It Is Finished

Three weeks ago, the worship choir introduced a new song: It Is Finished. The next week, we sang it together as the song of response; church, you were really singing! While I cannot (and have no desire to) judge hearts during corporate worship, a metric of observing and evaluating worship participation is “did the congregation sing?” I’m very thankful that you do sing and that you sing new songs to the Lord!

When this song was introduced, I shared that we would be singing this during our Easter weekend worship gatherings. I cannot wait to declare these Gospel truths in song with you, church family! To assist you in preparation for these corporate worship services, I’ve created a Spotify playlist that contains many of the songs we’ll sing on Good Friday and Easter Sunday morning. (And if you didn’t know, I do these every week for our Sunday morning worship services.)

Back to It Is Finished…

I love the bridge. The melody is very singable and the lyrics are a powerful reminder of God’s sovereignty, security, and salvation.

Strongholds bowing to the Savior
Resurrection power over every circumstance
His word stands final and forever
It will not be shaken, He alone has won it all

Jeff Johnson, one of the worship leaders at Passion City Church (where this song was written) wrote this about the first two lines of the bridge:

A lie is anything that leads us to believe the opposite of what God says about us. And a lie, over time, can become a stronghold — a battle that feels impossible to overcome. You’re not alone if you’ve ever felt imprisoned by a desire, a grief, a guilt, or bitterness. However, we were not designed to live a life of captivity. There is freedom for every one of us in the finished work of Jesus: His death and resurrection.

Have you ever considered what Scripture means when it talks about resurrection power? It says that Jesus holds all authority over death and the same power that raised Jesus from the grave is available to us today. Think about that! Don’t move by it too fast. Resurrection power breathed life into Jesus’ dead bones. It took a body that was dead and began pumping blood through its veins once again. That unrivaled strength did what no man could ever do: it brought life from death, hope from hopelessness.

We can live in that power today. Though each of us will face unforeseen circumstances and undesired hardships, those things do not define us and we are not enslaved to them. What seems impossible becomes possible when there is resurrection power involved. Hurts can be healed. Offenses can be forgiven. Dead things can come to life.

Wherever you find yourself today, remember this: every stronghold must bow to the authority of Jesus. Today we claim not just any power over our circumstances, but the greatest of them all: resurrection power.

What a needed reminder that those of us who are in Christ can claim resurrection power over every circumstance in our lives. The gift of the Holy Spirit is assurance of this truth: “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” – Romans 8:11

As we approach Easter (it’s only four Sundays away), my challenge and encouragement to you is to preach this truth to yourself every day. I’ve written a blog post before about preaching the gospel to yourself daily. Cling to Christ. Love the Word. And then share His grace and goodness to those who need gospel hope and resurrection power in their lives.

It. Is. Finished.

May these last words of Jesus on the cross spur us on to live our lives acknowledging the reality of what that means and praising Him for it.