It is Finished

What does it mean to live “from” what Jesus completed?

For so long in my life, I didn’t really understand what that even means. I heard the words Jesus said, “It is finished,” but I only understood those words in regards to his work of defeating sin. I’ve been forgiven through Jesus. Got it. He paid the price we could never pay. Right. But what does that actually look like in my life and does it truly change me?

Since I only understood his words and actions on a limited scale, I just kept trucking on in my life thinking I simply needed to be better at following him so I could stop sinning less and less. And then my life would be better.

But wait a minute.

Did you hear that wording?

My thoughts and limited understanding were tangled up in me thinking I still needed to work for him as if there was something left to do. “I need to be better.” “I need to stop sinning.” My focus was merely on my performance instead of what is actually true.

And the truth is, Jesus’ work of perfect trust in his Father was needed for our lack of trust. Finito. “Everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23) We were all sinners – full of pride and destined for hell. Our spirit was dead to God because of our lack of trusting him. Only the spilled blood of a perfect sacrifice could atone for our sins. Through Jesus we have been made holy, righteous and heirs of the King of Kings. We have been made right with God, not by our performance, but by Jesus’ decision to continue to trust him without fail. God cannot be in union with sin. Jesus took care of that.

Living “from” what Jesus completed means simply believing what is already true. We have been spiritually reborn through Jesus and now we get to live “from” him. He dwells within us, which is why the word “from” is emphasized. If we were living “for” him – trying to earn our way, working to earn his favor, condemning ourselves when we mess up and thinking he’s mad at us or we’ve lost him because of our mistakes – then we’ll just keep cycling with those thoughts. Because the fact is, we could NEVER do enough to earn a perfect, holy God’s love.

Living “from” what Jesus completed means remembering we possess all of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We are one with them, which is what Jesus prayed for. We lack absolutely nothing to live out this abundant life, freely. Living from this mindset will mean living from the inside-out. Love, goodness and acceptance is inside of us. And to experience this freedom on a larger and larger capacity, we can simply remind ourselves of what Jesus said himself, “It is finished.” Now, let’s allow our thoughts to catch up to that truth. And those thoughts change our language and actions.