Grace Is the Verdict – The Final Authority of the Finished Work
Part 7
Grace is often treated as the entry point to Christianity—something that gets you started, after which responsibility, effort, and maintenance take over.
But Scripture tells a different story.
Grace is not the introduction.
Grace is the verdict.
It is the authoritative declaration of what Christ has already completed, not a tone God adopts while waiting on your progress.
A Verdict, Not a Process
A verdict is not a suggestion.
It is not an invitation.
It is not conditional.
A verdict announces a decision that has already been rendered.
Romans 5:1
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Justified is not a process.
It is a declaration.
Grace is God’s final word concerning your standing—spoken because of Christ, not sustained by you.
“It Is Finished” Was Not Poetic
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He was not expressing relief.
He was declaring completion.
John 19:30
“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”
Nothing remained undone.
Nothing was left pending.
Nothing was delegated back to humanity.
Grace exists because the work truly ended.
Grace Is the Authority, Not the Exception
Many believers treat grace as something that makes room for failure.
Scripture treats grace as something that defines reality.
Romans 8:1
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”
No condemnation is not aspirational.
It is authoritative.
Grace does not coexist with condemnation.
It replaces it.
The Law Asked. Grace Declares.
The Law asked for righteousness.
Grace declares righteousness given.
The Law measured.
Grace announces.
The Law revealed what was missing.
Grace reveals what has been supplied.
2 Corinthians 5:21
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Grace does not help you become righteous.
Grace declares that you already are—in Christ.
Living From Grace, Not Toward It
Grace does not remove obedience.
It removes obedience as currency.
Grace does not weaken faith.
It defines faith as trust, not effort.
Grace does not discourage holiness.
It makes holiness possible by settling identity.
Colossians 2:6
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”
You received Him by grace.
You walk the same way.
Why Grace Must Be the Final Word
If grace is not final, then something else must be.
And whatever replaces grace becomes the authority:
effort
consistency
discipline
fear
self-assessment
But Christ did not finish His work only to hand authority back to human performance.
Hebrews 10:14
“For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
Forever leaves no room for probation.
Conclusion
Grace is not what God does after you fail.
Grace is what God declared because Christ succeeded.
Grace is not a message among many.
Grace is the verdict that governs all others.
Nothing remains to be added.
Nothing remains to be proven.
Nothing remains to be finished.
Grace is the final authority of the finished work.
And that is where rest begins.
