I’m not sure I’ve ever met someone who hasn’t experienced a miscommunication. You have a conversation, there’s discussion back and forth, and then whatever the matter is, it’s settled. Or so you think. Or you’ll have a discussion and the two parties will walk away with a different understanding of what was decided. This can happen in all relationships. Marriage is a big one, parenting is another big one, and even in employment. Miscommunication, in any relationship, can lead to heartache and even to a type of death. Perhaps not a physical death, but miscommunication can very easily – very quickly – lead to the death of the relationship.
Oftentimes, miscommunication in a marriage can be as simple as not talking things out. One person talks, the other doesn’t contribute to the conversation, and frustrations grow. There are other relationships where it’s a one-way street: one person talks and silences the other person’s contribution to the discussion – it’s my way or the highway. I can’t possibly omit the high-volume discussers. Sometimes this is both parties trying to be heard over the other. Shouting and yelling, too, can be one-sided. Then there are the relationships where both parties steer as far away as they can from anything that appears confrontational. They don’t want to point out any failures (even in a loving way) for fear that it will be taken the wrong way. Can I just throw out there that none of these scenarios is very respectful or loving? All of them are downright selfish, some condescending, and all lead to heartache. And, sadly, many experience the death of the relationship.
Some relationships can be doomed from the beginning if there is a communication error. One party assumes something, evidence provided backs it up, but it’s essentially false information because of omissions or information that has been skewed. A few of my jobs over the years had me going through applications and resumés, searching for a qualified candidate for the different jobs that were available. It was easy to jump to a conclusion about the person applying based on the information given. I would typically go further and check out their social media pages. This usually provided a bit more information about the person than found on the initial pieces of paper. There were many times that the resumé led me to believe one thing when there was so much evidence that painted a completely different picture.
Over the past few weeks, this is something that has been knocking through my noggin. I’ve experienced many forms of miscommunication, both in observations of others and in my own life. It’s difficult for me to not see the correlation with the Christian faith. My praise and worship playlist emphasizes God’s goodness, His love for us, our freedom from chains, and the fact that He did it all – we cannot earn righteousness. There are many that agree while saying things a little differently – not necessarily wrong, but differently. This can be the fruit and the root being misunderstood. We see the fruit (works and deeds), but not usually the root (the heart the fruit stems from). I would like to help clear up some of the miscommunication that seems to be fluent in the Christian faith.
Three of Jesus’ final words were, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) This was translated from the Greek word tetelestai, which is actually an accounting term, that means “paid in full.” When Jesus uttered those words right before He surrendered His last breath, He was stating that our sin debt was paid in full! The Greek word “tetelestai” comes from the root word “telos” which means “the goal, the end, the completion.” The Latin phrase that “It is finished” comes from is “Consummatum est.” This Latin phrase also means “Everything has been fulfilled.” It is purposefully used in relation to a great sorrow. Let’s stick with tetelestai for right now. Isn’t it interesting that God accepted the payment, made in full by His Son, and resurrected Him from death – kind of like His own “Amen.” I love what C. H. Spurgeon said about the word “tetelestai” –
“…an ocean of meaning in a drop of language, a mere drop. It would need all the other words that ever were spoken, or ever can be spoken, to explain this one word. It is altogether immeasurable. It is high; I cannot attain to it. It is deep; I cannot fathom it. IT IS FINISHED is the most charming note in all of Calvary’s music. The fire has passed upon the Lamb. He has borne the whole of the wrath that was due to His people. This is the royal dish of the feast of love.”
“It is altogether immeasurable…” That is God’s goodness, grace, and love – immeasurable. Another bit I’ll include from C. H. Spurgeon regarding the word “tetelestai” –
“There remains nothing now of all the griefs and pains and agonies which chosen sinners ought to have suffered for their sins, for Christ has endured all for His own beloved and IT IS FINISHED. Christ has paid the debt which all the torments of eternity could not have paid. Once again—when He said, “IT IS FINISHED,” Jesus had totally destroyed the power of Satan, of sin and of death. The Champion accepted the challenge to do battle for our soul’s redemption against all our foes. He met Sin. Horrible, terrible, all-but omnipotent Sin nailed Him to the Cross. But in that deed, Christ nailed Sin also to the tree. There they both did hang together—Sin and Sin’s Destroyer. Sin destroyed Christ and by that destruction Christ destroyed Sin.”
“Christ has paid the debt which all the torments of eternity could not have paid…” We could never have paid it, we could never have earned right standing with God, we could never have attained it! Tetelestai!
There’s a massive miscommunication in the Christian faith. Some are convinced that there has to be a balance between what God has done and what we do – the nothing is free mindset. Then there are others that believe there are stages of becoming righteous and holy based on how we conquer our sinful nature – something that stands out in that statement is the “we conquer.” We didn’t – couldn’t – conquer anything! That’s why, in a way altogether immeasurable, God provided a “Sin Destroyer.”
Another interesting observation with the word “tetelestai” is that it is the perfect tense of the verb “teleo” (derived from “telos”). Perfect tense indicates a complete action. Remember that it is a goal, the end; completion. In the perfect tense, it is finished, it stands finished, and it will always be finished. Our redemption is complete – it is finished – and can never be more finished. There is nothing we can add to it to make it any more complete. Everything was fulfilled with the one sorrowful, horrifically beautiful, moment when sin was nailed to the cross with Jesus.
One final quote from C. H. Spurgeon on Tetelestai and where Consummatum est is referenced:
“The general religion of mankind is “DO,” but the religion of a true Christian is “DONE.” IT IS FINISHED is the believer’s conquering word. INCARNATE LOVE has fulfilled His self-imposed task. Jesus, as the Substitute for sinners, was condemned to die, and He died that He might finish the work of our redemption. Your sins have sustained their death-blow, the robe of your righteousness has received its last thread. It is done, complete, perfect. It needs no addition; it can NEVER suffer any diminution. Oh, Christian, do lay hold of this precious thought. I may not be able to state it except in weak terms, but let not my weakness prevent your apprehending its glory and its preciousness. This thought is enough to make a man leap, though his legs were chained with irons, and to make him sing, though his mouth were gagged. We are PERFECTLY ACCEPTED in Christ, and our justification is not partial. It does not go to a limited extent, but goes the whole way. Our unrighteousness is covered. From condemnation we are entirely and irrevocably free. ‘Consummatum est. The work is done, redemption is accomplished; the salvation of My people is forever secured. Sin will never be mentioned against them anymore, forever. Oh, wondrous deed of Deity! Oh, mighty feat of love accomplished once for all!”
The Christian faith needs to communicate that everything is done. We are not a religion of “do” for salvation because the purchase of our salvation has been done. It’s paid in full. How many relationships with God have ended in death because this has been miscommunicated? I can’t even count how many times I felt like giving up because maintaining my salvation, the religion of “do,” was impossible. As this becomes real, the “do” – the fruit – will be produced, not in an effort to attain or maintain salvation, but in a gesture of acceptance and gratitude. Our root system will not have to strive to remain healthy, but will rest in the soil effortlessly because Jesus proclaimed, “TETELESTAI!”