The declaration from the cross that summed up the work of Christ on our behalf is as follows: The Father had planned or authored it, the Son realized, revealed, executed, and fulfilled it, and the Holy Spirit applied and made it known--it was a cooperative venture of the Trinity. But it was Christ who paid the ultimate price of His blood and will be glorified and worshiped for it ("Worthy is the Lamb"). We cannot add to Jesus finished work which is perfect already because He left nothing as undone for us to do--all we have to do is receive it as a free gift. Jesus paved the way back to God (not one of several ways, not merely the best way of many ways, but the only way).
If you were to add a mustache to the Mona Lisa because you thought it was an added touch for the good--you would ruin the masterpiece and insult Michelangelo to boot. Don't even go there, suggesting we can finish what God started--God always finishes what He starts. His work was not contingent, but a sure thing: Salvation is a done deal and not something we work for--that is how we can be sure.
Jesus actually called out "tetelestai" in Aramaic, an accounting term that means "Paid in Full."(salvation is a done deal!). Jesus was saying that Satan had nothing on Him now and that the price of our redemption had been "secured and accomplished. God was both just, and the Justifier--what had seemed incomprehensible. All of our sins were nailed to the cross according to Colossians 2:14 and Christ, in His infinite nature and perfection, was able to take on our punishment--so we don't have to bear it in hell, where we deserved to go.
Jesus actually called out "tetelestai" in Aramaic, an accounting term that means "Paid in Full."(salvation is a done deal!). Jesus was saying that Satan had nothing on Him now and that the price of our redemption had been "secured and accomplished. God was both just, and the Justifier--what had seemed incomprehensible. All of our sins were nailed to the cross according to Colossians 2:14 and Christ, in His infinite nature and perfection, was able to take on our punishment--so we don't have to bear it in hell, where we deserved to go.
The miracle of the infinite redemption price was that Christ did it voluntarily and was not murdered on the cross, but gave up His Spirit willingly of His own accord, and expired on His terms at the exact moment of His choice. His statement emphasized that He had won and that what He came to earth to do was done so He could go to the Father. Jesus left nothing undone, He even provided for His mother, made intercession for the transgressors, and refused the painkiller to ease the pain of His suffering--neither did He left no prophecy unfulfilled.
What this means is that our salvation is a done deal and we don't add to God's work to get saved by our own efforts in the flesh or gain the approbation of God via morality, ritual, good deeds, philosophy, or religiosity. It isn't Christ plus doing good, plus obeying and complying with church rules, plus being a moral person, plus achieving the American dream, ad infinitum. Not plus anything! We simply accept our salvation as the free gift of God via a personal act of faith alone in Christ alone by God's grace alone!
The gift of faith is also by grace and God enables us efficaciously to receive Christ as the Lord and Savior of our lives. We act on the faith that God gives us: It is God's gift, but our act! We are not on probation as a believer, but enter eternal life in the here and now and are to live in light of eternity the more abundant life that He promised. It must dawn on you that you can do nothing but believe in your heart and follow on to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior from Day One. Soli Deo Gloria!
What this means is that our salvation is a done deal and we don't add to God's work to get saved by our own efforts in the flesh or gain the approbation of God via morality, ritual, good deeds, philosophy, or religiosity. It isn't Christ plus doing good, plus obeying and complying with church rules, plus being a moral person, plus achieving the American dream, ad infinitum. Not plus anything! We simply accept our salvation as the free gift of God via a personal act of faith alone in Christ alone by God's grace alone!
The gift of faith is also by grace and God enables us efficaciously to receive Christ as the Lord and Savior of our lives. We act on the faith that God gives us: It is God's gift, but our act! We are not on probation as a believer, but enter eternal life in the here and now and are to live in light of eternity the more abundant life that He promised. It must dawn on you that you can do nothing but believe in your heart and follow on to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior from Day One. Soli Deo Gloria!
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