The words of Jesus on the cross right before he died signaled the end of the first part of his work on earth. John recorded, Chapter 19:30 thusly: When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. It was the act of redemption which delivered God’s creation from the throes of sin. He lived perfectly under the law and fulfilled the law’s required righteousness, the demand that God has made in order to be saved. Indeed, he took away sin and many months before his crucifixion, the apostle John recorded the words of John the Baptist, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

The words of Jesus have even more depth of meaning than fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law. When he finished the redemptive work of God culminating in his death on the cross, it opened the door for eternal life for all who would believe he is truly the way and who will follow him by faith. Jesus said in John 10:10: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. The thief in Genesis was the serpent who stole, by using deceit and guile, the life God gave to Adam and Eve, and that theft left mankind mired in sin. But Jesus, through the proclamation of truth has made it possible once more to have a relationship with God, giving back the stolen life and giving it more abundantly.

What a contrast that exists between Christ and Satan. Whereas the serpent offered nothing but the darkness of sin, Jesus as John 1 verse 4 reveals: In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And then in verse 5: And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. The light of Christ is in the world and men and women continue to reject and ignore the only way to an abundant life which has Jesus for our guide. That abundant life is free from sin and death; that is it will be for those who will follow Jesus and claim his righteousness by faith.

As Paul wrote in Romans 8:1-2: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. The act of the serpent in the Garden subjected mankind to sin and death and that means that all are subject to be sinners in need of redemption. Additionally, all are subject to a physical death at some point in life. However, Jesus changed all of that, freeing us from the condemnation of sin and the law of death. All will die, but in Jesus there is the hope for eternal life, which many scoff at saying it is a fairy tale and a myth.

During his life on earth, the abundant life Jesus has provided allows us to be what God intended us to be, a people of faith who can help our fellow man by doing good deeds without worrying about our own salvation. As we walk with him daily our salvation is secure through the faith we hold in him, due to his perfect life on earth and his death on the cross. Paul told the Colossian Christians, Chapter 3:17:  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Paul also wrote: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9  Not of works, lest any man should boast .For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)  

No boasting about what we do for our fellow man, which would be folly. The words “It is finished” Jesus uttered at his death makes the abundant life possible; a life that lives for Christ and glorifies God, showing that we believe that Christ is the way as the Hebrew writer tells us Chapter 12:2: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

09-01-2007 DEC

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