“It is finished” (John 19:30).
The thirst of Christ for water was an indication that he was about to die. When Jesus received the drink, he said, “It is finished” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
By these words, Jesus was announcing to the world that his death at the CROSS made the salvation of his people complete. His death at the CROSS was tragic indeed but out of such tragedy, the good news was announced that man’s salvation is complete.
Since our salvation is complete, gratitude and service is our proper response in this new life. Gratitude for everything that Christ has done for us. He has forgiven us our sins. He has cleansed us from all our filthiness. All our sins are covered. The Lord no longer counts our sins against us. We are set free from the power of sin. We are indeed blessed!
Though delivered from the power of sin, we are not immune from the presence of sin. There is no room for arrogance in the new life we have in Christ. We still sin but we no longer live in it. Our struggle with sin will last until the final day. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1: 8). That is why we need to come continually to the CROSS for only the blood of Jesus can purify us from all our sins.
It is not our prayers that purify us. It is not our service, which makes us acceptable before God. It is not what we can do for God and for man, which make us righteous before God. We do not need these acts to be forgiven from our sins. It is only the blood of Jesus at the CROSS, which has the power to make us righteous before God. Our salvation is complete. Those acts of righteousness are results of what Christ has done for us at the CROSS.
The completion of our salvation does not mean that there is nothing more to do in this new life. We are called to live a life worthy of the Lord and to please him in every way (Colossians 1:10). We are called to grow in the likeness of Christ. We are called to bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23). We are called to be effective and productive in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:8).
The above calling is possible for us because of the power of the CROSS. The CROSS of Jesus gives us the strength to live a life worthy of the Lord. The CROSS of Jesus supplies us with the power that we need to grow in his likeness. The CROSS of Jesus provides us the energy to bear the fruit of the Spirit. The CROSS of Jesus grants us the ability to be effective and productive in our knowledge of him.
Only By Grace 