This Article: (3 Pages)
- 1. Salvation
- 2. Jesus and Salvation
- 3. The Gospel and Salvation
3) The Gospel and Salvation
It is through the sacrifice of Jesus that humans have a hope of salvation. The Gospel, or the good news, is the hope of the Kingdom of God and knowing that Jesus brought to all the world knowledge of the gift of God and the hope of life and immortality. In other words Jesus showed the way to achieve salvation and life beyond the grave.
There are many references in the New Testament to Jesus's role proclaiming the gospel in the Creator's plan of salvation for humans. Paul writing to Timothy spoke about Jesus' mission.
“He has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” (2 Timothy 1: 10)
The gospel is about belief in the name of Jesus
“Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (i.e. non Jews).”(Romans 1:16)
It is through an understanding of God's promises in the Bible and a knowledge of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God on earth that we can learn how to obtain the promise of life beyond the grave.
“The holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”(2Timothy 1:3-4)
“John the Baptist was the prophet of the Highest...to give knowledge of salvation unto the people by the remission of their sins.”(Luke 1:76-77)
The connection between Jesus and salvation is summarised by John the Apostle in the following way.
“This is life eternal to know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent.”(John 17:3)
How do we obtain Salvation?
The Biblical concept of Salvation is of a life beyond death, of an everlasting existence, or life eternal, in which our mortal, dying bodies are changed into immortal bodies. For those who have believed and and are dead, there is to be a resurrection at the return of Jesus to the earth (seeResurrection). To become a part of this promise we must believe in the all powerful Creator and His son Jesus Christ and obey Yahweh's commands.
The apostle Paul in Romans chapters 5 and 6 clearly defined the steps to salvation. A few quotations from these chapters are given below. The death and sacrifice of Christ was the fulfilment of the principles of the Law of Moses, by which sacrifice and the shedding of the blood of animals was a covering for sin.
“For yet when we were without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”(Romans 5:6)
From the time of Adam and Eve, death has been the destiny of all mankind. The sinless and righteous life of Jesus Christ has opened the way for eternal life to the faithful.
“As sin has reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”(Romans 5:21)
Yahshua says an essential act on the part of a faithful believer is the act of baptism, which is a complete immersion in water.
He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.(Mark 16:16)
Baptism is an acknowledgement of our sinful state, an identification with the death of Christ and rising to a new life of dedication and service to the Lord.
“Know ye not that so many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”(Romans 6:3-5)
To those who believe and are faithful there is 'the gift of God,' the promise of a resurrection to eternal life in God's future Kingdom on this earth.
“Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.”(Romans 6:8)
There is no other hope for salvation than that which is offered through association with Jesus by Yahweh, the Saviour and Creator of all.
“For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”(Romans 6:23)
The only way that we can be saved from everlasting death and a return to the dust of the earth is to search out God's promises and the means by which He offers salvation to mankind. The Bible is unique in that it promises life beyond death and in addition explains how it can be achieved.
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