It Is Finished!
Ray Comfort writes:
"In John 19:30, we read that just before Jesus died on the cross, He said,'It is finished!' This is an accounting term, meaning that the debt had been paid in full. In Greek, the phrase is one word, tetelestai. In the ancient Greek world, when a debt was paid in full, the word tetelestai was written on the papyri texts that were used as receipts for taxes. This meant that the debt was totally paid. The moral Law demanded payment for sin, and justice was fully satisfied with payment through the blood shed by Jesus on the cross. Because of the cross, God could then 'be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus' (Romans 3:26)." 1
IT IS FINISHED!
Chuck Swindoll writes:
"With Jesus' last breath on the cross, He declared the debt of sin canceled, completely satisfied. Nothing else required. Not good deeds. Not generous donations. Not penance or confession or baptism or ...or ...or ...nothing. The penalty for sin is death, and we were all born hopelessly in debt. He paid our debt in full by giving His life so that we might live forever." 2
IT IS FINISHED!
Mike Gendron writes:
"When anyone adds to the cross work of Jesus Christ on Calvary they are saying it was not a perfect, finished sacrifice or it was not sufficient to save repenting sinners completely and forever. They are rejecting the perfect sacrifice, which the perfect High Priest offered to a perfect God who demands perfection. They are doing good works, receiving sacraments or performing religious rituals, in an attempt to satisfy divine justice. In doing these things they are insulting the Lord Jesus Christ. The reason salvation is offered as a gift of God's grace is because the work of redemption is DONE and there is nothing else to DO. God's grace, which must be mutually exclusive of human works or merit, is the only way God saves sinners. Anyone who thinks their salvation is obtained by what Christ has DONE plus what they must DO, needs to repent and come to the cross with empty hands of faith, bringing nothing but their sins. Paul wrote, 'I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose' (Gal. 2:21) . 'If it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace' (Rom. 11:6)." 3
IT IS FINISHED!
Tony Miano writes:
"When Jesus said, 'It is finished,' He meant it. He actually meant what He said. He really meant it. For any group or any individual to add or detract from Christ's words or finished work, regardless of the religious stripes they wear, is the height of arrogance and the depth of depravity."
What are some religious groups that deny the finished work of Christ on the cross?
"Roman Catholicism denies the efficacy of Jesus' finished work on the cross through the practice and observance of the mass. During the mass, through the unbiblically magical art of transubstantiation (Jesus literally becoming the bread and the wine), Jesus must sacrifice Himself again and again for sin."
"Jehovah's Witnesses deny the efficacy of Jesus' finished work on the cross by denying Christ died on the cross and by insisting one must be a member of the Watchtower Society and obey the Law of God to receive their demonic brand of salvation."
"Mormonism denies the efficacy of Jesus' finished work on the cross by adding their perceived righteousness and works to their ungodly salvation process. According to 2 Nephi 25:23, in the Book of Mormon, salvation is by grace, plus works. 'For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.'"
"Islam denies the efficacy of Jesus' finished work on the cross by seeing Jesus as nothing more than a prophet, second to their false prophet Muhammad. They also believe it was Judas (a treacherous false convert), not Jesus, who died on the cross."
"But the implications of Jesus' words on the cross extend beyond false religions and into American Evangelicalism." 4
See: “It Is Finished!”: Jesus Does Not Need Your Help by Tony Miano
1 Taken from the book "Conquer Your Fear, Share Your Faith" by Ray Comfort (and Kirk Cameron)
2 Taken from the devotional "Walk with Jesus: A 40-Day Journey to the Cross and Beyond" by Chuck Swindoll
3 The Sufficiency of Our Lord Jesus by Mike Gendron
4 "It Is Finished!": Jesus Does Not Need Your Help by Tony Miano
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