"It is finished" (John 19:30) translates the Greek word tetelestai, which can mean "paid in full". Spoken by Jesus on the cross, it declares that humanity's debt of sin is fully satisfied, the scriptures are fulfilled, and the mission of salvation is permanently accomplished.
Are you in Christ? If so, not by any human works of ours (Ephesians 2:8-10). If you are trying to earn your salvation by obeying rules and regulations and being a good enough person...you will miss the mark of perfection...only God is Good (Mark 10:18)...Humans fall short of God’s perfect standard.
Just go through a day without a sinful thought or action. We sin by thought, word, commission and omission (not doing something we should be doing).
We all like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6).
If you are in Christ you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Don't try and add your works to His finished work...it is very good (Genesis 1:31)...and if you are in Him (Colossians 2:9:11) the Father is well pleased with you (Matthew 3:17).
The phrase "Sinners by default" means that people are considered sinners automatically from birth, without needing to actively commit a bad deed to earn that label. It implies that sin is the baseline human condition.
Theological Meaning
In Christian theology, this relates directly to the concept of Original Sin.
Inherited Condition: It suggests that humanity inherited a flawed, sinful nature from Adam and Eve.
Automatic Status: Because of this inheritance, a person does not start with a clean slate; they are born into a state of spiritual separation from God by default.
Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. (Matthew 22:29 BSB)
1 Thessalonians 4 BSB
15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.
