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.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance states: Christ satisfied God’s justice by dying for all to pay for the sins of the elect. These sins can never be punished again since that would violate God’s justice. Sins can only be punished once, either by a substitute or by yourself. The “once” here speaks of sin in general, not if you do something like cuss twice in the same week when you slam a hammer on your thumb a couple of times. That only means you’re a bad carpenter and need more practice.

Christ, being our substitute died for us. Otherwise, we are sentenced to die.

The word “finished” means to perform the last act which completes a process. Jesus completed the process whereby God can once again walk in and with His people who profess their faith in Him.

The Mosaic Law was fulfilled. Now instead of the blood of bulls and goats to atone for sin on a yearly basis, we now have the blood of Jesus that has atoned for the sin of all mankind for evermore. Blood, here, is the Greek word “aima”, pronounced hah’-ee-mah. In its description in Strong’s it delineates this usage as the atoning blood of Christ; by implication, bloodshed.

Where do we as understanding Christians stand in this completion?

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee,

This is specifically speaking of Jeremiah. But the thought remains that God knew him before he was in the womb.

Luke 1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

So. Even in the womb, the child can hear and understand what’s going on as evidenced by Elizabeth towards Mary.

The key verse to this writing is Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

The word “us” in this verse means exactly what it says. . . “us” You and me.

Word: katabolh  is the Greek word for “foundation”.

Pronounce: kat-ab-ol-ay’

Strongs Number: G2602

Orig: from 2598; a deposition, i.e. founding; figuratively, conception:–conceive, foundation. G2598

Use: TDNT-3:620,418 Noun Feminine

Heb Strong:
1) a throwing or laying down
1a) the injection or depositing of the virile semen in the womb
1b) of the seed of plants and animals
2) a founding (laying down a foundation)

This is why I like studying words. Think for a moment in how God thinks. God thinks outside of time. Even in Jewish customary thinking they have only two time tenses. Past and future, although you can peg a spot in the line in between the two, even though we would not know where when that is since we really think about it something like “right now”.

“. . .He hath chosen us IN Him BEFORE the foundation of the world.

Word: kosmoj

Pronounce: kos’-mos

Strongs Number: G2889

Orig: probably from the base of 2865; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally)):–adorning, world. G2865

Use: TDNT-3:868,459 Noun Masculine

Heb Strong: H134 H3627 H4639 H5716 H5716 H6635 H8499 H8597

1) an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government
2) ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, ‘the heavenly hosts’ , as the ornament of the heavens. 1Pe 3:3
3) the world, the universe
4) the circle of the earth, the earth
5) the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family
6) the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ
7) world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly
7a) the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ
8) any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort
8a) the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews (Ro 11:12 etc)
8b) of believers only, John 1:29; 3:16; 3:17; 6:33; 12:47 1Co 4:9; 2Co 5:19

Note that if we were in Him before the foundation of the world, when He died we were forgiven when He said “It is finished”. He wrapped our gift of salvation already given at the time He gave up the ghost. We were fore-given another words. We were forgiven in Him. As I see it to give a gift means it has to have our name on it. We don’t just hand out gifts at Christmas randomly. We give them to friends and family whose names are written on that gift that is theirs. Now. All we have to do is accept the gift He so graciously gave us. It contains our salvation with all its power over sin. All we have to do to receive it is confess the sin in our life from the first Adam. He is just to forgive us. Jesus has already forgiven you and your name was added to the Book of Life.

What happens to those who do not come to a realization of the saving grace of Jesus Christ? David’s writing of the Psalms asked for their removal that do not heed the Lord.

Psalm 69:28 (KJV)

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Psalm 109:13

Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.

How simple is salvation? It’s by acknowledging He has already written your name in the Book of Life when He said “It is finished”.

How do you remain lost and undone in sin? By not accepting the gift. When you come before judgment, your name will not be found because you refused the gift with your name on it. The name was taken off of the gift when it became apparent you did not receive or refused it.

To close this out. All you have to do is realize that the sin of the first Adam has been reversed by the crucifixion of Jesus. At that time His gift of an everlasting overcoming life had your name written in it. Don’t refuse it. Today is the day you can ask. And you will receive the indwelling presence of Him who afforded you eternal life