THE ONLY WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE–Redemption Shows Us How Only God Provides The Way Of Salvation

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Redemption is so important, that is what we sing about as soon as we are given the opportunity to express our gratitude in Heaven. So, redemption is a big subject, and one we each need to more fully understand. How about this morning we all become redemption-focused, and ask the Lord to open our hearts to the blessings we will be singing about in Heaven, while we’re here on Earth?

The only way for us to really focus on understanding redemption is to see and hear Christ as He redeemed us. Turn back with me now to John 19:30.

In John 19:30 we witness the climactic end of Christ’s redemption as the Lamb of God. This summary, of the work of redemption, was captured by John, as he stood at the foot of the Cross. While looking up through the darkness, John heard and recorded Christ’s one-word explanation of the work of redemption.

John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

In English we would say: “it is finished”; but in Greek, those three words are summed up in the single word that John heard Christ gasp on the cross—tetelestai.

TETELESTAI Means:
It Is Finished

“Tetelestai” was Jesus declaring to God His Father that the price of salvation was paid; and the debt of the sin of the world was paid; and the work of redemption was complete.

This word that Jesus gasped from the Cross, was a word that was very familiar to those of the New Testament times.

This word “tetelestai” should burn into our hearts and minds because it was exactly the same word that a Roman judge would write on a criminals certificate of debt when he was released from prison—“tetelestai”: your debt to the Roman law is now paid in full. That meant there was no further condemnation or penalty that ever needed to be paid.

It is the same word that would be written on the certificate of a slave who was redeemed. After he had been enslaved to pay off a debt—“tetelestai” meant, your debt is paid in full, you may now go forth as a free man!

Those two historic usages help us to understand the implications to each of the believers who have become followers of Christ, when:

JESUS DECLARED:
Paid in Full