Jesus Fulfilled the Law and Gave Us Grace

“Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:28-30 NIV

The article below is my second in a mini-series on the meaning and implications of Jesus’ final words on the cross—”It is finished”—in our lives as God’s children. I encourage you to read the first article, titled “It is finished: Tetelestai,” before scrolling down to read this one. And do come back to read the third and possibly final article.

God’s grace surrounds you.

Chizobam

Jesus Fulfilled the Law

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” on the cross, He was also declaring that He had fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law. No longer does anyone need to work hard to obey rules and regulations to attain righteousness and maintain a relationship with God. Jesus established a New Covenant, not based on works but on faith in the grace God so lavished on us by sending Jesus to shed His blood and die for us on the cross.

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” Romans 10:4 ESV

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

The Temptation to Rely On Rules

“But what does this have to do with me?” you might ask. “After all, I am a Christian and have never paid much attention to the law.”

The issue is that we Christians sometimes give in to the temptation of relying on rules to achieve righteousness or earn favor from God.

The Apostle Paul encountered this problem with the Galatian Christians. He was so perplexed by their tendency to prioritize law over God’s grace that he minced no words when he called them foolish and bewitched.

“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” Galatians 3:1-3

The Law’s Purpose and Limitations:

Why Jesus Fulfilled the Law

God gave the law to the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. (See Exodus 19-14.) The law was not merely a list of suggestions but rather a set of rules and regulations that they were required to follow. The covenant between God and the Israelites was established on their commitment to the law. If they obeyed, they would receive blessings, but if they disobeyed, they would face curses. (See Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.)

As we already know, they failed to follow the righteous requirements of the law. They consistently strayed from it and received varying degrees of punishment from God until they were ultimately exiled to Assyria and Babylon.

God never intended for the law to be a perfect and permanent way for Him to have fellowship with His people. As Paul stated, the law served as a schoolteacher (Galatians 3:23-25 KJV). Its purpose was to teach and demonstrate God’s holiness to the Israelites, but it lacked the power to impart eternal life and make them holy. It functioned as a substitute teacher, responsible for keeping the children in line until the appointed time for the true Teacher and only Way to God, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Fulfilled the Law and Gave Us Grace

No matter which rule or regulation we may follow— “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” (Colossians 2:21)—none of them change us inwardly.

Rules cannot make us righteous in God’s sight because they negate God’s grace, are not based on faith in Jesus, and lack the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:1-3; 5:4-5). Righteousness is attained by faith from start to finish (Romans 1:17)

Jesus declared, “It is finished.” Therefore, no law, rule, ordinance, order of service, prescribed prayer, choice of food, or even length of skirt can substitute for His atonement. Rather, as born-again children of God, we are called to walk by faith in Christ, depending on His grace to empower us to obey the Holy Spirit—not to gain salvation, but to please and glorify God.

We are no longer under the curse of the law like the Israelites were. Instead, as believers, we are recipients of God’s extravagant grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” Galatians 3:13

Tetelestai: It is indeed finished!!!

Reflection Questions

God declares righteous anyone who believes in Jesus. Are you trying to attain righteousness or earn God’s love by personal efforts?
Are there areas where you are still striving or working to achieve something that Jesus has already accomplished for you?

Old Testament Sacrifices Ended

“For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” it also signaled an end to the Old Testament sacrificial system. Under the Old Covenant, God established a system for the Jews in which the blood of sacrificed animals atoned for their sins.

To read more on the end of Old Testament Sacrifices, click HERE to be directed to my article on the power of the blood of Jesus.

Footnotes

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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