The Finisher

I don’t know about you, but when I finish something, I sit down!

We don’t know if God actually sat down after creating the world, but we do know that He rested after He finished His creation work

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. Genesis 2:1-2

We do know, that Jesus Christ sat down after He finished or ended His creation work.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:1-3

Salvation is creation work. . .new creation work! God takes the sin worn and saves them when they believe in the salvation work accomplished on the cross.

One of the things Jesus Christ cried out on the cross was. . .

It is finished. . . John 19:30  

After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a New Covenant, established upon better promises, was introduced into the world.

This New Covenant was foretold.

Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Isaiah 42:1-9

All that believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world, are re-born; re-created sons and daughters of God. In fact, they are a brand-new species of being.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. . .2 Corinthians 5:17-18

For the first time, since the beginning of time, sin and death no longer have a hold on these new beings, or Christians. Now, some Christians may still hold on to this sin or that sin, but sin no longer has a hold on them. They have access to new help, the Holy Spirit of God. They have access to new word, God’s Word.

Christians are given a new commandment,

love one another; as I have loved you.John 13:34  

Christians are given a new goal,

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2  

Christians are given a new spirit,

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.Romans 7:6  

Christians are given new lifestyle guidance like this,

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:. . . Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:10-17

Now that phrase, it is finished, is found in another passage of Scripture.

every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James 1:14-18

When sin is finished, it brings forth death.

When righteousness is finished, it brings forth life!

This wonderful salvation is a gift from God. There is no work we can work that can earn us this gift. In fact, our faith in Christ’s work, is our work.

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:28-29

So, as far as our salvation is concerned, we can sit down; we can rest; because of our faith. We believe in the finished work of Christ.

In Hebrews we read that it is the devil that has the power of death. The devil has the power of death because of the sin work he does in people. When sin is finished, it brings forth death. Christ came to free us from the fear of death; He came to free us from sin.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he [Christ] also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:14-15

We can never earn our salvation by doing anything. Our salvation is solely based on the work of Christ. After we are saved, we continue living a life of faith and according to the Book of James, faith does have works.

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. . . .James 2:14-26

Hebrews 11 is referred to as the Hall of Faith chapter of the Bible. Let’s look at some of the people that are mentioned in that chapter so we can see how works is factored into our faith.

Abel is mentioned there. We read that he offered a better sacrifice than his brother Cain. We know God cursed the ground because of the first sin. Abel offered to God the firstlings of his flock rather than fruit of the ground as Cain did. Genesis 4:3-4

Noah built the ark. He received God’s word that a flood was coming, so he built an ark just as God instructed him to, and this saved his house.

Abraham heard from God too. God told him to move to a strange land to receive for an inheritance, and he went.

Sarah, although she was way past the age of having children, had strength to give birth to a son, because God had told Abraham He would establish an everlasting covenant with that son.

So, there are works that accompany our faith. First, we are persuaded or believe what God says. Then we embrace what He says, then we say and act in accordance and in obediance.

Read all of Hebrews 11. All the people of faith mentioned there are our witnesses.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Prayer

I believe in the salvation work of Jesus Christ. I rest in His work. Make me new, take away my sins. Help me love as I am loved. May I be merciful and kind. Humble and meek. Patient and forgiving. May I allow Your peace God to always rule in my heart. May I always believe what you say, embrace what you say, obey what you say and always keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. Thank you for opening my eyes to the light of this truth and bringing me out sin’s prison. Thank you for bringing me into the family of God. Amen