TETELESTAI

"... having blotted out the writing of debt, which was against us in his ordinances, which in any way was contrary to us, and took it out of the midst of us, nailing it to the cross..." Col 2. 14.

"TETELESTAI" is a Greek expression that can be translated as "it is finished", "fully paid" or "debt canceled". In the first century, when a criminal was arrested, his misdeeds were recorded on a papyrus known as a "debt note" or "debt writing". When serving the sentence and when the time for his freedom arrived, the judge responsible for the release of the convict, crossed out the ballot, especially in the part where the crimes were pointed out, and, at the bottom, wrote TETELESTAI. Ready! The individual no longer owed anything to justice. He was free from condemnation and now he could enjoy peace and freedom.

The apostle Paul appropriates this juridical figure to convey to us the depth of the scope of Christ's redemptive work, because, as sinners that we are, there is also a "debt note" against us, namely, a series of transgressions committed throughout the life. This ballot constitutes a powerful instrument of accusation. It silences us, humiliates us, because there is no way to contradict it; there is no denying it. In it are recorded all our wickedness, all our lies, all the perversity we practice. It points to the destruction of those who are there (Rev 20. 12).

However, the apostle Paul declares that Christ "blotted out the handwriting of debt from among us, nailing it to the cross." That is, Jesus Christ with his vicarious (substitutive) death paid the debt we owed to God. It is worth remembering that on the cross of Calvary, according to the Gospel of John (19. 30), Christ declared “It is finished!” (TETELESTAI), even being his last word.

Finished! Fully paid! This is our true situation in Christ in what the satisfaction of divine justice consists. It doesn't matter what we've done. No matter the extent and gravity of our sin. In Christ Jesus “there is no condemnation” (Rom. 8:1).

So when bad memories from the distant or recent past come up and we feel guilty and threatened in our peace, just remember what Christ has done for us. Let us remember his last word about us: TETELESTAI! All our sins have been forgiven by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ! This blood that scratched the ballot that was against us, freeing us from condemnation once and for all! Once and for all!

It is common to find Christians unsure about the fact that they do not feel fully forgiven by God. Some are under the impression that they need to pray one more time in order, who knows, to be truly forgiven by the Lord. However, the Holy Scriptures do not guide us to “feel the forgiveness” of God, but to believe that, in Christ, He has already forgiven us. Therefore, it is not a matter of feeling, but of faith in the person of Jesus Christ and in the effectiveness of the work that He has done.

Another issue that also torments some brothers is the fear that, depending on what they did in the past, they need to “break some curse” or “annull some pact”, because, otherwise, they will always be subject to some onslaught of satan and may have some sort of evil influence in their lives. Thus, for such, at any time, the devil can come “to collect the bill” and, therefore, it is necessary to participate in some cult or liberation chain.

This practice, although common, especially in neo-Pentecostal communities, is foreign to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. Paul, says that the debt was cancelled, moreover, in verse 15 of chapter 2 of the letter to the Colossians, the apostle insists that “having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle of them, and triumphed over them in the cross... ”

If in verse 14, Paul uses a legal scene, as we said above, in this he uses a military reality well known at the time, because when two nations went to war, it was common for the winning army to bring the defeated army to its territory and, in a public ceremony, the defeated soldiers had their clothes and other belongings removed until they were completely naked.

This stripping was intended to humiliate the defeated enemy, demonstrating that he was totally subjugated. This is exactly what Paul is teaching the Colossian believers! Christ defeated and humbled the devil, stripping him of any and all authority he had to accuse, tempt, and harm us. Christ made his enemies “the footstool of his feet” (Eph 1:20-22). We don't need to fear the devil. He is defeated, dispossessed, and humbled by the Lord Jesus Christ. The debt is paid! TETELESTAI!

All our sins have been forgiven! What good thing! All our curses were taken to the cross and there annihilated (Isaiah 53). How wonderful! We are free! Free to live the fullness of the life of Christ.

To Him and Him alone be praise, and honor, and glory, and power forever and ever!

Amen! And amen!

Soli Deo Gloria!

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