It Is Finished: Living From DONE, Not DO

Key Verse:

John 19:30—“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Jesus’ last words on the cross were not,“Try harder,” or“Do better.” His final declaration was: “It is finished.” The work of redemption was not left open-ended. He completed what no amount of human effort could accomplish. Everything needed for salvation, acceptance, forgiveness, healing, and restoration was DONE at the cross. Christianity does not begin with a task list—it begins with a finished work.

Many believers still live as if God is waiting for them to perform well enough to be approved. But the tearing of the temple veil (Matthew 27:51) declared the end of performance-based religion. Grace replaced striving. Relationship replaced ritual. You don’t work for God’s love; you work from it. You don’t obey to be accepted; you obey because you already are accepted.

Paul confronted the church in Galatia, asking,“Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”(Galatians 3:3). Trying to earn what Jesus already purchased is spiritual exhaustion. But rest comes when you shift from performance to grace, from earning to receiving, and from doing to living in what’s been done.

When you understand that you’ve received “the Spirit of adoption” (Romans 8:15–17), you stop living like a slave and begin living like a son. Sons rest. Sons inherit. Sons enjoy what their Father gives. The finished work of Christ invites you into that rest—paid for, secured, and sealed forever by His grace.

Reflection/Activation:

Where in your life are you still trying to earn what Jesus has already finished?

What does “resting in the finished work” practically look like for you this week?

Which lie about performance do you need to replace with truth?

Write down one area where you need to stop striving and start receiving.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You that the work is finished. Help me step out of striving and into grace. Free me from performance, fear, and self-effort, and teach me to live as a son and not a slave. I rest in what You have done, not what I can do. Amen.