It Is Finished!

(This message series is inspired and excerpted from Heaven is Now by Andrew Farley)

“While most Christians agree on the general idea that our sins were judged and punished at the cross, many of those same people simultaneously believe that we Christians are going to be judged for our sins upon Christ’s return. The only problem with this is that these two ideas can’t both be true. It cannot possibly be true that our sins are paid for in full, totally forgiven, forgotten, and taken away and at the same time be true that we will be judged for them. That’d be a case of double jeopardy.

The fact is that we were already judged for our sins. The verdict was guilty. The sentence was death. And the sentence was carried out on Calvary! This means we’ll never be judged for our sins again, because it’s already happened once, and now the Judge is satisfied. The punishment fit the crime. Have you come to grips with the fact that God has let you off the hook for your sins? Or do you, in the back of your mind, still fear that you’ll have to answer for your sins when you meet your Maker in the sky?” (loc. 1467 of 2138)

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:16-18 ESV)

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

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 ESV)

so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (Hebrews 9:28)

“New covenant forgiveness means that the sin issue is over, once and for all. God will never, ever mention our sins again in any context. He remembers them no more!” (loc. 1481 of 2138)

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.  (Hebrews 8:12-13 ESV)

“But what about our works being judged and rewards being given? Doesn’t Paul talk about fire testing the quality of each person’s work? Here’s what he says:

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  (1 Corinthians 3:10-14 ESV)

There’s no question that God cares about behavior at its source. However, it’s not what the behavior looks like that determines its worth. It’s the foundation for our behavior that will determine whether it will stand the test of time. Was a certain action done in dependence on Christ? Or was it merely an expression of human effort?
. . . The litmus test (or appraisal) at the end of the ages is about God celebrating the work of his Son. Any works that were done in the energy of the flesh will be disposed of so that all may rejoice with an unobstructed view of what God has accomplished throughout history.” (loc. 1493 of 2138) How do we know we are doing something in the flesh? If we are constantly evaluating flesh or no flesh, what are we slipping into?

“It’s often taught that we Christians should live uprightly in order to collect many rewards (plural) in heaven. What I find amusing about this teaching is that it supposes that we’ll get rewards like multiple crowns, pockets full of jewels, and more square footage for our heavenly crib. Meanwhile, Paul writes that we shouldn’t add to the foundation of Christ with anything else (1 Cor. 3:11-13)! Instead Jesus is the foundation and it’s all about him from start to finish. Then some of us turn right around and think we can expect what  in heaven? A fine assortment of gold and costly stones with our names engraved on them? Some of us Christians criticize Muslims who believe themselves to be earning virgins in heaven, yet we may essentially believe the same thing, only we’re substituting wealth for sex as the prize in focus.

Yes, the Scriptures teach that we have a heavenly reward (singular, not plural) awaiting us. But since everything else is garbage next to knowing Christ Jesus, what else could our reward be of not knowing him?

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8)

Although we’re not face-to-face yet, we can experience some of this heavenly reward while here on earth. When we pass our time continually walking after the flesh, we miss out on the privilege of expressing Jesus. But when we walk in dependency on the resurrection life of Jesus Christ within us, we experience the heavenly reward of knowing him right here and now!

Heaven Speaks (What Jesus might say if he were sitting right here)
My countenance is always toward you, and you have peace with me. I won’t allow anything to separate you from the fullness of my love. And you don’t need to bother entertaining fear about a future judgment, as I have set you free from the law of sin and death. Yes, sin deserves death, but through my own death I have reconciled you, once and for all. Don’t you see the great lengths I went to in order to make certain you’d enjoy an eternal reward with me?

Now that you are free to fail, my desire is for you to open up to me and share with me your innermost thoughts. I sympathize with your weaknesses, as I know what it’s like to be tempted in every way. When you approach me, you’ll find nothing but mercy and grace. You can talk to me with total confidence that I have already accepted you, fully and completely.

Upon my return, none of this will change. You will not face any judgment for your sins. Instead, I wipe away every tear from your eyes, and you will experience no sorrow, only the joys of eternity with me. So there is no reason to fear my return. Fear comes from wrong ideas about judgment and punishment. But my perfect love has the power to drive away all your fears.

Whether you realize it or not, my grace is all around you, even now. There is grace behind you, and it has healed you from your past. My grace also goes before you, as I have already removed your future sins as far as the east is from the west. There is grace on the left and grace on the right. There is grace above you and grace beneath you. You are swimming in so much grace, and it will never run out. I have lavished you with my grace so that you might fall in love with me. I love you, and I am your great reward. – Jesus

Awakening (a sample closing prayer)
Thank you, Jesus, for freeing me from the fear of judgment. I’ve often wondered why I couldn’t sense a closer intimacy with you. Now I realize that I have been double-minded in my thinking. Because you have forgiven me, cleansed me, and taken away my sins forever, you will never refer to them again. I agree that the punishment that fell on you is enough and that I will never suffer punishment for my sins. You even allow me to enjoy the heavenly reward of knowing you for eternity, a reward I can participate in now. Thank you, Jesus, for opening my eyes to see your finished work in all its glory. I love you.