This week, I want to focus on the finished work of Christ.

Right before Jesus died on the cross, he said something very profound that many of us miss. He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). What exactly was finished? What work did he do that he no longer needed to do? And, how does that affect us?

When Jesus died on the cross, he fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law (Matthew 5:13). Once he died and fulfilled all the requirements of the law, the rules and regulations required for right-standing with God also died with him. And, he ushered in a new covenant, a new agreement with God.

What exactly is this new agreement? It is simply this: “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Salvation is no longer a result of following rules and regulations–salvation now comes through faith in Christ, putting all your hope and trust in him to save you.

And, it’s not just salvation that he’s referring to. That word “saved” is the Greek word sozo. It means to be made whole in your body, soul and spirit. Jesus died to make you whole, to give you freedom from those things that keep you from experiencing the abundant life (John 10:10).

When you can truly understand and receive God’s forgiveness, it will bring healing and restoration to your entire body, soul and spirit. There is amazing wholeness that comes through understanding God’s forgiveness and being able to forgive others. In receiving and giving forgiveness, you will find healing for your soul and for your body.

One prominent area of our mind that needs renewing is this area of forgiveness. We must truly understand that God is so passionately and wonderfully in love with us that he made a way through his son, Jesus, to wipe away our sins. And, the reason he did that was to remove the barrier that would keep us from coming to him. That is why we can now “come boldly to the throne of grace in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

When Jesus died on the cross, he died for your sins. All of them. Past sins, present sins and future sins. They are all gone. Consider these promises:

• “For the death that [Jesus] died, He died to sin once for all” (Romans 6:10).
• “I will never again remember their sins” (Hebrews 8:12).
• “He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong” (1 John 1:9).

When it comes to anxiety, panic attacks and fear, we need to renew our minds with the understanding that Christ’s work is finished. When Jesus died on the cross, he made a way for us to be free. It’s done. There’s no more heavenly work left to do to bring us freedom. The only work left to do is for us to renew our minds that freedom is already available to us today, right now, this very moment. It’s not a matter of how holy you are, or all the good you’ve done or not done. God’s finished work does not depend on you and your ability–it’s all about the ability of Christ.

Today, I encourage you to spend some time with God, asking him to renew your mind, and to help you understand this truth of the finished work of Christ. Ask him to teach you and guide you into this powerful, life-changing truth: your freedom is already finished and available to you today.

Prayer: Father, open up my heart and mind to fully understand the finished work of Christ, and all that’s available to me today.

For three years, his friends followed him, listened to him, served him. They savored his every word. Though they did not fully understand him at times, they loved him. They followed him from city to city as he shared his message of love to the people. Not only did he preach, but he lived out what he preached. Bodies were healed. Questions were answered. Minds were renewed. Hope was restored.

Now, he was dead. Their hope was nailed to a cross. Their dreams, shattered.

When they awoke that morning, I’m sure the disciples’ hearts were crushed with discouragement, filled with sorrow and covered with confusion. Fear had surely set in. After all, they had been seen with this Jesus of Nazareth. Surely, the Romans soldiers would come for them next. Would they be ridiculed, mocked and shamed? Would they be crucified as their leader was?

The women who followed Jesus were on their way to the tomb early that morning. When they arrived, the stone that covered the tomb had been rolled away. And the body of Jesus was gone, missing. As they looked around, two angels appeared and said, “Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead!” (Luke 24:5b-6a).

The women, full of excitement, ran back to where the disciples were staying and told them of what they had seen, but the story sounded like nonsense, so they didn’t believe it (vs. 10b, 11). It’s amazing what fear can do to our minds.

Peter ran back to see the empty tomb. Can you imagine the struggle within his mind? “Could it be true? Did he really rise from the dead? No, it can’t be true. No one has ever done that. But, maybe it’s true.” Round and round his mind went.

Later, Jesus appeared to all of them. It was true! He was alive! He had risen from the dead, just as he said he would. Then he opened their minds to understand these many Scriptures. And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah must suffer and die and rise again from the dead on the third day. With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me‘” (vs. 24-26).

Today, I want to share a message of hope: there is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to Jesus. No matter what you have done, he can forgive you. No matter how bad you have fallen, he can pick you up. No matter how much you fear, he can open your minds to peace.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you died on the cross and rose on the third day, just as you said you would. You did this to give me eternal life, and to make a way for me to come to the Father. I turn from my evil ways of living, and I give you my life. I give you my fears. I give you my sin. I trust you to take care of me. When I become overwhelmed with the things of this world, I will trust you. When I get fearful, I will stand in the courage of faith, knowing that no matter what happens, you will always be with me. Thank you Jesus for giving me life. I ask these things in your name. Amen.

Many times, we misjudge God’s attitude towards us, thinking he’s frustrated, mad or disappointed with us because we’ve messed up or sinned. No, he’s not. Jesus was punished in our place. God no longer sees us in our sin. If we have Christ in our heart, he sees Jesus in us. He sees us righteous and holy. He sees us as his child. We are loving wrapped up in God’s arms and cherished by him.

“God says He will accept us and acquit us—declare us ‘not guilty’—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like” (Romans 3:22 LB).

Today, in Christ, you are acceptable, pleasing and passionately pursued by your Father.

I want to share with you a short film called “Long Journey Home”. The short, 7-minute film is a modern-day version of the prodigal son. You can watch it online here:

Disillusioned with the family business, a young man is seduced by life’s pleasures only to find the costs far greater than he realized. Thus begins the Long Journey Home, a story about a father’s unconditional love for his son and a son’s quest for forgiveness.

Please take a moment to share your comments on this blog post so that we can hear your thoughts on the film.

Prayer: Father, there are times I feel like the prodigal son, away from you living my own life. I am sorry. I need you desperately. I know you are running to meet me, because of your unconditional love towards me. Father, help me this week to truly know what it means to be acceptable to you, to know that you love me for who I am, not for what I do.