The Good News

Introduction

We have seen that after the fall of Adam all men became sinners, law breakers and were under the righteous judgment of God. Yet God's plan was not destroyed at this point. God still wanted to be a good Father to us. But now it was necessary for us to be saved from the consequences of our rebellion against God.

Jesus - The Saviour of Mankind

The Bible reveals Jesus Christ as God's son, and the only Saviour of mankind from sin, judgment and curse. Therefore everybody needs to know about Jesus, and what He has done for us.

The angel, speaking to Joseph concerning his betrothed wife, Mary, said:

"And she shall bring forth a Son, and you will call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Mt 1.21

Jesus was conceived by God in Mary, and so did not share the rebellious nature of mankind. Although we acknowledge that Mary had an important role in bringing the Saviour into the world, we cannot recognise her as a saviour or a way to God. For Jesus said:

"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14.6)

Paul said: "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Timothy 2:4-5)

Therefore, in looking for salvation from the sin problem, we must look to Jesus Christ. There is no other source of salvation. There is no other way to God. Neither Mary, nor the saints, nor Mohammed, nor some guru or any teaching of mysticism or philosophy can do away with our great personal need for Jesus Christ, the only True Saviour.

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Jesus was qualified to be our saviour for the following reasons:

1. He is fully God. Isaiah 43:10,11 states that besides the Lord GOD there is no Saviour. Jesus, however, is called "the mighty God" (Is. 9:6) and "our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2.13). It takes God to save sinners. This is one reason why it matters if we believe the doctrine of the Trinity.

2. He is fully man. (1 Tim 2.4). Only as a man could Jesus pay the price for the sins of mankind. Only as a man could he be the representative head of the new race of new men, born again of the spirit of God. He is the last Adam and the Second Man. (1Cor 15:45,47). "For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead." (1Corinthians 15:21)

3. He perfectly fulfilled the law of God, including all of the Mosaic Law. If Jesus had sinned, he would need a saviour. But Jesus "committed no sin, nor was guilt found in his mouth" (1 Peter 2:22) and is described as "a lamb without blemish and without spot". (1 Peter 1:20). A careful study of the life of Jesus as recorded in the gospels reveals no sin in his life. Instead it reveals that he fulfilled both the commandments and ordinances of the law and also that he fulfilled the O.T. prophecies concerning the promised Messiah and Saviour.

4. What he did for us, he did willingly. In John 10:17,18 Jesus states:

"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

Jesus began to reveal Himself as saviour, deliverer and healer in his ministry to the sick and oppressed in Galilee and Judea. It is recorded that he cast out demons, healed the sick (Mt 4:23) declared God's forgiveness to sinners (Mark 2:5) and brought provision and joy where it was needed (Jn 2:1-12; Mk 6:30-34). All these things were signs that indeed Jesus was the promised Messiah (Christ), Saviour and Deliverer of Mankind. We know that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and that He wants to do these things today for people also. However, we must understand that Jesus' greatest work was not any of these miracles but rather his work of suffering on the cross. This is where He conquered evil, by paying the price for sin and taking upon Himself the consequences of man's rebellion against God. God demonstrated this by raising Christ physically from the dead.

What did Jesus do for us at the cross?

It is extremely important that we understand what Jesus did for us at the cross. This is where we were legally delivered from all the consequences of Adam's rebellion. This is where a great exchange took place.

"Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses) and carried our sorrows (pains) ... But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." (Is. 53:4,5)

In the moment that we truly put all our trust in Jesus and commit ourselves fully to Him, receiving Him and confessing Him as our Lord and Saviour for all time, we are in Christ. When we are in Christ, all the promises of God and all the benefits of calvary become available to us (2 Corinthians 1:20). We can receive them. Then we can declare:

- Jesus took my sin, I receive his righteousness. (Is. 53:5)

- Jesus took my punishment, I receive his forgiveness. (Rom. 3:25; 1Jn 1:9; 1Jn 2:2; 1Pet 3:18)

- Jesus took my diseases and pains, I receive healing, for by His wounds I am healed. (Is 53:4,5; Mt. 8:16,17)

- Jesus took my sickly nature, I receive His divine health. (Is. 53:10) We need to look at the Hebrew words in vs 4 and 10 of this chapter. Jesus was made sick on the cross.

- Jesus took my sadness, and gives me His joy. (Isaiah. 61:3; John 15:11)

- Jesus took my curse, I receive His blessing. (Galatians 3:13,14)

- Jesus took my old life, I receive His new divine life. (Galatians 2:20; John 10:10)

- Jesus took my poverty, I receive His riches. (2 Corinthians 8:9; Deuteronomy 28:48; Galatians 3:13,14)

- Jesus took my rejection, I receive acceptance from God. (Mark 15:34,37; Ephesians 1:6)

Be sure to look up these Scriptures and read them out loud for yourself. Our salvation is based on what God has declared to be true in His Word, not on the words of a man or a church.

The most important thing for us to remember and present to people is that Jesus Christ through his death on the cross paid for all our sins and rebellion - everything that separates us from God. This means that God is now able to offer a way back to Him, through Jesus, for everyone who wants to be reconciled with God again. It means that now we can have a relationship with God again, because all our sins which destroy that relationship and give room to the devil in our lives have been paid for at the cross. Knowing the truth of this can make us free. (Jn 8:32)

The Resurrection as proof of Christianity

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is recorded as an historical event in all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). This was not just a spiritual resurrection but a bodily resurrection. (Luke 24:37-43). As Christians we too have the promise from God that we will be physically resurrected with new bodies, just as Christ was. (1 Corinthians 15:42, 52-54; 1Thessalonians 4:16,17)

Jesus' resurrection is significant because:

1. It means we do not serve a dead God, or a dead prophet, or a philosophy, but a living Saviour who is "the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

2. It proves that Jesus is who He said He is, the Son of God. (Rom. 1:4)

3. It proves that we are justified through the death of Jesus, "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Rom 4.25). The resurrection shows that God accepted Jesus' payment for our sins, that Jesus' death was not just like the death of some righteous man. "And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile, you are still in your sins!" (1Cor 15:17)

4. Through the resurrection, we too may share in the resurrection life of Christ, beginning with the new birth. (Jn 3:3; 1 Peter 1:3; Romans 6:4,5,8,9). We may walk in newness of life.

5. It gives us a living hope, and a hope of life after death. (1 Peter 1:3)

What Evidence is there for the Resurrection?
Get your free registration and log in to view entire article