded to cry and I knew that he really got it. For that experience alone, I am thankful for the Catholic way of depicting Jesus.
Similarly, it was when I first saw Mel Gibson’s movie, the Passion of the Christ, that I really understood what Jesus really did for us. It made me sick inside that my sin was what caused all that suffering. I tried watching this movie again a few years later, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so. If you have trouble with really internalizing Jesus’ sacrificial gift, watch this movie. It will not leave you unchanged.
This understanding is the first step in comprehending the words, “It is finished.” When we truly see that all of the sins that we have committed, and all of the sins that we are going to commit, have been completely paid for, and that there is no more penalty required, then we will understand these words.
Living a Finished Life
So, what does this mean for us? I still remember when a high school friend told me something along the lines of, “Christianity is the easiest religion in the world. You can sin all you want, and Jesus will forgive you.” While this is technically true, I was quite horrified and felt like it was a wrong way to see life as a practicing Christian. If you have ever read St. Augustine’s autobiography, Confessions, you will see that he originally held to my friend’s view, but eventually saw the errors in this type of theology.
Opting to lead a finished life involves cultivating a deep appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice and demonstrating a profound love for him. How loving is it to willfully sin, knowing that it was that particular sin that put Jesus on the cross? When we consciously do this, we are not living a finished life.
In the modern fight against legalism, the clarity of this image can sometimes be obscured. When all a person talks about is the grace of Jesus, but forget about his sacrifice, it is easy to come to the conclusion that righteous living doesn’t matter. The truth is that it does! Did Jesus die so that we can sin all the more? Chapters 5 and 6 in Romans really expound on this topic, and Romans 6:1-2 cuts to the chase and tells us that my friend was in error.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Romans 6:1-2 (ESV)
This concept is where we get the phrases”justified by grace through faith” and “sanctified by faith.” Justification is an act of God that declares us pure and holy. Sanctification is the process of making us holy, not just by declaration, but also by deed.
Note: While this blog post touches on themes of justifications, the main theme is sanctification. If you would like to read more verses that deal with justification, consider Romans 5:8-10, Colossians 2:13-14, Hebrews 9:12, Ephesians 2:8-9, and Galatians 2:20.
Practical Steps to Embrace a Finished Life
With the understanding that accepting Jesus leads to the declaration that we are holy (justification), the next step is to navigate the journey of living holy lives during the sanctification process. This idea of sanctification is what it means to live a finished life and 1 Peter 1:14-16 spells this out for us.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV)
Grace is important, but that is the starting point, not the finishing point. If salvation merely implies that we can persist in lives of sin, one might question whether heaven would be any different from earth. It is no wonder that many people have decided that Christianity is pointless. Why would you give up your Sunday mornings and read the Bible when the practical difference between the life of a non-Christian and a Christian does not show clear differences?
It is only when we begin to live a finished life that the differences become clear. When we live the life that God intended for us, we can embrace a mindset of both contentment and peace. We can let go of unnecessary burdens and regrets.
While this can look a lot like legalistic living, the real question is the motivation. Are we changing our behavior because we feel guilty, or because it is good for us? When we eat healthy, are we doing it grudgingly because our doctor ordered us to and our spouse is removing certain items from our kitchens, or happily because we truly believe that it will make an impactful difference in our life. This is the difference between legalistic living and sanctified, or finished, living.
Know What the Bible Says
The first step in knowing how to live a finished life is to know our Bibles. It is shocking to realize how many Christians have never read the entire Bible. Lifeway Research did an interesting study that showed that only 11% of Americans have read the entire Bible. Given that Wikipedia claims that 63% of Americans consider themselves Christians, this tells me that many Christians have no idea of the entirety of what God actually says! If we want to live a finished life, we need to know what God thinks is good and right.
A Survey: What are your Bible reading habits & how do you feel about the Bible?
Believe What the Bible Says
The next step is to believe what the Bible says. How many churches pick and choose what they believe from the Bible? It is shocking how many people who call themselves Christians dismiss the teachings of Paul. Given that Paul wrote half of the books in the New Testament, this is a significant portion of teaching about what it means to live a finished life!
Other Christians say that there are certain teachings that only applied to specific circumstances, or that can’t be right because they are not loving and God is defined by love. When we consider attitudes towards many of the Christian “hot topics” of homosexuality, abortion, and various pathways to God, we will quickly see some of the contradictions between the words of the Bible and the teachings of the church. I don’t want to debate this in this blog post, so do your own research, and draw your own conclusions!
Do What the Bible Says
In the end, God is a God of love, but it isn’t always loving to let someone go their own way. When we look at raising our children, is it loving to let them eat candy for dinner and spend 10 hours per day playing video games and watching TV? It might make them temporarily happy, but it is not loving to let them do this day in and day out. God has similar instructions for us. There are certain things that might appear to make us happy, but in the end they lead to death.
Here are a few verses that speak about sin leading to death:
- Proverbs 14:12 (ESV): “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
- Romans 6:16 (ESV): “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
- Romans 6:23 (ESV): “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Romans 8:6 (ESV): “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
- James 1:14-15 (ESV): “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
- Hebrews 10:26-27 (ESV): “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.”
By knowing, believing, and applying the teachings of the Bible, we can truly embrace a finished life that reflects the worthiness of Jesus’ sacrifice! Yes, he forgives us, but he also wants to be our king. Are we treating him as a king, or just a really nice guy with a few good ideas?
It is important to note that sanctification is a process. When we live a life of sin, then try to live a life of righteousness, there will be mistakes and slip ups. This is okay and is the key distinction between deliberate sin and sin that happens as we work out our salvation, as described in Philippians 2:12-13.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)
As you consider what it means to be justified and then work out your salvation through the process of sanctification, the idea of living a finished life can be quite helpful! Don’t be legalistic, but do consider the idea that God has called us to holy living!
Read: Musings about Being Righteous Without Being Legalistic
Reflection Questions
After reading this blog post, consider the following questions:
- What did you learn about the meaning of “It is finished” from Hebrews 9:24-26?
- How does the idea of Jesus as the final sacrifice impact your view of sin and redemption?
- Reflect on various visual representations of Jesus’ sacrifice (e.g., empty cross, crucifix, films). How do these visuals influence your perception of the costliness of Jesus’ death? Have you had a personal experience similar to the emotional reactions described in the post?
- Consider the statement, “Christianity is the easiest religion in the world. You can sin all you want, and Jesus will forgive you.” What are your thoughts on this perspective? How can you balance the concept of grace with the call to live a finished life, as mentioned in Romans 6:1-2?
- How do you distinguish between legalistic living and sanctified (finished) living? Reflect on 1 Peter 1:14-16. In what ways can you align your conduct with the call to be holy?
- What role does knowing, believing, and applying the teachings of the Bible play in living a finished life?
- Explore verses highlighting the consequences of sin leading to death (e.g., Proverbs 14:12, Romans 6:23). How do these verses shape your understanding of the choices you make? Reflect on the idea that deliberate sin after knowing the truth leads to a fearful expectation of judgment. How does this impact your approach to intentional living?
- Consider the notion of working out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13). How does this relate to the process of sanctification? How do you balance acknowledging mistakes in the sanctification process with striving for righteous living?
- In light of the discussion about Jesus not only forgiving but also desiring to be our king, reflect on your relationship with him. In what ways do you recognize him as your king in your daily life?
Respond
Consider sharing your insights and experiences in the comments below!
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English Standard Version (ESV): Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
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