The Age of Salvation
Salvation and Redemption are found in no other name than ‘Jesus’. He alone achieved victory over Sin, Satan, and Death.
Jesus
of Nazareth declared: “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me, therefore,
go and make disciples of all nations.” He sent his disciples to announce the
salvation purchased by his death to the “ends of the Earth.” The Age of Salvation
commenced with his Death and Resurrection; therefore, his life-giving message
must be announced to all men. The Son of God has achieved salvation for his
people!
The idea of a new Era of Salvation is implicit in the
opening words of the Letter to the Hebrews. God has spoken with great finality
in His Son - “upon the last of these days” - the same Jesus who “achieved
the purification of sins” for his people. His “once and for all”
sacrifice secured salvation for all of us – (Hebrews 1:1, 7:27, 9:28, 10:10).
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- “And having been made complete, he became for all those who obey him the author of everlasting salvation” – (Hebrews 5:9).
- “But now, once at the end of the ages, he has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” – (Hebrews 9:26).
This salvation is for men and women of every generation and
nation without exception. God loved humanity so much that He “gave
his only born Son” so all men might believe and receive “everlasting
life.” Thus, Jesus died, and God raised him from the dead so that we no
longer must live in bondage to sin and the fear of death – (“That he might deliver all those who
through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage”).
Because of his suffering “for our sins,” God raised Jesus
from the dead and “highly exalted him, granting him the name that is above
every name,” – JESUS - the name that means “Yahweh saves.”
Through this same Jesus, the salvation promised by the God of Israel is now
offered to all humanity and every nation.
All peoples and nations belong to Jesus. He is the “Ruler
of the Kings of the Earth.” His sacrificial death voided the legal claim of
Satan over humanity, and his resurrection broke the iron grip of Death that
held us all. This is a radical message of liberation from the tyranny of Sin,
Satan, and Death that all men must hear – (1 Corinthians 15:1-6, Philippians
2:6-11, Hebrews 2:14-15, Revelation 1:6-8,3:21, 5:5-14).
- “Since the children are partakers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the Devil; and might deliver all those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” – (Hebrews 2:14-15).
God has “spoken” with eloquent finality through His
Son, especially on the Cross. He alone “achieved the purification of sin,”
therefore, he sits “at the right hand of the Majesty on High places” as our Great High Priest who mediates salvation. He alone achieved
victory over Sin and conquered Death – (Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:14-18).
HIS NEW COMMUNITY
Because
of his Death and Resurrection, anyone may now receive the forgiveness of sin
and justification before God “from the faith of Jesus Christ.” For
the disciples of Jesus, death will be reversed when he raises them from the
dead on the last day. “By faith, Abraham, accounting that God can resurrect even from the dead, from whence he did also in a figure receive Isaac
back” – (Romans 3:21-22, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Hebrews
11:19).
Since His Son “achieved the purification of sins,” God is creating a new community composed of men and women from every nation who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, the ‘Ekklésia’ (εκκλησια), the “Assembly.” Every person who submits to and places faith in this same Jesus becomes a member of this holy community – (Ephesians 2:15).
No
nation, civilization, or political ideology can claim Jesus or his teachings as
its property. His Gospel is a message of hope for every man, woman, and child. It transcends
all national and cultural boundaries. His disciples proclaim one message for all
men, whether “Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male and female, for all are one
in Christ Jesus” – (Galatians 3:28).
Salvation
is provided on the same basis to every man, woman, and child, from the faith
of Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah who “gave his life” as the
ransom price to free us from sin, Satan, and death.
The
angel instructed Joseph to name Mary’s child ‘Jesus’ since he would “save
his people from their sins.” His name is most fitting since it means “Salvation
of Yahweh” or “Yahweh Saves.” In every sense of the word, “Jesus
Saves,” for only he has achieved the salvation that saves and redeems
us. “There is no other name under heaven by which we may be saved.”
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SEE ALSO:
- Salvation for the Nations - (The Gospel of the Kingdom announced by Jesus of Nazareth offers salvation and life to men and women of every nation and people)
- The Foundation - (Paul reminded Timothy of the resurrection of Jesus and his victory over death since false teachers were denying the resurrection of believers)
- His Name is Jesus - (The name Jesus means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In the Nazarene, the salvation promised to Israel has arrived in all its glory)
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