What Did Jesus’ Finished Work On The Cross Accomplish?
The cross is the defining symbol of Christianity, representing the incredible sacrifice that Jesus made to redeem humanity. But what exactly did Jesus’ finished work on the cross accomplish? This comprehensive article will explore that question in detail.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Through his finished work on the cross, Jesus bridged the gap between God and humanity caused by sin, defeated death, and made salvation and eternal life available to all who believe in him.
Jesus Took the Punishment for Humanity’s Sins
He Bore God’s Wrath on Our Behalf
When Jesus died on the cross, He took upon Himself the punishment that we deserved for our sins. As Isaiah 53:5 says, “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”
Jesus endured God’s wrath against sin in our place. He bore the agony of divine judgment so that we wouldn’t have to.
His sacrifice satisfied the demands of God’s justice, allowing God to forgive us without compromising His holiness.
Many people struggle to comprehend how an innocent man could take the punishment for the guilty. But that is precisely what Jesus did for us. He lived the perfect life that we could not live, and then He voluntarily received the painful death that we deserved.
As 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” What an amazing display of grace!
Jesus drained the cup of God’s wrath so that we could drink the cup of His mercy and forgiveness.
His Sacrifice Allows Forgiveness and Reconciliation with God
The cross of Christ provides the only way for sinful people to be forgiven and reconciled to a holy God.
There is no other religion or philosophy that offers a solution to humanity’s deepest spiritual problem – separation from our Creator because of our sin.
Only through Jesus’ atoning death do we have access to God’s forgiveness and right standing before Him (Romans 5:1-2). When we repent and place our faith in Christ’s finished work, we are counted righteous in God’s sight.
Jesus’ sacrifice makes forgiveness freely available, but people must still make a choice to receive it.
As John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
We cannot earn forgiveness through good works or religious rituals; it comes only through personal faith in Christ. A right relationship with God is possible because of what Jesus did, not because of what we do. We simply need to accept His free gift of salvation by believing in Him.
Jesus Broke the Power of Sin and Death
Sin Lost Its Control through Jesus’ Obedience
Jesus’ perfect obedience to God’s will broke the power of sin over humanity. Through Adam’s disobedience, sin entered the world and corrupted all people (Romans 5:12). This sin nature separates humanity from God and leads to spiritual death (Romans 6:23).
However, Jesus lived a sinless life in complete obedience to the Father (Hebrews 4:15).
By willingly going to the cross and dying for our sins, Jesus’ sacrifice makes us right before God and frees us from sin’s control (Romans 5:19).
As the apostle Paul said, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Now, all who put their faith in Christ are counted as righteous before God, and sin no longer has mastery over them (Romans 6:14).
Jesus’ obedience goes even further – it enables us to live holy lives pleasing to God. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me” (John 14:21). As we obey Christ, we demonstrate our love for Him.
We are called to “put off” our old self corrupted by sin, and “put on” the new self made holy by Jesus (Ephesians 4:22-24). Through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, we can say “no” to sinful desires and reflect Christ’s righteousness (Titus 2:11-14).
Jesus’ Resurrection Defeated Death
Not only did Jesus’ finished work on the cross break the power of sin, but His resurrection from the dead three days later defeated the power of death as well.
Death is the consequence of sin (Romans 6:23). However, Christ’s resurrection displayed His supreme authority even over death.
As Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25). Because Jesus rose from the dead, He offers resurrection life to all who believe in Him.
Death no longer has the final word – we can have eternal life through Christ (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
Jesus compared death to sleep and said “I go to wake him up” when describing Lazarus’ passing (John 11:11). Believers who die are simply asleep in Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).
What an incredible day that will be! Because Jesus rose from the dead, we do not need to fear death any longer. His resurrection gives us living hope and assurance of eternal life with Him.
Some key facts about Jesus’ resurrection:
- Jesus rose bodily, not just spiritually (Luke 24:39).
- Jesus’ resurrection was verified by many eyewitnesses, including over 500 people at once (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
- The tomb was empty and Jesus’ grave clothes were left behind (Luke 24:12, John 20:6-7).
- Jesus showed His resurrected body retained scars from the crucifixion (John 20:20, 27).
What wonderful news that Christ conquered sin and death once for all! This is the very heart of the gospel and the basis of our salvation.
Jesus’ Work Opened the Way for Salvation
Salvation Is Now Available to All People
One of the main accomplishments of Jesus’ finished work on the cross was opening the door for salvation to become available to all people, not just the Jews. Before Christ’s death and resurrection, God primarily worked through the nation of Israel.
But Jesus’ sacrifice paved the way for the gospel message to spread to every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 5:9).
The apostle Paul explained that salvation is now offered freely to both Jews and Gentiles through faith in Christ: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Jesus broke down the dividing wall of hostility between different people groups, offering all equal access to God through His shed blood (Ephesians 2:14).
This does not mean God has forsaken Israel; rather, His original covenant with them still stands (Romans 11:29).
However, the gospel of grace is now available globally to both Jews and non-Jews alike. Thanks to Christ’s atoning work, no one is excluded from God’s gift of redemption.
We Are Declared Righteous through Faith in Jesus
Additionally, the cross provides the basis for God to declare believers righteous. Though we have all sinned and face a penalty of death, those who put their trust in Jesus are pardoned and viewed as blameless before God.
How does this happen? On the cross, Jesus took the punishment for sin that rightfully belonged to humanity (Isaiah 53:5).
He bore divine wrath in our place so we would not have to. Therefore, when a person repents and believes, the righteousness of Christ is credited to their account.
The apostle Paul explained it this way: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Though we are unrighteous in ourselves, we are counted as righteous by virtue of our faith-union with Jesus.
This “great exchange” is a central truth of the gospel message. Our sins were charged to Jesus’ account, while His perfect righteousness is credited to us. We contributed nothing to earn this justification; it is purely an undeserved gift of grace (Romans 3:24).
Jesus’ Sacrifice Allows Us to Be Adopted as God’s Children
We Become Part of God’s Family
When we put our faith in Christ, we become adopted into God’s family (Galatians 4:5). This is an incredible privilege that allows us to call God our Father and makes us co-heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17).
We go from being estranged and separated from God due to sin, to being fully accepted as His beloved children. What an amazing demonstration of God’s grace and love towards us!
As God’s children, we now have a personal and intimate relationship with Him. We can come freely and boldly before God’s throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).
He disciplines us, guides us, comforts us, and lavishes His love on us – just as a good father would do for his children.
Becoming part of God’s household changes everything for us.
Conclusion
Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross was no ordinary death – it was the pivotal moment in human history.
His finished work bridged the gap between God and people, opening the way for forgiveness, salvation, adoption into God’s family, and eternal life.
As the Bible says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Trust in the power of the cross, and Jesus will change your life forever.
