“Jesus saves” is a populat slogan on bumper stickers, signs at athletic events, and even banners being pulled across the sky by small airplanes. Sadly, few who see the phrase “Jesus saves” truly and fully understand what it means. There is a tremendous amount of power and truth packed into those two words.
Jesus saves, but who is Jesus?
Most people understand that Jesus was a man who lived in Israel approximately 2000 years ago. Virtually every religion in the world views Jesus as a good teacher and/or a prophet. And while those things are most definitely true of Jesus, they do not capture who Jesus truly is, nor do they explain how or why Jesus saves. Jesus is God in human form (John 1:1, 14). Jesus is God, come to Earth, as a true human being (1 John 4:2). God became a human being in the person of Jesus in order to save us.
That brings up the next question: why do we need to be saved?
Jesus saves, but why do we need to be saved?
The Bible declares that every human being who has ever lived has sinned (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23). To sin is to do something whether in thought, word, or deed, that contradicts God’s perfect and holy character. Because of our sin, we all deserve judgment from God (John 3:18, 36). God is perfectly just, so He cannot allow sin and evil to go unpunished. Since God is infinite and eternal, and since all sin isultimately against God (Psalm 51:4), only an infinite and eternal punishment is sufficient. Eternal death is the only just punishment for sin. That is why we need to be saved.
Jesus saves, but how does He save?
Because we have sinned against an infinite God, either a finite person (us) must pay for our sins for an infinite amount of time, or an infinite Person (Jesus) must pay for our sins one time. There is no other option. Jesus saves us by dying in our place. In the person of Jesus Christ, God sacrificed Himself on our behalf, paying the infinite and eternal penalty only He could pay (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 2:2). Jesus took the punishment that we deserve in order to save us from a horrible eternal destiny, the just consequence of our sin. Because of His great love for us, Jesus laid down His life (John 15:13), paying the penalty that we had earned, but could not pay. Jesus was then resurrected, demonstrating that His death was indeed sufficient to pay the penalty for our sins (1 Corinthians 15).
Jesus saves, but who does He save?
Jesus saves all who will receive His gift of salvation. Jesus saves all those who fully trust in His sacrifice alone as the payment for sin (John
3:16; Acts 16:31). While Jesus’ sacrifice was perfectly sufficient to pay for the sins of all humanity, Jesus only saves those who personally receive His most precious of gifts (John 1:12).
If you now understand what it means that Jesus saves, and you want to trust in Him as your personal Savior, make sure you understand and believe the following, and as an act of faith, communicate the following to God. “God, I know that I am a sinner, and I know that because of my sin I deserve to be eternally separated from you. Even though I do not deserve it, thank you for loving me and providing the sacrifice for my sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and I trust in Him alone to save me. From this point forward, help me to live my life for you instead of for sin. Help me to live the rest of my life in gratitude for the wonderful salvation you have provided. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me!”
This is an excellent post my friend. I would like to call the gospel in a nutshell.
Thanks for sharing. God blesses
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Thank you for your most kind words, Noel, they are so greatly appreciated. Yes, i believe you might say that “it sums it up” in just that way. To you and to yoursmay this be a most blessed day. God bless.
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Reblogged this on This Blogging Thing.
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Just to say thank you!!
Well done, An award for you!
http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/the-versatile-blogger-award-another-award-i-am-humbled/
Shaun
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Thank you my friend for your thoughtfulness and appreciation of me and the work done here. God bless you.
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You were there for me, and you took a second to help and to speak, that is kindness.
My pleasure.
Shaun
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Hi.
I have nominated you, one out of 4 for the “Hug Award”
http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/the-hug-award-hope-unites-globally-thank-you/
Please accept this.
Shaun
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Shaun, Though I appreciate your most sincest thoughts; I am afraid i cannot accept this nomination. What is placed here is for the education of, and the edification to, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ alone. Though I am flattered by such nomination I can not accept it as, to me, it would symbolize my accomplishment and thereby take from what is meant, and purpose, of this blogger’s site. Please understand my view. This is not about me, it never was,but something far greater than I might ever hope to be.
God bless you Shaun and thanks again.
Michael
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Maybe you are looking at a simple “Fun” award online to much Michael?
It is your decision, and will respect your opinion and it will not affect any friendship.
Look at is more as a fun way of saying “Thank you”
I know where you are coming from. And I understand.
Shaun
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Your thank you, Shaun, is more than enough. And, thank you for understanding my position. As you know we are to store our treasures in Heaven. smiling…. Where neither rust, nor moths or destruction can come to them. LOL! Now that makes me smile.
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lol, yeah me as well…
And never an issue or a problem, we are good 🙂
Enjoy your weekend and look forward to further debate,
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Thank you for your interest in this post.It is greatly appreciated. may God bless and keep you always.
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Thank you for your interest in this post. It is greatly appreciated. May God bless and keep you always.
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