Once and for all, Tetelestai (it is finished)

“This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” (Acts 2:23 ESV)

Who crucified Christ? We did. It was our sins, the sins of humanity, that crucified the Son of God so that we could be reunited with God.

Jesus was from Nazareth. At least that is where He grew up after returning from Egypt. This was a stumbling block for many. Nathaniel even asked if anything good could come from Nazareth. (John 1:46). God attested to Christ through the miracles Christ performed in His ministry.

Christ was put to death by the people of Jerusalem, but like in the story of Joseph, what they meant for evil God meant for good. This occurred at the sovereign direction of God. It was a willing, brilliant conspiracy within Trinity in which the three people actively participated. The Father who planned it, the Son who completed it, and the Spirit who applied the resulting salvation to God’s people. Those who crucified Christ bore the immediate guilt; it was accomplished through the will of God. God ordains the means and ends without interfering with human will and responsibility. He uses our evil for good.

My assertion that we crucified Christ is brought forth by Peter, who made it clear the Jews and Gentile Romans were responsible (3:15, 4:10, 5:30, 10:39). I see it as a little more encompassing. It is those born of Adam that caused the crucifixion. But we were not there, so how are we responsible? Paul put it best, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;” (2 Corinthians 5:14 ESV). You are His elect, you are sinful, and Christ died so that your sins could be erased.

Great is our God.

Do you know Him? He knows you.

Peace and Grace!