IT IS FINISHED!
THE MISSION OF CHRIST
The mission of Jesus Christ was three-fold. First, he was to give his life for the sins of mankind. John writes, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Second, Jesus was to be the vehicle through which God sends the Holy Ghost to believers. John writes, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).
Thirdly, Jesus was to establish God’s Kingdom on the earth. Ezekiel writes in his prophesy, “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Ezek. 37:26-27). John the Revelator writes, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Rev. 21:3).
In the following passages of scripture in Luke’s version of the Great Commission, he describes when Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection and confirmed that he had fulfilled his mission.
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
(Luke 24:44-48)
BENEFITS OF THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST
What does the words “It is finished” mean for humankind? It means that Jesus completed the work that his father had given him to do, which was “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10). At the same time, the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary’s cross released precious benefits to those who believe on him. Some of these benefits are described by King David in the following passages of scripture in the book of Psalms:
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
(Psalm 103:1-6)
PRAISE TO GOD IS A PRIVILEGE
In verse one, the palmist David stirs himself up to give praise to the Lord with his whole self; his spirit, soul and body (Bible Hub). David acknowledges the holiness of God by giving praise even to his name. As we look at the next five verses that follow, we will see that giving praise to God is more than just something that believers should do, but giving praise to God is a privilege for all that God has already done for humankind.
REMEMBER HIS BENEFITS
David repeats the first five words in verse one here in verse two for emphasis (Psa. 103:2). Here, David reminds himself to remember the many works of God on his behalf. Like David, believers are called to remember the many benefits of God’s love toward humankind.
Many times David found himself in dangerous situations where he could have become bitter, but he chose to encourage himself in the Lord. As we endure afflictions on our Christian journeys, we can take a lesson from David and instead of focusing on our circumstances we can remember all of God’s benefits toward us. Let’s look at some of the benefits of God towards humankind.
The Benefits of Salvation
Believers receive the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul writes, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). Salvation is the free gift of God, and there is nothing that humankind can do to earn it. It cannot be earned through the keeping of religious traditions; it cannot be earned through a physical appearance of piety; it cannot be earned through service to others; it cannot be earned by living a life of perceived holiness. Salvation is not earned by separating oneself from others. Salvation is free to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
Salvation itself comes with many precious benefits. The following are some of the benefits connected to salvation through Jesus Christ.
Adoption into God’s family. Believers are sons and heirs of God through Jesus Christ. Paul writes, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Gal. 4:6-7). Paul writes to the church at Ephesus, “Having predestinated us into the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Eph. 1:5).
Glorification into the image of Jesus Christ. Glorification is the final removal of sin from the life of believers. John writes, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 Jn. 3:2).
Propitiation through Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for sins. The Apostle Paul writes, “Whom God hath set forth to be propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” (Rom. 3:25). The penalty for the sins of humankind is satisfied through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on Calvery’s cross
Regeneration from being dead in sin to becoming alive through Jesus Christ. Paul writes, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). Believers have a spiritual renewal through the new birth. Paul writes to Titus, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).
Sanctification through continual progression into the image of God. Paul writes, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29). Progressive sanctification is the lifelong process of becoming more Christlike as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and yield to His control (GotQuestions). Paul writes, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18).
Believers are Joint Heirs with Christ in the Kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the spiritual realm in which God rules and reigns (Psa. 103:19). Jesus Christ, the highest authority on the kingdom of God, describes it as a present reality for the saints of God (Matt. 6:33). Jesus says, “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you” (Matt. 12:28). John writes that the saints of God reign with Christ in the kingdom of God (Rev. 5:10). The Apostle Paul tells us that Christ will rule until he has put all enemies under His feet, then he will deliver the kingdom up to God (1 Cor. 15:24-25). This event is commonly referred to as the rapture of the saints. An important point to make here is that the kingdom can only be delivered up to God if it is already in the earth.
Believers Possess Supernatural Power. Throughout his ministry, Jesus preached the kingdom of God and healed all manner of sickness and disease among the people (Mark 4:23). Jesus connected the kingdom of God with the demonstration of God’s power. Jesus tells his disciples that some of them will see the kingdom of God come with power. “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1).
Jesus’ words were confirmed on the Day of Pentecost when three thousand souls were converted. Jesus told his disciples, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Jesus instructed his disciples to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick (Luke 9:2).
Believers Will Spend Eternity in heaven. Heaven is the place where the saints will spend eternity. In the covenant of the Old Testament God promised his people Israel the land of Canaan to inherit forever, but the people of Israel broke God's covenant, and was removed from their precious land. In the New Testament Jesus tells His disciples that He will go and prepare a place for them (John 14:3). John the Revelator describes this new land; heaven, in the following passages of scripture. "And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband...And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God" (Rev. 21:2,10).
INIQUITIES FORGIVEN AND HEALING AVAILABLE
In verse three of Psalm 103 David begins to outline some specific benefits of God. He starts by saying, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases” (Ps. 103:3). This is one of the most powerful scriptures in The Bible because it connects forgiveness of sins with divine healing. Jesus told the man that was sick of the palsy, ". . . Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee" (Matt. 9:2). After the Pharisees questioned his authority to forgive sins, Jesus commanded the man to rise up and walk (Matt. 9:5).
Jesus said to the woman with the alabaster box of ointment, ". . . Thy sins are forgiven" (Lk. 7:48). When those in attendance began to question within themselves his authority to forgive sins, Jesus said to the woman, ". . . Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace" (Lk. 7:50). It is recorded in Isaiah's prophesy of the coming reign of righteousness, "And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity" (Isa. 33:24). According to the preceding passages of scriptures, healing is the result of the forgiveness of sins. Jesus demonstrated in his ministry that just as it is his desire to save those who are lost, it is his desire to heal those who are sick.
REDEEMED FROM DESTRUCTION
David reminds us in verse four that God redeemed humankind from destruction (Psa. 103:4). Jesus paid the price with his blood for our release from sin and its required punishment. Paul writes, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14). Strong’s translates “redemption” as G629; apolytrōsis, which means: a releasing effected by payment of ransom (Blue Letter Bible). The ransom paid by Christ for humankind purchased eternal life.
LOVING KINDNESS AND TENDER MERCIES
David continues in Psalm 103:4 with, “. . . who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies . . .” (Psa. 103:4). Here, David reminds himself that God appointed him king of Israel and tremendously blessed his kingdom. Benson’s Commentary of The Bible describes God’s lovingkindness and tender mercies this way: God “encompasseth and adorneth thee therewith, as with a crown (Bible Hub). Believers are kings of priests of God, and like David they are crowned with lovingkindness and tender mercies.
STRENGTH RENEWED IN OLD AGE
Popular commentaries on the first part of Psalm 103:5 agree that the meaning of the words “thy mouth” in this passage of scripture is uncertain. However, most agree that the best meaning of these words are “thy desire”. Therefore, the passage means, he satisfies my desire with good things. As a result of the good things provided by God, his strength is renewed in old age. The Jamieson Fauccett-Brown commentary describes it this way: By God's provision, the saint retains a youthful vigor like the eagles [Ps 92:14; compare Isa 40:31] (Bible Hub).
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGMENT
In Psalm 103:6 David praises God for being a just and righteous judge who judges the cause of the oppressed, including the poor, the widow and the fatherless. The word “oppressed” in this passage of scripture is translated by Strong’s as H6231; awshakˈ, which means: to press upon, oppress, violate, defraud, do violence, get deceitfully, wrong, extort (Blue Letter Bible). The Lord executes judgment on the oppressors and delivers the wronged out of their hands.
ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD ARE FULFULLED
God has been faithful to his word to perform it. It is up to believers to accept what Jesus has done so they can become partakers of his divine nature. Peter writes to the believers, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Pet. 1:3-4).
The promises of God include: goodness and mercy (Psa. 23:6); sanctification (Isa. 1:18); a new heart and new spirit (Eze. 36:26); unity in Christ (Jn. 6:37); rest for the soul (Matt. 11:29); salvation through Jesus Christ (Acts 2:21); rivers of living water within (Jn. 7:38); forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43); free from sin and justified through Jesus Christ (Acts 13:39); eternal life (Jn. 10:28); eternity in heaven (Jn. 14:3); life in Christ (Jn. 14:19); and resurrection through Jesus Christ (Jn. 6:40).
CONCLUSION
Because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, believers are complete in Christ. Paul writes, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Col. 2:9-10). The fullness of Jesus Christ is defined as having a plentitude of divine attributes (Bible Hub).
Through their union with Jesus, believers partake of the fullness of his divine nature. In the New Testament, the body of believers is described as being filled with the presence, power, agency, and riches of God and of Christ (Eph. 1:10). God has done all that he said he would do—IT IS FINISHED! It’s time for believers to take their rightful place in God’s kingdom as kings and priests of God.
If you would like to have a personal relationship with Jesus, you must be born-again according to Acts 2:38 which reads, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Please share your comments and questions in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.
Diane Margo Penny is an author, bookkeeper, content creator, social media specialist, and Web Designer.
Works Cited:
All scripture references are taken from The Bible, King James Version unless noted otherwise.
The Holy Bible, King James Version. Giant Print Reference ed. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. Publishers, 1990.
[BibleHub.com]
[BlueLetterBible.org]
[CompellingTruth.org]
[GotQuestions.org]
Image Citation:
Tuor-cross-4970988_1920. Tuor. [Pixabay.com.] Web. 27 Apr. 2026.
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