The Finished Work of Christ
- The finished work of Christ has accomplished everything necessary for our complete salvation. There is nothing else to be done.
- All the promises and covenants of God are fully and completely fulfilled in Jesus. There is nothing and no one else who could complete or fulfil them.
- We are all included in Jesus and have received life through him, just as all died in Adam.
The Universality of Salvation
- As in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. All have received life, though not everyone is aware of this reality yet.
- The ministry of believers is to help people understand this amazing inclusion and reality that all have been given life in Christ.
The Universality of Sin
- The Bible verse “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) is often used to tell people they are not good enough and need God.
- The reality is that all have outworked their lost identity, which is short of the glory God intended for us.
Justification by Grace
- The ‘all’ who have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (in Romans 3:23) are “justified as a gift by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
- This means that all who have sinned (which is everyone) have also been justified, not by their own merit, but as a free gift of God’s grace through Christ’s redemption.
The Universality of Justification
- The “all” who have sinned are the same “all” who have been justified. There is a universality to both the problem of sin and the solution of justification.
- Romans 5:18 states that just as condemnation came to all through one man’s transgression (Adam), so also justification of life has come to all through one act of righteousness (Christ).
- The condemnation referred to here is not eternal punishment, but the state of living in lost identity apart from God, and the consequences that brings.
Jesus’ Authority over All Mankind
- According to John 17:2, Jesus is given authority over all mankind, so that he may give eternal life to all whom the Father has given him.
Eternal Life for All Mankind
- In John 17:2-3, Jesus states that eternal life is to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom God has sent.
- God has given Jesus authority over all mankind: the same “all” who were condemned in their lost identity and the same “all” who would be made righteous and justified.
- Some may try to separate the “all” to whom Jesus has authority over, and the “all” to whom he gives eternal life. That is illogical. The same “all” applies to both – Jesus has authority over all mankind, and he will give eternal life to all whom the Father has given him.
The Supremacy of Christ
- Colossians 1:15-20 speaks of the supremacy of Christ, and that all things were created through him and for him.
- Note again the inclusive nature of the “all” – nothing is left out, as all things have been created through Christ and hold together in him.
- And it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Christ, and through him to reconcile ‘all things’ to himself, whether on earth or in heaven.
The Universality of Reconciliation
- Christ has reconciled all things, not just people, but everything that he created.
- This reinforces the universal scope of Christ’s work: he has reconciled all of creation to the Father through the blood of his cross.
The Universality of Christ’s Work
- John 1:7 – Jesus came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him.
- John 1:16 – Of Christ’s fullness, we have all received grace upon grace.
- John 3:35 – The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.
- John 5:28 – A time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice.
The Reconciliation of All Things
- In John 12:32, Jesus says that when he is lifted up on the cross, he will draw all people to himself.
- “All” does not leave anyone out, and there are many instances of the word “all” used throughout the teachings of Jesus and the Scriptures.
The Fulfillment of the Law
- In Matthew 5:18, Jesus states that not the smallest letter or stroke of the law will pass away until all is accomplished.
- The “heaven and earth” referred to in this verse represent the old covenant system, which was fulfilled; and it passed away when the temple was destroyed in AD 70.
Key Takeaway
All has been accomplished through the finished work of Christ; there is nothing left to be done for the full and complete salvation not only of mankind but of all creation.