Surrendering Your Life and Embracing Christs Finished Work
Surrendering Your Life and Embracing Christs Finished Work
Finding True Freedom Through Complete Surrender
John 19:30: "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
"It is finished." These three words from Jesus' lips as He died on the cross are perhaps the most significant words ever spoken in human history. They declare the completion of redemption's work, the fulfillment of God's plan for salvation, and the end of humanity's striving to earn acceptance with God. When Jesus cried "It is finished"—tetelestai in Greek—He wasn't merely announcing His life was ending. He was proclaiming victory. He was declaring that every requirement for salvation had been met, every sin had been paid for, every barrier between holy God and sinful humanity had been removed. The work was complete, perfect, sufficient, and final. Nothing remained to be added. Nothing could be improved. God's justice was satisfied. His wrath against sin was appeased. His love for sinners was demonstrated. Reconciliation was accomplished. The finished work of Christ is Christianity's foundation—not what you do for God but what Christ did for you. Yet tragically, many Christians live as if Christ's work needs their additions. They strive to earn what's already been given, work to maintain what's already been secured, and labor under guilt for what's already been forgiven. They've never truly surrendered to Christ's finished work. They believe it intellectually but live practically as if salvation depends on their continued performance. This produces exhausting, joyless religion rather than liberat ing relationship with God through Christ.
True Christianity is not about your work for God but God's work for you through Christ, received by surrendering your life completely to Him. Surrender isn't passive resignation or defeat—it's active trust that acknowledges Christ's work is sufficient and your works are insufficient. It's laying down self-effort and self-righteousness to embrace Christ's perfect righteousness credited to you through faith. Romans 10:3-4 describes Israel's error that many Christians repeat: "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Ignorant of God's righteousness provided through Christ, they tried establishing their own through law-keeping. They didn't submit to God's righteousness. Christ is law's end for righteousness to everyone believing. Yet Christians often fall into same trap—knowing theoretically that Christ's righteousness is sufficient but living practically as if their own efforts matter more. This comprehensive exploration examines Christ's finished work, what it accomplished, why surrender is necessary, and how to embrace the freedom Christ purchased. Whether you've never surrendered to Christ or you're longtime believer needing to more fully embrace His finished work, understanding these truths will transform how you relate to God and experience Christian living. Surrender isn't loss—it's gain. Not defeat but victory. Not burden but freedom. It's the only appropriate response to realizing what Christ accomplished for you at Calvary. Let's discover what it truly means to surrender and embrace Christ's finished work.
Understanding Christs Finished Work
What It Is Finished Means
When Jesus declared "It is finished," He used Greek word tetelestai—perfect passive indicative of teleō meaning "to complete, to accomplish, to fulfill." This word appeared on receipts marking debts "paid in full." It declared on legal documents that sentence had been carried out completely. Artists used it when completing masterpieces. Jesus used it to proclaim redemption's work was complete. Every prophecy concerning Messiah's first coming was fulfilled. Every requirement for salvation was met. Sin's penalty was paid in full. God's wrath was satisfied. Justice was executed. Mercy was demonstrated. The price of redemption was paid completely. Colossians 2:13-14 describes what Christ accomplished: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." God forgave ALL trespasses, canceled record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands, taking it away and nailing it to cross. Your sin debt—past, present, future—was canceled completely at cross. Certificate recording your guilt was destroyed. Hebrews 10:10-14 emphasizes finality: "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." Old Testament priests stood daily offering repeated sacrifices that could never take away sins. Christ offered ONE sacrifice for sins FOREVER, then sat down—work complete. His one offering perfected FOREVER those being sanctified. Forever perfected. Not gradually becoming perfect through your efforts but already perfected positionally through His offering.
This is staggering truth most Christians never fully grasp. Your standing before God doesn't improve when you obey better or deteriorate when you fail. It rests entirely on Christ's finished work, not your ongoing performance. Hebrews 9:12 declares: "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Christ obtained ETERNAL redemption. Not temporary redemption requiring constant renewal but eternal redemption secured once for all. Hebrews 7:25 promises: "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Jesus saves to the uttermost—completely, perfectly, eternally—those coming to God through Him. His intercession guarantees salvation's permanence. John 10:28-29 assures: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." Jesus gives eternal life. Believers shall NEVER perish. No one can snatch them from His hand or Father's hand. This is security purchased by Christ's finished work. When you truly understand that Christ's work is complete, sufficient, and final, it transforms everything. You stop trying to earn acceptance already given. You cease striving to maintain salvation already secured. You quit performing to gain what you already possess. Instead, you rest in Christ's finished work and serve from gratitude rather than guilt, from love rather than fear, from relationship rather than religious obligation.
Why Christ's Work Is Sufficient
Christ's work is sufficient because Christ Himself is sufficient. He is fully God and fully man—the only mediator qualified to bridge gap between holy God and sinful humanity. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 declares: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." One mediator—Jesus, both God and man. He gave Himself as ransom for all. His sacrifice meets every requirement. Hebrews 9:26 explains: "For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Christ appeared once to put away sin by sacrificing Himself. Once was enough because He is sufficient. 1 Peter 3:18 states: "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." Christ suffered ONCE for sins—the Just for unjust—to bring us to God. One perfect sacrifice by one perfect person perfectly satisfies God's justice. No additional sacrifice needed. No human works required. Christ's work is complete. Romans 5:6-9 celebrates: "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." Christ died for us while we were still sinners—ungodly, without strength. Justified by His blood, we're saved from wrath. Salvation doesn't depend on becoming good enough but on Christ's sufficient sacrifice for ungodly people.
⚠️ The Danger of Adding to Christ's Work
Adding anything to Christ's finished work insults Him and robs you of assurance. Galatians 2:21 warns: "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." If righteousness comes through law-keeping, Christ died needlessly. But righteousness comes through faith in Christ alone, making His death absolutely necessary and absolutely sufficient. Galatians 5:2-4 strongly warns: "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." Adding law-keeping to faith makes Christ's work of no value. You can't mix grace and works. Romans 11:6 confirms: "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Grace and works are mutually exclusive. Mixing them destroys both. Salvation is 100% grace received through 100% faith, or it's not biblical salvation. Many Christians theoretically believe salvation is by grace alone but practically live as if it depends on their performance. They're anxious when they sin, confident when they obey, measuring God's acceptance by their spiritual temperature. This reveals they haven't truly grasped finished work's sufficiency. If Christ's work is truly finished and sufficient, your standing before God never changes based on performance. It rests securely on His perfection, not yours.
The Meaning of Surrender
What Surrender Is Not
Before understanding what surrender is, clarify what it isn't. Surrender is NOT: passive resignation to fate, defeat by stronger enemy, loss of identity or personality, mindless obedience without understanding, earning salvation through submission, or maintaining salvation through continued surrender. These misconceptions prevent many from embracing true surrender. Surrender is not how you earn or maintain salvation—it's response to salvation already received by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 establishes: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Saved by grace through faith, not by works including surrender. You don't surrender TO BE saved; you surrender BECAUSE you're saved. Surrender flows from salvation, not produces it. Neither does surrender mean losing your personality or identity. God created you uniquely and doesn't erase that when you surrender to Christ. Rather, He perfects it, transforms it, and uses it for His glory. Psalm 139:13-14 celebrates: "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." God fashioned you uniquely. Surrender doesn't destroy that but directs it toward His purposes. Surrender also isn't mindless obedience. God gave you mind and expects you to use it. Romans 12:1-2 calls believers to "reasonable service" and mind renewal. Surrender involves understanding WHY you surrender—because of God's mercies demonstrated at cross—not blind compliance. Finally, surrender isn't one-time decision with no ongoing application. It's initial crisis followed by daily practice. Jesus said in Luke 9:23: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Daily cross-taking, daily self-denial, daily following. Surrender begins at salvation but continues throughout Christian life as you increasingly yield every area to Christ's lordship.
What True Surrender Involves
True surrender is willing, conscious yielding of your life—all you are and have—to Jesus Christ's control, trusting His finished work as sufficient for salvation and His ongoing work as sufficient for sanctification. It involves several key elements. First, acknowledging your sinfulness and inability to save yourself. Romans 3:10,23 establishes: "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one... For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Surrender begins by admitting you're sinner needing Savior, that your best efforts fall infinitely short of God's holy standard. Second, believing Jesus Christ is God's Son who died for your sins and rose again. Romans 10:9-10 defines saving faith: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Believe Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from dead. Third, trusting Christ alone for salvation, abandoning all confidence in your works or worthiness. Philippians 3:8-9 expresses Paul's position: "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." Paul counted everything loss for Christ, wanting to be found in Him not having his own righteousness but Christ's righteousness through faith. This is surrender—abandoning all confidence in self-righteousness to embrace Christ's righteousness alone.
Fourth, submitting to Jesus as Lord of your life, yielding control of your will to His. Romans 12:1 exhorts: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Present yourselves to God as living sacrifices. This is reasonable response to mercies He showed at cross. 2 Corinthians 5:15 states purpose: "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." Christ died so believers would live not for themselves but for Him. Fifth, being willing to obey Him regardless of cost. Jesus modeled this in Gethsemane: Luke 22:42—"Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." Not My will but Yours. This is surrender's heart. Sixth, depending on Holy Spirit's power for daily living rather than self-effort. Galatians 5:16 commands: "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." Walk by Spirit, not by flesh. Galatians 3:3 rebukes: "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" You began by Spirit; don't try completing by flesh. Surrender means relying on Spirit's power, not self-effort. These elements comprise biblical surrender—yielding your life completely to Christ who gave His life completely for you, trusting His finished work rather than your ongoing efforts for acceptance with God.
✨ Jesus Modeled Perfect Surrender
Jesus perfectly modeled surrender to Father's will throughout His earthly life. John 6:38 states His purpose: "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." Jesus came not to do His own will but Father's. John 5:30 declares: "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." Jesus sought not His own will but Father's. This reached climax in Gethsemane where Jesus, fully human, dreaded cross's horror yet surrendered completely: Matthew 26:39—"And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Jesus asked if another way existed but submitted to Father's will. Hebrews 5:8-9 explains: "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." Jesus learned obedience through suffering. Being perfected, He became source of eternal salvation for those obeying Him. Follow Jesus' example. When God's will conflicts with your desires, surrender your will to His. Trust His wisdom exceeds yours and His plans are better than yours even when you don't understand them.
The Freedom Surrender Brings
Freedom From Sin's Penalty
When you surrender to Christ trusting His finished work, you experience immediate freedom from sin's penalty. Romans 8:1 declares: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." NO condemnation for those in Christ. Sin's penalty—eternal separation from God—is removed completely. Romans 5:1 assures: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Justified by faith, you have peace with God. No longer enemies but reconciled. Colossians 1:21-22 describes transformation: "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight." Once alienated enemies, now reconciled through Christ's death, presented holy, blameless, irreproachable in God's sight. Not becoming these gradually through growth but already declared these positionally through Christ. This is freedom from penalty—guilt removed, record cleared, punishment canceled. Micah 7:18-19 celebrates: "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." God pardons iniquity, doesn't retain anger forever, has compassion, and casts all sins into sea's depths. Your sins are gone—not merely covered but removed. Psalm 103:12 promises: "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." As far as east from west—infinitely—God removed your sins. They're not held against you anymore. This is gospel freedom—complete pardon, total forgiveness, eternal acceptance based entirely on Christ's finished work, not your performance.
Freedom From Sin's Power
Surrender also brings progressive freedom from sin's power in daily living. Romans 6:6-7,11-14 explains: "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin... Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Old self was crucified with Christ so you should no longer be enslaved to sin. Consider yourself dead to sin but alive to God. Don't let sin reign in your body. Don't offer members to sin but to God as instruments of righteousness. Sin shall NOT have dominion over you because you're under grace, not law. This is freedom from sin's power. You're no longer helpless slave to sinful desires. Through Spirit's power, you can say no to temptation and yes to righteousness. Galatians 5:1 declares: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Christ freed you. Stand firm in that liberty. Don't return to slavery. 2 Corinthians 3:17 promises: "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." Spirit brings liberty. Not license to sin but power to obey. This freedom grows as you yield to Spirit and rely on His power rather than self-effort.
đź’Ş Freedom From Religious Performance
Perhaps most liberating freedom surrender brings is freedom from exhausting religious performance. Many Christians live under crushing burden of trying to earn God's favor through spiritual activities, measuring worthiness by prayer length, Bible reading consistency, church attendance frequency, or ministry involvement. When they succeed, they become proud. When they fail, they feel guilty. Both responses reveal they haven't grasped grace. Galatians 3:3 confronts this error: "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" You didn't earn salvation by works; you won't maintain it by works. Colossians 2:20-23 warns against human regulations: "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh." Human rules appear wise but have no value restraining flesh. Freedom from religious performance doesn't mean you stop praying, reading Scripture, attending church, or serving. It means motivation changes. You don't do these to earn acceptance; you do them because you're accepted. You don't serve to gain favor; you serve from gratitude for favor freely given. 1 John 4:19 states: "We love him, because he first loved us." Your love for God is response to His prior love for you. Service flows from relationship, not requirement. This is freedom—joyful obedience motivated by love rather than anxious performance driven by fear.
A Prayer of Surrender
If you've never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, or if you've been living in self-effort rather than resting in His finished work, pray this prayer from your heart: "Lord Jesus, I acknowledge I am a sinner deserving judgment. I believe You are God's Son who died on the cross for my sins and rose again the third day. I trust Your finished work alone as payment for my sins. I surrender my life to You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving me completely and giving me eternal life. I yield control of my life to You. Take my will and make it Yours. Help me to live not for myself but for You who died for me and rose again. Empower me by Your Spirit to walk in obedience and freedom. Transform me daily into Your image. I commit to follow You wherever You lead, trusting Your will is better than mine even when I don't understand. Thank You that because of Your finished work, I am fully forgiven, completely accepted, and eternally secure. In Jesus' name, Amen." If you prayed sincerely, you are saved and transformed. 2 Corinthians 5:17 promises: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." You are new creation. Old life passed; new life began. Now live in freedom Christ purchased, depending daily on His Spirit's power and resting in His finished work's sufficiency.
❤️ Daily Surrender to Christ
Surrender isn't just initial decision—it's daily practice. Luke 9:23 commands: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Daily cross-taking, daily self-denial, daily following. How do you practice daily surrender? Start each morning yielding your day to God. Pray: "Lord, this day belongs to You. Guide my steps, control my tongue, direct my thoughts. Help me to walk by Your Spirit and live for Your glory. When my will conflicts with Yours, give me grace to surrender." Throughout day, maintain awareness of God's presence. When decisions arise, consciously ask: "Lord, what would You have me do?" When temptation comes, immediately cry out: "Lord, I need Your strength to resist." When opportunities for service appear, respond: "Lord, use me as You will." At day's end, review with God. Thank Him for victories. Confess failures. Receive forgiveness. Recommit to follow Him tomorrow. Lamentations 3:22-23 encourages: "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." God's mercies are new every morning. Each day brings fresh grace. Don't be discouraged by yesterday's failures. Embrace today's mercies. Keep surrendering daily, trusting Spirit to increasingly conform you to Christ's image.
🌟 The Joy of Surrendered Living
Surrendered life is joyful life. Matthew 11:28-30 promises: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Jesus' yoke is easy, His burden light. Religion's yoke—self-effort to earn acceptance—is heavy and crushing. Grace's yoke—resting in Christ's finished work—is light and liberating. Psalm 37:4 encourages: "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Delight in Lord and He gives heart's desires. Not necessarily what you want naturally but increasingly what you want as He transforms desires to align with His will. Surrendered living produces joy because you're no longer carrying burdens God never intended you to bear, striving for acceptance you already possess, or earning what's been freely given. Instead, you rest in Christ's sufficiency, serve from gratitude, and experience increasing freedom as Spirit transforms you. John 10:10 states Jesus' purpose: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Abundant life. Not someday in heaven only but starting now. Life overflowing with purpose, peace, joy, and freedom. This is what surrender produces when you embrace Christ's finished work and cease trying to finish what He already completed.
Christ's work is finished. Complete. Sufficient. Final. He accomplished everything necessary for your salvation and reconciliation with God. Nothing remains for you to add. Your responsibility is surrendering your life to Him—trusting His finished work rather than your insufficient efforts, resting in His righteousness rather than establishing your own, and living by His Spirit's power rather than your flesh's striving. Surrender isn't loss but gain. Not defeat but victory. Not burden but freedom. It's appropriate response to realizing what Christ accomplished for you at Calvary. When Jesus cried "It is finished," He declared redemption complete. Now respond with surrender—laying down your life to embrace His, trusting His work rather than yours, and experiencing freedom He purchased through His blood. Have you truly surrendered? If not, do so today. If you have, deepen your surrender daily. Rest in His finished work. Serve from gratitude. Walk in Spirit's power. Experience abundant life Jesus came to give. This is Christianity as God designed it—not exhausting religion but liberating relationship, not performance-based acceptance but grace-given identity, not striving to earn what's freely given but gratefully receiving and joyfully living what Christ finished at the cross.