What on earth would be the reason to murder the Christ - the promised Messiah and Savior of the world? What was the purpose of His crucifixion - as in what is meant by the words, 'The Finished Works of Christ?'
But wait! Is it not Christmas at the time of this writing? Should we not be talking about the birth of Christ, rather than His death by crucifixion?
Yes & No! As always, for layman and Christian, considering the world has long dwindled such truth and meaning behind Christmas, turning it into a commercial expose', anything and everything but the celebrative time of the promised Messiah & Savior, perhaps we need to better understand what He accomplished at the cross (The Finished Works of Christ), and why He died a criminals death as an innocent man who never sinned, before appreciating the reason Christians celebrate His birth with the world on Christmas day - and where prophecy referring to Jesus in Zechariah 2:10 tells us: "Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you."
Allow me to tackle this post as briefly but finitely as possible.
As a prelude, in the book of John (The 4th book of the 4 Gospels), Chapter 19 & 20, we can read about the death by crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus; here is a synopsis.
After Jesus had been flogged (beaten), we read that Pilate (in finding Jesus innocent), went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.”When they saw him (Jesus), the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”“Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”One piece of text proving that Jesus is as claimed in scripture, is his response 'below' to Pilate boasting of his own power as to whether Jesus shall go free or be crucified.
Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?”Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”Political pressure pushes Pilate to release a criminal and hand over an innocent man (Jesus), to be crucified, as noted, not without approval from above (God the Father.)
Why would a father surrender his own son to the point of death? In short, John 3:16 teaches: "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
The ultimate, perfect, unblemished, without sin, lamb of God (Jesus) not only had to suffer and die as foretold, but additionally had to defeat death, to rise from the dead as promised in the living word. By defeating death, Jesus defeated satan (devil), who up until this point, had control over death, but lost said power & authority to Jesus, and by faith, we, all who choose to believe in Jesus as our Savior, also take on this same power and authority within.
Romans 5:8 (NLT) But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
1 John 2:2 (NLT) He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
John 1:29 (NLT) The next day John (John the Baptist), saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John 11:25 (NLT) Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.
John 14:6 (NLT) Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Idolatry, man's religion, every faith but the Christian faith, founded by one man only, cannot, nor ever will, get you into heaven; only the inerrant and infallible divine living word can secure your soul through Jesus for all eternity - in other words - salvation of the soul.
So what then, is meant by 'The Finished Works of Christ?'
First, let us understand how we are made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2).
*** If not a Christian yet, by faith alone in Jesus (Romans 10:9), you can be one with soul secured - no hoops, no gimmicks, no tricks, and no wondering if you're good enough!
Ephesians 2:1-10 teaches:
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.The Finished Works of Christ, means, by faith alone in Jesus, you are, and become more invincible, as you believe and do not doubt according to His living word of promises.
IF the inerrant and infallible living word says, pray it, believe you've received it, and it's yours, because of faith alone in Jesus, we can know it's true, so believe it and do not doubt!
IF the inerrant and infallible living word says, if your faith is not firm, God cannot make you stand firm, then believe it, get out from under the law & back into the grace of Jesus Christ, and do not doubt!
IF the inerrant and infallible living word says Jesus turned water into wine, we can know it's true, so believe it and do not doubt!
IF the inerrant and infallible living word says, anything is possible if a person believes (Mark 9:23), because of faith alone in Jesus, we can know it's true, so believe it, and do not doubt!
IF the inerrant and infallible living words says, by His wounds/stripes you are healed (1 Peter 2:24), because of faith alone in Jesus, we can know it's true, so believe it, thank Him for healing, and do not doubt!
IF the inerrant and infallible living word says, we already have a rich & satisfying (prosperous) life (John 10:10), because of faith alone in Jesus, we can know it's true, so believe it, thank Him for what's coming, and do not doubt!
IF the inerrant and infallible living word says, we are sanctified already, holy and perfect, unable to do wrong in His sight (Hebrews 10:10), because of faith alone in Jesus, we can know it's true, so believe it, thank Him for it, and do not doubt!
IF the inerrant and infallible living word says that we are already redeemed (Galatians 3:14), full of the Holy Spirit with eternal salvation included, all because of faith alone in Jesus, we can know it's true, so believe it, thank Him for it and His leading, and do not doubt!
IF the inerrant and infallible living word says, "I alone am God, there is no other God. There never has been and never will be" (Isaiah 43:10), we can know it's true, so believe it, and do not doubt!
IF the inerrant and infallible living word says, "As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength" (Psalm 138:3), we can know it's true, so believe it, and do not doubt!
That is the finished works of Christ in our favor!
In summary, does it make sense to be asking for something we already have? Of course not!
So, when the devil is telling you (inside your head) ...
you're not good enough (Hebrews 10:10 tells YOU differently),
there is no God (Isaiah 43:10 tells YOU differently),
the monies needed are not coming (Mark 9:23 tells YOU differently),
God doesn't answer prayer (Psalm 138:3 tells YOU differently),
God isn't listening (Psalm 138:3 tells YOU differently),
the healing needed is not coming (1 Peter 2:24 tells YOU differently),
you're not getting that new job (Mark 11:24 tells YOU differently)
and we can know ...
A/ we can resist the devil who must flee at the name of Jesus (James 4:7), and
B/ we can defend against 100% of these demonic attacks by using the living word itself, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead - in Christ we can do anything!
Romans 8:11 (NLT) The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
and
Philippians 4:13 (NLT) For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
PS:
Matthew 6:14 (NLT) “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.