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God leaves no doubt about our condition. While we set our standards of right and wrong by society's values, God’s standard is His own holiness. How do we measure up? "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). It is only fair that God demands holiness; that is how He first created mankind. We have rebelled against Him as a race and as individuals.
Our pathway away from God has brought its consequences. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a). The Bible compares sin to a cruel slave master. There is no mercy in suffering, no freedom from bondage, no lasting joy, no hope for the future. Most frightening is the final consequence of sin. The Bible warns that without God’s salvation, death is the doorway to eternal punishment (Hebrews 9:27).
It is from this that we need to be saved. From our own sin. From its bondage. From its consequences. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3).
God is holy and God is love. His holiness demands that our sin be punished in full. His love provides a way for us to be saved from this punishment. How is this possible? Someone was willing to suffer what we deserve. Our substitute had to be a sinless man, able to suffer the full wrath of God against our sin. The only one able to take our place was God’s Son.
The greatest display of God’s love unfolded as His Son left heaven to become a man. Born of a virgin 2000 years ago, the Lord Jesus Christ lived with His creation. He was unable to sin, yet He showed compassion to sinners all around Him. Men hated Christ because His holiness exposed their sinfulness. They decided to remove Him by crucifying Him. He willingly allowed them to nail Him to a cross of wood outside Jerusalem. They suspended Him so they could sit and watch Him die. The climax of God’s plan of salvation had arrived as God covered the earth with darkness. The Bible tells us that for three hours He laid on His Son the full punishment we deserve to receive for our sin. The darkness was broken when Jesus Christ called out with a loud voice, "It is finished". He had accomplished the mighty work, God’s great plan of salvation.
After three days in death, Christ Jesus rose from the dead. This is evidence to all who saw Him and to all who read God’s word that Christ’s suffering completely satisfied His father. He was victorious over death itself – the ultimate consequence of our sin.
God’s plan of salvation brings us into
the good of Christ’s suffering, death, and victory. "For when we were
yet without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6).
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life" (John 3:16).
What the Bible says
About Jesus Christ
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
(John 1:1,14)
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
(Matthew 1:23)
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are upon earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:"
(Colossians 1:16)
"Who committed no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:"
(1 Peter 2:22)
"And ye know that he appeared to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."
(1 John 3:5)
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
(2 Corinthians 5:21)
"And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world."
(1 John 4:14)
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."
(1 Timothy 1:15)
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
(Luke 19:10)
"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;"
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."
(John 10:11)
"And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man."
(John 5:27)
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"
(1 Timothy 2:5)
"And they truly were many priests, because they were not allowed to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood."
(Hebrews 7:23-24)
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:9-11)
"But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority upon earth to forgive sins, (he said to the sick with the palsy,) I say to thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thy house."
(Luke 5:24)
1 John chapter 1 tells us that if we abide in Him, we ought to walk as He walked. Jesus denied Himself to walk on earth. He denied Himself to take up His Cross on our behalf. All that He did, He did for our benefit. He saw the love in His Father's heart for us, and He expressed it to us in blessing, healing, deliverance, and ultimately, in the sacrifice of His body. We are called to walk as He walked, in the power in which He walked, and represent Him to a lost world. The Cross is real, and valid for today. If we died with Him, we were raised for the purpose of living to Him. Our lives are not our own. We were bought with a price. No Christian has the right to decide whether or not he will obey God. His life was purchased, and he now belongs to Christ. We need Salvation, It's free and all we need to do is accept the Salvation call that God promises."Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
(Matthew 11:28-30)
There is great fulfillment in doing the will of Father. It is not burdensome to live for God. Our Heavenly Father continues to bless us, as we walk with Him. He fills our hearts with joy and a peace which comes of reconciliation. He provides for our every need. It is our responsibility to take our place, and walk the way He has called us to walk. We must daily take up our cross and, denying ourselves, live for God.
"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
To find out why we
need Salvation, click here.