“…He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”
Hebrews 9:12 (NKJV)
Christ came to earn our salvation because of God’s faithful love (mercy) and justice. God’s love is confirmed in John 3:16; “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (NKJV).
His justice is affirmed when Paul writes that God put forward Jesus “…as a propitiation…” (Romans 3:25 – NKJV), i.e., a sacrifice that bears God’s wrath so that God can look favourably towards us. This was done “to demonstrate His righteousness” and also “…that He might be just…” (Romans 3:25-26). Therefore, someone had to take the punishment for our sins, and that someone was Jesus. God gave His own Son to bear the punishment.
Before Jesus’ birth, an angel told His earthly father, Joseph, he was to name the baby in Mary’s womb “Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus did save His people from their sins – both through the life He lived and through the death He died. The work Jesus did in living and dying to earn our salvation is referred to as atonement.
Christ lived a perfect, sinless life and died a horrific sinner’s death in order to save His people from their sins. He bore the wrath we deserve to bear. He overcame the separation our sin caused between God and us and freed us from the bondage caused by sin. Because of Christ’s work on our behalf, we are delivered from the dominion of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). What a great Salvation!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I am forever grateful for the Salvation of my soul. I confessed with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. Today, I pray for the unsaved around the world that the light of this glorious Gospel will shine in their hearts for Salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Read: Romans 5:6; Philippians 3:9Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 9:1-12; Luke 13:1-30; Deuteronomy 13; Deuteronomy 14
