Imagine looking at Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre museum. Would you think of adding more brush strokes to it? Of course not! It was done by a master, so what could you possibly add to the painting to improve it?
In the same way, that is how we are to look at Jesus’ work on
the cross. He cried out, “It is finished!” You cannot complete a completed
work. You cannot finish a finished work. Our salvation is won. Our sins are all
forgiven. We are made forever righteous by His blood. Christ paid completely
and perfectly for our total forgiveness, righteousness and every blessing!
In fact, these three words, “It is finished,” come from one
Greek word teleo. In the days of Jesus, a servant would use it when
reporting to his master: “I have completed the work assigned to me” (see John
17:4). The word means, “It is finished, it stands finished and it will always
be finished!” Perhaps the most significant meaning of teleo is
how it is used by merchants: “The debt is paid in full!” When Jesus gave
Himself on the cross, He met fully the righteous demands of the law. He paid
our debts in full!
Today, it is not our works that will bring us the blessings. It
is Christ’s finished work. Christian living is not about doing,
but believing in His finished work. Under the law, we
must do. Under grace, it is done!
Maybe you are faced with overwhelming odds today. Jesus
promises, “It is finished!” You are not going to be delivered because you have
already been delivered. You are not going to be healed because you are already
the healed! God healed you 2,000 years ago! Isaiah 53:5 declares, “By His
stripes you are healed!” You are already pregnant with
healing. Keep resting in His finished work and it will manifest!
My friend, the work is finished. The victory is won. Our enemies
have been made His footstool. Our blessings have been bought by His blood! Live
life knowing that there is nothing for you to do—only believe! It
is finished! (Article & Picture; courtesy of Joseph Prince Ministries
used with kind permission)
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