"It is Finished"

[suko]

Hello, a friend of mine recently asked me a question as to why we go to confession when Jesus already died for all our sins, past, present and future of sins (John 19:30). To be honest, I’m not sure, I just know that we should go because the Church teaches it, and if they teach it, then it must be true. But I wonder though, then what was the significance of when Jesus said just before He died on the cross “It is finished and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit”? By this phrase alone, doesn’t that mean that all our sins are wiped out, past, present and future - thus eliminating the need for confession?

 

[japhy]

a friend [asked] why we go to confession when Jesus already died for all our sins, past, present and future of sins (John 19:30). … what was the significance of when Jesus said just before He died on the cross “It is finished and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit”? By this phrase alone, doesn’t that mean that all our sins are wiped out, past, present and future - thus eliminating the need for confession?

That is quite an interpretation (and one that did not exist in the Church for centuries) that John 19:30 says that all our sins, past, present, and future are forgiven!

There are a few good (in my humble estimation) interpretations of John 19:30.

One is that Jesus’ natural (pre-Resurrection) ministry had come to an end. He came to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin, and he said “it is finished” just before he expired on the cross, sealing the sacrifice. That seems logical to me.

Another interpretation is that “it is finished” refers to the “fourth cup” of the Passover meal. (This theory is advanced by Dr. Scott Hahn, who has researched this rather extensively.) Jesus and his apostles left the Upper Room where the Last Supper was held before drinking the fourth cup of wine which was customary by that time in the Passover ritual. This is the cup he refers to when he says in the Garden “let this cup pass me by.” After he has tasted the sour wine on the Cross, then he has “it is finished” because his Passover “ritual” has been completed. To read more about it, I’d read either this (terrible red on red color scheme!) or this.

But let’s assume, though, that “all sins, past, present, and future are forgiven” is what John 19:30 says. If this is true, you have a WHOLE lot of Scripture to explain away!

[Jesus] breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:22-23) Why would Jesus give the Apostles the power to forgive (or retain) another man’s sins if we have no need of confessing our sins?

And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) Why do we need to repent? Why do we need to “be baptized … for the forgiveness of … sins” if Jesus died on the cross for our sins?

Many also of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. (Acts 19:18) Yes, believers confessed their sins.

“‘And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’” (Acts 22:16) Why must we be baptized to wash away our sins if Christ “finished” it all on the cross?

[Jesus] was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (Rom 4:25) Ah ha! Not everything was “finished” on the Cross. St. Paul makes it clear that Jesus’ work was not finished by his death, because he justifies us by his Resurrection!

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (1 Cor 15:17) St. Paul makes it even more clear: if Jesus wasn’t raised from the dead, then his death would not have saved us from our sins.

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. (James 5:16) St. James tells us to confess our sins.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) This could be generic – just speaking of “acknowledging” our sins – but the point remains: a sin is not automatically forgiven by Christ the moment you commit it simply because he died on the Cross and simply because you’re a Christian.

 

[puppypatrol]

Hello, a friend of mine recently asked me a question as to why we go to confession when Jesus already died for all our sins, past, present and future of sins (John 19:30). To be honest, I’m not sure, I just know that we should go because the Church teaches it, and if they teach it, then it must be true. But I wonder though, then what was the significance of when Jesus said just before He died on the cross “It is finished and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit”? By this phrase alone, doesn’t that mean that all our sins are wiped out, past, present and future - thus eliminating the need for confession?

When Christ said “it is finished” he wasn’t talking about sins, past, present, and future. There are 2 things to remember that any Jew at the time would have understood perfectly.

First, when Christ celebrated the Passover with his apostles at the Last Supper, it was, up until He said “I will not drink of the fruit of the vine…” a traditional Sedar or Passover meal. The Sedar (which means order) requires that there be 4 cups of wine drunk during the observance. Christ only drank from 3. On the cross, when He was about to give up his spirit, He said “I thirst” and was given wine on a sponge on a hissop branch. This was the 4th cup, the cup of consumation and the completing of the Sedar.

Second, when Christ died, the timing was essential. During that time, the High Priest of the temple would have been preparing the lambs for the Sedar of the people who lived in Jeruselam. Because Passover was such an important feast day, there were many travelers who went to Jeruselam to celebrate. Due to the lack of enough rooms, the travelers would celebrate Passover on one night and the residents would celebrate on the next night. When Christ gave up His spirit, The priest of the temple would have just finished slaughtering the last sacrificial lamb and traditionally the priest would say “it is finished”. Christ, at His death and as priest and sacrifice, had finished preparing the final lamb (himself) so the preparation of the Passover sacrifice required he state “it is finished”.

We go to confession because Christ told us to. In the Old Testament, you can find many examples of the people taking their sin offerings to the priests for sacrifice. The priests would then decide if what the people brought would be enough for the sins they were asking forgiveness of. How would those priests know if the people brought the right sacrifice? He would have had to hear the sins. When Christ came, He didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. He said to the apostles many times, “whose sins you forgive are forgiven and whose sins you retain are retained” How would the apostles know which sins to forgive or retain if they didn’t hear the sins? (John 20:23 for example) Also in James 5, we are instructed to confess our sins and they will be forgiven through the presbyters (priests).

Salvation and justification are not one time events but on going processes. We are required to strive and work to become holy and acceptable to God the father.

 

[wmscott]

Hello, a friend of mine recently asked me a question as to why we go to confession when Jesus already died for all our sins, past, present and future of sins (John 19:30). To be honest, I’m not sure, I just know that we should go because the Church teaches it, and if they teach it, then it must be true. But I wonder though, then what was the significance of when Jesus said just before He died on the cross “It is finished and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit”? By this phrase alone, doesn’t that mean that all our sins are wiped out, past, present and future - thus eliminating the need for confession?

It is amazing to me when some Protestants say show me where that is in the Bible, or the Bible does not say that, or if it is not in the Bible then it is not true. However, what they are doing is using their fallible personal interpretation of Sacred Scripture.

 

[VociMike]

Hello, a friend of mine recently asked me a question as to why we go to confession when Jesus already died for all our sins, past, present and future of sins (John 19:30). To be honest, I’m not sure, I just know that we should go because the Church teaches it, and if they teach it, then it must be true. But I wonder though, then what was the significance of when Jesus said just before He died on the cross “It is finished and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit”? By this phrase alone, doesn’t that mean that all our sins are wiped out, past, present and future - thus eliminating the need for confession?

Ask your friend the same question back, but replace “confession” with “faith”.

 

[Thing]

Hello, a friend of mine recently asked me a question as to why we go to confession when Jesus already died for all our sins, past, present and future of sins (John 19:30). To be honest, I’m not sure, I just know that we should go because the Church teaches it, and if they teach it, then it must be true. But I wonder though, then what was the significance of when Jesus said just before He died on the cross “It is finished and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit”? By this phrase alone, doesn’t that mean that all our sins are wiped out, past, present and future - thus eliminating the need for confession?

Your friend should have told that guy, whats his name, uh … James… (…think he was an Apostle, or something…).

James 5:16
Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much.

 

[DebChris]

I like the answer that Dietrich Boenhoeffer gives to this question, referencing Martin Luther.
When we confess our sins, we nail them to the cross. We die to self. Confession is a remedy against pride and self-deception.
To say that our sins past, present, and future, were automatically forgiven by the sacrifice of the cross is to cheapen the grace that we have received. We are called to respond in kind. We are called to repentance and conversion. Our salvation may cost nothing, but it costs everything. We are called to turn away from our sins and embrace the cross of Christ.
Dietrich Boenhoeffer, a Luthern minister died under Adolf Hitler because he refused to compromise his faith.