“It is finished” can mean a wonderful beginning for you!
What was Jesus referring to when on the cross He said, “It is finished”? “It” was God’s plan for the redemption and reconciliation of mankind to Himself.
You see, God tenderly created you with an incredible plan for your life; a plan for so much more than just existing and then dying. It is a wonderful plan for a fulfilling and rewarding life here on Earth and then eternally in Heaven. God wants you to know that He loves you more than you can ever fully understand. He wants so much to live a vital and exciting relationship with you – not just in Heaven after you die, but right here, right now.
The only way to have this kind of relationship with the Father is through the Son. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
No matter how “good” we are, we cannot – of our own efforts – be good enough to dismiss our need for Jesus and all He accomplished for us through His death, burial and resurrection. This would be a terrible affront to the Father-heart of God.
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.” (Titus 3:5)
We all have knowingly and willingly done wrong in our lives – this is something that even “good” people must admit. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
Just as you cannot “good works” your way into heaven, you don’t sin your way into hell. Please don’t allow yourself to get caught up in this argument, because it is not even the issue. The REAL issue is who do you say Jesus is?
Jesus was more than a prophet or a good teacher. Jesus was the perfect Son of God, and because of His unfathomable love for you, He willingly laid down His life as a sacrifice through a brutal and agonizing death on the Cross. He did this to atone for (do away with) the sin problem so that you could be reunited and reconciled to God.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)
Once we – by faith – confess that we are sinners in need of a Savior, and that all of our sins are completely atoned for by Jesus, God can freely offer us total reconciliation with Himself. “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
No longer is our eternal destiny determined by trying to adhere to a list of rules, but rather it is determined by the free gift of grace from God through Jesus Christ.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Jesus paid the price for your sin and mine by giving His life on Calvary’s Cross. God brought Jesus back from the dead and paved the way for us to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus.
All that’s left for you to do is to accept the gift that God is longingly offering you right now.
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)
So here is what you need to do in order to begin this exciting and fulfilling life with Jesus as your Friend and Savior:
Admit your need. (I am a sinner in need of a Savior)
Be willing to repent. (I turn away from my sins)
Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins on the Cross, was buried, and rose from the grave. (I believe)
Invite Jesus Christ to come and guide your life through the power of the Holy Spirit. (I receive you Jesus as my Lord and Savior)
Prayer of Salvation:
“Lord Jesus, I admit that I have knowingly and willingly done wrong and I can’t be good enough to deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to reconcile me to God and to make a place for me in Heaven. Jesus, I’m asking You to come into my life, lead me in the right direction, forgive my sins and save me. I am now placing my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept your free gift of eternal life.”
“Your Word says that if I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead, I will be saved. So I say that I believe with my heart, and I now confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord. Therefore I am saved!”
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Thank You Lord!