Discovering What Jesus Accomplished Through His Death and Resurrection — and What It Means for Us Today
Welcome to This Woodland Pathway
What if the peace you have been searching for begins not with something more you need to accomplish, but with understanding what Jesus Christ has already accomplished for you?
Perhaps you have followed Jesus for many years.
You believe He died on the cross.
You know that He rose from the dead.
You have heard the words, “It is finished.”
Yet somewhere in your everyday walk with God, you may still find yourself wondering whether you are doing enough.
Have I prayed enough?
Have I been faithful enough?
Have I changed enough?
Does God really accept me when I still recognise weaknesses in my life?
Perhaps you understand that salvation is a gift, but you sometimes live as though God’s approval depends upon how well you have performed.
When you have a peaceful morning in Scripture, you feel close to Him.
When you respond impatiently, struggle with an old habit, or fail to meet your own expectations, you begin questioning whether you have disappointed Him.
You know that Jesus has forgiven you.
But you may still carry the quiet feeling that you need to make yourself more acceptable.
Here, beneath the ancient trees of The Woodland Path, you are invited to consider a different foundation.
Not another set of religious expectations.
Not another attempt to become worthy through your own efforts.
But the extraordinary truth of what God has accomplished through His Son.
The cross was not the beginning of a work that we must somehow complete.
Jesus gave Himself as the sufficient sacrifice for sin.
He rose from the dead.
And through Him, God reconciles sinners to Himself.
This does not mean that our response of faith, repentance and obedience is unimportant.
It means that our salvation rests upon Christ rather than upon our ability to achieve it.
As you begin this journey, imagine standing beside a beautiful old stone bridge.
A gentle stream flows beneath its arch.
Beyond it, the woodland path continues into the sunlight.
The bridge offers a quiet picture of reconciliation.
Yet our confidence is not in the picture.
It is in Jesus Christ Himself.
He is the One who has opened the way to the Father.
And this pathway invites you to discover what that truly means.
An Invitation to Rest in What Jesus Has Accomplished
In John 19:30, as Jesus was dying upon the cross, He declared:
“It is finished.”
These words were not an admission of defeat.
They marked the completion of the work the Father had given Him to accomplish.
Jesus had come in obedience to the Father’s will.
He had revealed the Father’s character.
He had proclaimed the kingdom of God.
And now He was giving His life as the sacrifice through which salvation would be accomplished.
The New Testament explains the significance of His death and resurrection.
In Hebrews 10:10–14, we learn that Christ offered Himself once for all.
Unlike the repeated sacrifices under the old covenant, His sacrifice is sufficient.
Through His offering, He has accomplished what those sacrifices could never finally achieve.
In 2 Corinthians 5:18–21, Paul explains that God reconciles us to Himself through Christ.
Reconciliation is not something we create by becoming sufficiently religious.
It is something God has made possible through His Son.
And in Romans 4:25, Paul connects Jesus’ death and resurrection with our justification.
The resurrection is not simply a hopeful ending to a tragic story.
It is essential to the good news of Jesus Christ.
Together, these truths form the foundation of the Christian faith.
Jesus came.
He lived in perfect obedience to the Father.
He died for our sins.
He rose again.
And through faith in Him, we receive the salvation that we could never earn.
This is why understanding His finished work matters.
When we misunderstand what Jesus has accomplished, we can begin treating the Christian life as an exhausting attempt to secure what God has already provided through Christ.
We may try to earn forgiveness.
Prove our acceptance.
Or measure our standing before God by the quality of our most recent actions.
But Scripture directs us towards a different foundation.
Our confidence is not in ourselves.
It is in the crucified and risen Saviour.
And as we understand His completed work more clearly, we can begin living with greater gratitude, assurance and freedom to obey Him.
What You’ll Discover Along This Pathway
These ten reflections invite you to explore the biblical meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection, and the extraordinary blessings made possible through His saving work.
We’ll begin by considering why reconciliation with God was necessary and how Jesus accomplished what humanity could never accomplish independently.
We’ll explore the gift of salvation by grace through faith, and why no amount of religious performance can purchase God’s acceptance.
We’ll discover how Christ opened the way to the Father and what Scripture means when it speaks about redemption through His precious blood.
We’ll consider the wonderful declaration that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Then we’ll turn our attention to the resurrection.
Why is it essential to the gospel?
What does it reveal about Christ’s victory over death?
And what hope does it establish for those who belong to Him?
We’ll also explore the privilege of adoption into the Father’s family, freedom from sin’s dominion, and the assurance that Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice is sufficient.
Finally, we’ll consider what it means to live in the light of His victory.
Not by attempting to add something to His saving work.
But by responding through faith, gratitude and obedience.
Throughout this journey, one truth will remain central.
We do not complete the work of Christ through our performance. We receive the salvation He has accomplished and learn to walk in the life He has given us.
There is no need to hurry through these reflections.
Each article stands on its own, allowing you to explore the questions that are most meaningful to you.
Come with an open Bible.
Bring your questions.
And allow the truth of God’s Word to establish your confidence more deeply in Jesus Christ.
Wander Along the Path
Why Did Jesus Come to Reconcile Us to God?
Discovering How Christ Restored the Way to Relationship With the Father
Have you ever wondered why reconciliation with God was necessary, or why our own goodness could never accomplish it?
Begin at the Bridge of Reconciliation and explore 2 Corinthians 5:18–21. Discover how sin affected humanity’s relationship with God, why reconciliation must begin with Him, and how Jesus accomplished what we could never achieve through our own efforts.
Read the Article →
Why Is Salvation a Gift We Cannot Earn?
Discovering the Grace of God and the Freedom of Receiving Rather Than Striving
Have you ever felt that you need to do more, improve more, or become more faithful before you can feel confident in God’s acceptance?
Rest for a while in the Courtyard of Grace as we explore Ephesians 2:1–10. Discover why salvation is God’s gift through faith in Christ, not the reward for religious performance, and how good works flow from the new life He gives rather than becoming the means of earning it.
Read the Article →
How Did Jesus Open the Way to the Father?
Discovering the Confidence We Have to Draw Near Through Christ
Have you ever approached God feeling uncertain whether you are truly welcome in His presence?
Walk through the Open Gate and explore Hebrews 10:19–22. Discover how Jesus’ sacrifice provides access to the Father, why His blood gives believers confidence to draw near, and how we can approach God through faith rather than fear of rejection.
Read the Article →
What Does It Mean That Jesus Redeemed Us?
Understanding the Precious Price of Our Redemption and the Sufficiency of Christ’s Sacrifice
What does the Bible mean when it says that we have been redeemed, and why does it speak about the precious blood of Christ?
Beside the Spring of Redemption, explore 1 Peter 1:18–21 and discover the biblical meaning of redemption. Consider what Jesus gave to secure our freedom, why His sacrifice cannot be replaced by human effort, and how His saving work reveals both the seriousness of sin and the greatness of God’s love.
Read the Article →
Why Is There No Condemnation for Those in Christ?
Discovering What Christ Has Accomplished and Why Guilt No Longer Defines Our Standing Before God
Have you ever confessed a sin, believed that God forgives, yet continued living as though condemnation still hangs over you?
Enter the Garden Beyond the Wall and explore Romans 8:1–4. Discover why there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, how His saving work changes our standing before God, and why recognising sin and responding to the Holy Spirit is different from living beneath a sentence Christ has already dealt with.
Read the Article →
What Did the Resurrection of Jesus Accomplish?
Discovering Why Christ’s Victory Over Death Is Essential to Our Salvation and Hope
Have you ever considered what the Christian faith would mean if Jesus had died but had not risen again?
Step into the Clearing of New Life and explore 1 Corinthians 15:12–22. Discover why the resurrection is essential to the gospel, how it confirms the victory of Christ, and what His resurrection means for forgiveness, future resurrection and the living hope of those who belong to Him.
Read the Article →
How Has Jesus Made Us Welcome in the Father’s Family?
Discovering the Gift of Adoption and the Privilege of Belonging to God Through Christ
Have you ever believed that God has forgiven you but struggled to understand that He also welcomes you as His child?
Pause at the Terrace of Belonging and explore Galatians 4:4–7. Discover how God sent His Son to redeem those under the law, how believers receive adoption as His children, and how the gift of the Spirit enables us to approach Him as Father.
Read the Article →
What Has Jesus Set Us Free From?
Discovering How Union With Christ Changes Our Relationship to Sin and Grace
Have you ever wondered what it really means to be free in Christ when old temptations and habits can still appear?
Walk along the Path of Freedom and explore Romans 6:6–14. Discover how believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, why sin is no longer their master, and how the grace of God calls us into a new way of living rather than giving us permission to continue in sin.
Read the Article →
How Can I Be Confident That Christ’s Work Is Enough?
Resting in the Sufficiency of Jesus’ Once-for-All Sacrifice
Have you ever wondered whether your failures mean you need to somehow make up for what you have done before God will fully accept you again?
Find a quiet place in the Pavilion of Assurance and explore Hebrews 10:11–18. Discover why Jesus’ sacrifice is final and sufficient, how His completed work differs from the repeated sacrifices of the old covenant, and why our assurance rests upon Him rather than our ability to maintain a flawless spiritual performance.
Read the Article →
How Do I Live in the Victory of Jesus Today?
Learning to Walk in the Freedom, Gratitude and Confidence of Christ’s Completed Work
What difference should the victory of Jesus make when you return to the ordinary responsibilities and challenges of everyday life?
Continue towards the Walkway of His Victory and explore Colossians 2:13–15. Discover how Christ’s death and resurrection establish the foundation for forgiveness and victory, and how we can respond by remaining rooted in Him, trusting His Word and living in gratitude for what He has accomplished.
Read the Article →
Before You Continue Along the Woodland Path
Perhaps you began this journey carrying questions about whether you have done enough.
Perhaps you have spent years believing that God loves you, yet still find yourself trying to prove that you deserve His acceptance.
Or perhaps you have known the story of the cross and resurrection for most of your life but have never fully considered what those events mean for your relationship with the Father.
The good news of Jesus Christ is not that God has made salvation possible if we can now become good enough to complete the process.
It is that God has acted through His Son to accomplish what we could never accomplish for ourselves.
Jesus lived in obedience to the Father.
He gave Himself for our sins.
He rose from the dead.
And through Him, sinners can be reconciled to God.
This is not an invitation to treat sin lightly.
The cross reveals how seriously God takes sin.
Nor is it an invitation to live independently of the One who saved us.
The grace of God calls us into a new life of faith, love and obedience.
But our obedience is not the price we pay to make Christ’s sacrifice sufficient.
His saving work is already sufficient.
And as we come to understand that truth, our relationship with God begins to rest upon a firmer foundation.
We can acknowledge our failures without believing that our failures are greater than the Saviour.
We can receive correction without assuming that God has withdrawn His love.
We can pursue holiness without turning spiritual growth into an attempt to earn salvation.
And we can approach the Father through Jesus Christ with gratitude and confidence.
Perhaps one particular truth has become especially meaningful to you.
The gift of grace.
The freedom of forgiveness.
The assurance of no condemnation.
The hope of resurrection.
Or the extraordinary privilege of belonging to the Father’s family.
Take time to consider what Scripture has revealed.
Allow that truth to become established in your thinking.
And remember that you do not need to add anything to the saving work of Jesus to make it complete.
The finished work of Christ is not an invitation to stop walking with God. It is the foundation upon which our entire walk with Him rests.
As you continue through The Estate, may your confidence become increasingly grounded in the One who loved you and gave Himself for you.
Continue Your Woodland Journey
Living in Your New Identity in Christ
Discovering Who You Have Become Through Jesus and Learning to Walk in the Truth of Your New Life
Understanding what Jesus has accomplished naturally leads us towards another beautiful question.
Who am I now because I belong to Him?
What does Scripture mean when it says that believers are new creations in Christ?
What does it mean to be righteous in Him?
How does our union with Jesus change the way we understand our identity, our relationship with sin and our place in the Father’s family?
And how do we learn to live consistently with what God has declared to be true?
Along this next Woodland Path journey, we’ll explore the identity believers receive through Christ and discover how that truth can renew our thinking and shape our everyday lives.
There is no need to hurry.
The path will be waiting whenever you are ready to continue.
Explore Living in Your New Identity in Christ →
Return to The Woodland Path →