It Is Finished

American culture is one of the main culprits that threatens our understanding of the gospel. We are the most self-reliant people on earth. We live in an "I got this" culture. Our unquestioned ambition says, "If it's going to be, it's up to me," and "If you want it done right, you've got to do it yourself." We've got this bravado that has served us well in business and has catapulted America to the top of the world's food chain. In fact, our self-reliance has served to define freedom for the rest of the world. We view ourselves as the freest people on earth, because in America if you work hard enough, you can do and be anything you want.

Putting on the bravado and displaying strong self-confidence might work in the business world, but it doesn't translate well into the gospel and our relationship with God.

There is absolutely no room for bravado at the cross.

Yet, that is exactly what we've done. We think that sayings like "God helps those who help themselves" and "God will never allow you to go through something that you cannot handle" are actually in the bible. In fact, the bible teaches exactly the opposite! God helps us because we cannot help ourselves. And while the bible teaches that "He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13), it never promises that we will always have the ability to be self-sufficient. I am constantly brought to the point in my life where I have to come to God and in surrender say, "I've got nothing left. I can't do this without You. Do in me what I cannot."

The biggest lie we believe is that we are in control. This is an illusion. What do we have control over that can't be completely undone by one phone call?

Because of all of this we have a tendency to look at the cross and say, "Surely it can't be that easy," and we feel compelled to help God out. We recognize that we are sinners, but our lack of confidence in the cross is replaced by our self-confidence.

A lot of times our over-confidence is fueled by guilt, and we busy ourselves with all this religious activity, because we want to be seen as responsible Christians. We think that if we can wear ourselves out in the church (like we do in business), the payoff will be increased favor with God. This illustrates an egregious misunderstanding of grace. God's not sitting there impatiently waiting on you to clean yourself up. Because we are powerless to heal ourselves, "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

Grace means that there is nothing that you can do to earn favor with God, which also means that there is nothing you can do to lose it. It's His work that saved you, not your own efforts. Doesn't it make sense that it's His grace that will also keep you?

Paul asked the church at Galatia the same thing: "Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:2-3)


It's as if we are standing before the cross and we hear Jesus say, "It is finished," and we arrogantly respond, "Not yet."

Self-righteousness is an oxymoron (Isaiah 64:6). Our only appropriate response to the cross is unconditional surrender.