Lesson 3: What Jesus Finished on the Cross
It Really Is Done
THE BIG IDEA
When Jesus died on the cross and said “It is finished,” He wasn’t saying “I am finished” or “I quit.” He was making a declaration: “The work is COMPLETE. The payment is PAID. Salvation is DONE.” Understanding what Jesus actually accomplished on the cross changes everything about how you live as a Christian.
THE THREE WORDS THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
John 19:30 records Jesus’ final words: “When Jesus had tasted it, he said, ‘It is finished!’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (NLT)
“It is finished!”
In the original Greek language, this is one word: “Tetelestai.” In Jesus’ time, when someone paid off a debt completely, “tetelestai” would be stamped on the receipt. It meant: “Paid in full. Nothing more owed.”
So when Jesus said “It is finished,” He was declaring: The debt of sin = PAID IN FULL. The work of salvation = COMPLETE. The sacrifice required = ACCOMPLISHED. What you owe = NOTHING.
Nothing left to do. Nothing left to add. Nothing left to prove. FINISHED.
This is the foundation of your entire Christian life: Jesus completed the work. Fully. Permanently. Perfectly.
WHAT THE CROSS PURCHASED FOR YOU
Let me show you specifically what Jesus accomplished when He died and rose again. Not partially. Not “maybe someday.” COMPLETELY and IMMEDIATELY when you believed in Him.
1. COMPLETE FORGIVENESS – All your sins completely forgiven. Colossians 2:13-14 says: “Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” (NLT)
2. RIGHTEOUSNESS – You were MADE righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says: “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (NLT) You have perfect standing with God right now.
3. RECONCILIATION – The barrier between you and God? Completely removed. Romans 5:10 says: “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.” (NLT)
4. REDEMPTION – You were bought back from slavery to sin. You’re free. Galatians 3:13 says: “But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law.” (NLT)
5. ADOPTION – You were brought into God’s family as a full member. Galatians 4:5-6 says: “God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.” (NLT)
6. HEALING – 1 Peter 2:24 says: “By his wounds you are healed.” (NLT) Jesus’ suffering purchased wholeness for you – spirit, soul, and body.
7. VICTORY – Sin, death, hell, and the devil – all defeated. Colossians 2:15 says: “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” (NLT)
All of this happened at the cross. Not when you perform well. Not when you obey perfectly. AT THE CROSS.
THE ANTIVENOM REVELATION
Let me give you a powerful picture of what Jesus did on the cross.
When someone gets bitten by a poisonous snake, you inject antivenom. The antivenom NEUTRALIZES the poison at a cellular level throughout the whole body.
Here’s the amazing part: The antivenom is made FROM the venom itself. Scientists extract venom from the snake, inject it into an animal, and the animal’s immune system creates antibodies. Those antibodies become the antivenom.
So the very thing that could kill you becomes the source of your healing.
Watch how this applies to what Jesus did:
Sin is the venom. It’s poisonous. It’s deadly. Humanity was bitten when Adam and Eve sinned.
For thousands of years, people tried to fix it themselves. Be better. Work harder. Follow more rules. But you can’t neutralize poison with effort. You need antivenom.
So God sent Jesus. On the cross, Jesus became sin. Second Corinthians 5:21 says “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us.”
Jesus took the venom. He absorbed the full force of sin’s poison. The very thing that was killing us became the source of our healing.
Good Friday: It looked like the poison won. Jesus died.
Three days: The tomb was sealed.
Easter Sunday: Jesus rose from the dead. The antivenom was complete. The poison was neutralized. Death was defeated.
When Jesus said “It is finished,” He was saying: “The antidote is complete. The poison is neutralized. Salvation is DONE.”
The very weapon the enemy used to try to destroy Jesus became the tool God used to save us all.
That’s grace. That’s the finished work of the cross. Not a temporary fix. Complete, permanent, cellular-level transformation.
THE THIEF’S STORY: PROOF THAT FAITH ALONE SAVES
Want proof that what Jesus did is enough? Look at what happened at the crucifixion.
Luke 23:39-43 tells the story of a criminal dying next to Jesus. This thief said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (NLT)
Think about what this thief DIDN’T do: Didn’t get baptized. Didn’t go to church. Didn’t read the Bible. Didn’t give money. Didn’t serve anyone. Didn’t prove his commitment. Didn’t have time to do any good works.
He simply BELIEVED. And Jesus said: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
That’s the power of the finished work of the cross. Faith in Jesus is enough because what Jesus did is enough.
NO MORE CARRYING GUILT
Here’s what this means practically: When you mess up as a Christian, you don’t have to carry guilt.
Here’s what you do instead:
Step 1: CONFESS – Tell God what you did wrong.
Step 2: RECEIVE FORGIVENESS – Which is instant, immediate, and complete.
Step 3: MOVE FORWARD – Don’t camp out in guilt. Move forward immediately.
1 John 1:9 says: “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (NLT)
It says: Confess → God forgives → You’re cleansed. DONE.
Why can it be that simple and fast? Because Jesus already paid for that sin on the cross. The payment is complete. Forgiveness is immediate and full.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONVICTION AND CONDEMNATION
This is crucial for new Christians to understand:
CONVICTION comes from the Holy Spirit:
- It’s specific: “You did this particular thing wrong and it hurt God’s heart”
- It’s directional: It points you toward the solution
- It leads you TO God: “Come to Me, confess, receive forgiveness”
- It brings hope: “There’s a way forward”
CONDEMNATION comes from the enemy:
- It’s vague: “You’re just a bad person”
- It’s circular: It keeps you stuck
- It keeps you FROM God: “You’re too messed up to approach God”
- It brings shame: “You’ll never change”
Romans 8:1 is crystal clear: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (NLT)
NO condemnation. None. Zero. Ever.
When you mess up, the Holy Spirit will CONVICT you (this is good – it’s God helping you). The enemy will try to CONDEMN you (this is harmful – reject it immediately).
Conviction is your friend. Condemnation is your enemy.
HOW TO RESPOND WHEN YOU SIN
Here’s your simple protocol:
STEP 1: Confess immediately – The moment you realize you’ve sinned, talk to God: “God, I messed up. I [specific sin]. I’m sorry. I confess it right now.”
STEP 2: Receive forgiveness – “Thank You for forgiving me. Jesus already paid for this sin on the cross. I receive Your forgiveness right now.”
STEP 3: Declare your identity – “I am still righteous in Your eyes because of Jesus. My identity hasn’t changed. I’m still Your beloved child.”
STEP 4: Move forward – Don’t replay it. Don’t beat yourself up for days. Move forward immediately.
The entire process should take SECONDS, not days or weeks.
Why? Because Jesus finished the work. Forgiveness is instant when you confess with a sincere heart.
LIVING FROM “IT IS FINISHED”
When you truly believe and live from the truth that Jesus finished the work, here’s how your daily life changes:
✓ Confidence, not insecurity – Your acceptance is permanent and complete
✓ Quick confession, not prolonged guilt – Forgiveness is instant
✓ Rest, not striving – The work is done
✓ Gratitude, not performance – You can’t add to what’s finished
✓ Freedom, not fear – You’re fully accepted
✓ Peace, not anxiety – Your relationship with God is secure
BUT WHAT ABOUT OBEDIENCE?
You might be thinking: “If Jesus finished everything, does that mean I can do whatever I want? Does sin not matter?”
Great question. Here’s the answer:
Sin still matters—not because it changes your standing with God, but because sin harms you, hurts others, damages relationships, prevents you from experiencing the abundant life God intends for you, and grieves the Holy Spirit who dwells within you.
But here’s the key: When you truly grasp what Jesus has done for you, you WANT to obey. Not to earn His love (you already have it in full), but as a response to the love you’ve received. You won’t be perfect, and you’ll struggle with certain issues just like everyone else. You will sin. However, you’ll become what some call a “bad sinner”—someone who no longer wants to do wrong. And when you do fall short, simply ask God for forgiveness and keep moving forward.
Jesus said in John 14:15: “If you love me, obey my commandments.” (NLT)
Notice the order: Love FIRST, then obedience follows.
You don’t obey God to earn His love. You obey because He already loves you, and you’re responding to that love with a genuine desire to please Him.
Consider our human relationships as an example. When we’re deeply in love with someone, we don’t simply do what suits us—we prioritize what matters to them, even when it requires personal sacrifice. That’s the transformative power of God’s love and grace: it moves us to go beyond what’s comfortable or convenient, and we do so willingly. While none of us are perfect, love is powerful enough to inspire genuine change in our behavior. Over time, these loving actions become second nature—they shift from conscious effort to natural habit. This is exactly what happens in our relationship with God, but in an even more powerful and transformative way.
YOUR DAILY DECLARATION
Every morning, declare this truth:
“It is finished. Jesus completed the work on the cross. I don’t add to the cross; I receive from it. I am completely forgiven, totally righteous, and fully accepted – not because of what I do, but because of what Jesus did. I live from His finished work, not trying to earn acceptance I already have. The work is done. I rest in that truth today.”
GROWING IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
You might be wondering: “If Jesus finished everything, what do I do now?”
Here’s the beautiful answer: Jesus finished the work of SAVING you. Now you get to enjoy KNOWING Him and growing in relationship with Him.
Think of it like getting married. The wedding ceremony makes you married – that’s done, finished, official. But then you spend the rest of your life getting to know your spouse better, growing closer, building your relationship. The commitment is secure, but the relationship keeps deepening.
Same with following Jesus:
BAPTISM – This is your public celebration of what Jesus did. Jesus commanded this in Matthew 28:19: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (NLT)
When you get baptized, you’re not earning salvation – you’re publicly declaring what Jesus already did for you. It’s an important step of obedience that says to everyone watching, “I belong to Jesus now.”
CHURCH – This is where you gather with other believers to worship God, learn, and grow together. Hebrews 10:24-25 says: “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together.” (NLT)
You NEED other Christians in your life. Church isn’t optional – it’s essential for your spiritual health and growth. Just like you can’t grow strong physically without eating regularly, you can’t grow strong spiritually without connecting with other believers consistently.
Acts 2:42 shows the first Christians “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.” (NLT) They gathered together regularly. That’s the pattern for us too.
READING THE BIBLE – This is how God speaks to you and teaches you. Second Timothy 3:16-17 says: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.” (NLT)
It’s not a religious duty – it’s getting to know the God who saved you. The more you read His Word, the more you understand His heart and His ways. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His instruction manual for life, and His voice speaking directly into your daily situations.
PRAYER – This is simply talking with God. He’s not distant or hard to reach. You have constant access to Him. Philippians 4:6 says: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (NLT)
Prayer deepens your relationship with Him every day. You can talk to God about anything – your fears, your hopes, your questions, your gratitude, your needs. He’s always listening, always available, always ready to help.
James 4:8 promises: “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” (NLT)
All these things flow FROM salvation, not FOR salvation. Jesus finished the saving. Now you get to enjoy growing in relationship with Him through these practices He’s given you.
THE INVITATION
Here’s what I want you to grasp with your whole heart:
Stop trying to complete what Jesus already finished.
Stop trying to add to the cross.
Stop trying to prove you’re worthy of what He freely gave.
It is finished.
The work is done. The payment is complete. The sacrifice is sufficient. Your salvation is secure.
Your job isn’t to EARN it. Your job is to RECEIVE it, believe it, and live from it every single day.
Jesus did the work. It’s finished. Now rest in that truth and let it transform how you live.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- What does “It is finished” mean to you personally now that you understand it better?
- Are you trying to add anything to what Jesus completed on the cross? What might you be trying to earn that’s already been given?
- Think about the difference between conviction (from the Holy Spirit) and condemnation (from the enemy). Which voice have you been listening to when you mess up?
THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE:
This week, practice the quick confession protocol. When you sin or make a mistake, don’t wait hours or days to confess it. Do it immediately: confess, receive forgiveness, declare your identity, and move forward. Time yourself – see if you can complete the whole process in under 60 seconds. Notice how this keeps you close to God instead of distant and guilty
Your New Normal as a Christian.