These are the last words that our Lord spoke from the cross. We must
never view Christ Jesus crucified as a tragedy nor as an accident. He
died according to God’s eternal purpose (Isa. 53:10). He died as God’s
appointed Lamb to put away the sin of His people (John 1:29). These are
not the last words of a helpless victim, they are the words of a
jubilant Victor that has fully accomplished the work the Father gave Him
to do (John 17:4). When our Lord uttered these words from the cross,
"It is finished" what did He mean and what was finished? Here are
several things to think about.
He died for our sins according to the scriptures (1 Cor. 15:1-4). He fulfilled all that had been pictured of Him in the Old Testament from Genesis to Malachi. His birth, sufferings, death, resurrection and exaltation were all recorded centuries before He came and one by one He fulfilled them all.
2. The accomplishment of atonement for the sin of His sheep.
The Lord Jesus Christ did not make an effort to put away some of the sin of all people. He made complete atonement for all of the sin of His covenant people (Jn. 10:15; Heb. 13:20). There is no one in hell for whom the Lord died, all for whom He died must be saved, because His blood justified them from all their sin (Rom. 5:9). The only difference between Peter and Judas is the blood atonement of Jesus Christ not the obedience of the creature (Heb. 9:12; 1 Peter 1:18). The salvation of sinners is not dependant nor is it determined upon the will and work of men, but rather the purpose and grace of God, it is God who makes the difference (1 Cor. 4:7; 2 Tim. 1:9).
3. The honoring of God’s law and holy justice.
We read in scripture that the law is, "holy and the commandment holy, just and good" (Rom. 7:12). The problem is not with the law of God, it is in the weakness of our sinful flesh to obey it and to honor it in God’s sight (Rom. 8:3). By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified (Rom. 3:20). The good news of the gospel of God’s grace is, that our Lord came to honor the law for His chosen people (Gal. 4:4). As the man Christ Jesus, He honored every precept and worked out perfect righteousness for His elect (Heb. 7:26; Isa. 42:21). As our Saviour and Mediator He died to satisfy the penalty of the law for us, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:21). This is the only way that God can forgive sin and justify the ungodly (Rom. 3:26).
"It is finished!" Do you believe God’s word or are you still trying to add something of your own merit and obedience to win God’s favor? God is satisfied with the priestly work and atonement of Jesus Christ(Matt. 3:17).