Tetelestai!

In the book of Acts we read that the Apostles filled with the Holy Spirit were turning the world upside down with the message of the Gospel, and those who believed were added daily to the family of God. It was the simplicity of the message that transformed their hearts….”For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son that whosoever  would believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “   (John 3:16) . They believed and were set free. They went from the power of Satan to the power of God. 

But it is so like the enemy to enter unto the scene and try to thwart God’s plan and add confusion. In Acts 15 what we see happening is that legalistic Christians began spreading a false message that a person had to keep the rites and traditions of the Jewish forefather in order to be accepted in the faith. Essentially they were adding to the finish work of the cross. 

Adding to the gift of salvation is something that has plagued the church and believers individually ever since.  Our flesh in us wants to add something to our salvation so that we feel we have a part in it, but the Bible teaches that the sum total of our righteousness is like filthy rags unto the Lord. (Isaiah 64:6) In other words, even on our best days we cannot merit being saved. There is nothing we can do to make God love us anymore than He already does and there is nothing we can do to cause Him to love us any less. His love is perfect, ours is imperfect: but the love of Christ indwelling us through the Spirit not only makes us His, it also makes us become like Him. 

“For by Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)  

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)

When we try to add to salvation we grieve the Spirit of God and are enslaved by trying to win the acceptance and the love of God. It causes us to continually perform for Him, never feeling good enough and never measuring up to an impossible standard that we erect. Then the grace of God is replaced by the shame of the enemy operating out of our lives.  That’s bondage. Jesus came to set us free. As our beloved Jesus gave up His Spirit on the cross He cried out…..”TETELESTAI.” It is finished! !!!!! 

Do we believe this? How we answer this question will establish the level of freedom we will experience in our lives as believers because the word of God declares……”So who the Son sets free is free indeed!”  When this truth resonates deeply in your heart, it will transform your life, and you will fall passionately in love with your Jesus causing His love to spill over unto all aspects of your life. So when the enemy comes to condemn ….you too can cry out…”TETELESTAI! “ It is finished!

by Cecilia Trent