Lesson 27 Explore 2: Jesus Saves—How?
The Bible’s answer
Jesus saved faithful humans when he gave his life as a ransom sacrifice.
(Matthew 20.28: Just as the Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his life as a ransom in exchange for many.”)
Thus, the Bible calls Jesus the “Savior of the world.”
(1 John 4.14: In addition, we ourselves have seen and are bearing witness that the Father has sent his Son as savior of the world.)
It also states: “There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”-
(Acts 4.12: Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”)
Jesus ‘tasted death for everyone’ who exercises faith in him.
(Hebrews 2.9: But we do see Jesus, who was made a little lower than angels, now crowned with glory and honor for having suffered death, so that by God’s undeserved kindness he might taste death for everyone.)
(John 3.16: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.)
Thereafter, “God raised him up from the dead,” and Jesus returned to heaven as a spirit creature.
(Acts 3.15: whereas you killed the Chief Agent of life. But God raised him up from the dead, of which fact we are witnesses.)
There, Jesus is able “to save completely those who are approaching God through him, because he is always alive to plead for them.”-
(Hebrews 7.25: So he is able also to save completely those who are approaching God through him, because he is always alive to plead for them.)
Why do we need Jesus to plead for us?
We are all sinners.
(Romans 3.23: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,)
Sin puts a barrier between us and God, and it leads to death.
(Romans 6.23: For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.)
But Jesus serves as “an advocate” for those who exercise faith in his ransom sacrifice. footnote)
(1 John 2.1: My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one.)
He pleads in their behalf, asking God to hear their prayers and grant forgiveness of their sins on the basis of Jesus’ sacrificial death.
(Matthew 1.21: She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”)
(Romans 8.34: Who will condemn them? Christ Jesus is the one who died, yes, more than that, the one who was raised up, who is at the right hand of God and who also pleads for us.)
God acts on such pleas made by Jesus because they are in harmony with His will. God sent Jesus to the earth “for the world to be saved through him.”-
(John 3.17: For God did not send his Son into the world for him to judge the world, but for the world to be saved through him.)
Is belief in Jesus all that we need to be saved?
No. Although we must believe in Jesus to gain salvation, more is required.
(Acts 16.30, 31: He brought them outside and said: “Sirs, what must I do to get saved?” They said: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will get saved, you and your household.”)
The Bible says: “Just as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
(James 2.26: Indeed, just as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.)
To be saved, we must:
• Learn about Jesus and his Father, Jehovah.-
(John 17.3: This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.)
• Build faith in them.-
(John 12.44: However, Jesus called out and said: “Whoever puts faith in me puts faith not only in me but also in him who sent me;)
(John 14.1: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Exercise faith in God; exercise faith also in me.)
• Demonstrate our faith by obeying their commands.
(Luke 6.46: “Why, then, do you call me ‘Lord! Lord!’ but do not do the things I say?)
(1 John 2.17: Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.)
Jesus taught that not everyone who called him “Lord” would be saved but only those “doing the will of [his] Father who is in the heavens.”-
(Matthew 7.21: “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will.)
• Continue to demonstrate our faith despite hardships. Jesus made that clear when he said: “The one who has endured to the end will be saved.”-
(Matthew 24.13: But the one who has endured to the end will be saved.)
[End of article.]