Chapter 13

Salvation through Jesus Christ

Sections

The teachings in this chapter are at the absolute heart of the New Testament and the gospel message. It is critical for anyone trying to comprehend the Christian faith to soundly understand them.

Forgiveness of Sins through Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ died as a sacrifice for our sins

We need a priest who doesn’t have to bring daily sacrifices as those chief priests did. First they brought sacrifices for their own sins, and then they brought sacrifices for the sins of the people. Jesus brought the sacrifice for the sins of the people once and for all when he sacrificed himself.   Hebrews 7:27 GW

Jesus Christ died as a sacrifice to God for people’s sin – “once and for all”. His sacrifice is enough for the sins of all people. Now no more sacrifices need to be made.

Jesus Christ’s sacrifice means that our sins can be forgiven

But Christ came only once and for all time at just the right time to take away all sin by sacrificing himself. 27Just as everyone must die once and be judged, 28so Christ was offered as a sacrifice one time to take away the sins of many people.   Hebrews 9:26b-28a NCV™

[Paul, to believers:] For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.   Ephesians 1:7b GNT

The mention of Jesus Christ’s “blood” is a reference to his sacrificial death for us, by which we can be forgiven.

Through Jesus Christ’s death we can be at peace with God

[Paul, to believers:] You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. 22But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.   Colossians 1:21-22 CEV

Jesus Christ’s resurrection was also crucial

Jesus was given to die for our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God.   Romans 4:25 NCV™

Jesus Christ’s resurrection was crucial for us to be made right with God – i.e. to be forgiven and at peace with him.

Salvation and Life through Jesus Christ

God provides salvation through Jesus Christ

[Paul, to believers:] God did not choose us to suffer his anger but to have salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.   1 Thessalonians 5:9 NCV™

We can only be saved through Jesus Christ

Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us.   Acts 4:12 GNT

Through Jesus Christ we can have eternal life

God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. … 36Everyone who has faith in the Son has eternal life. But no one who rejects him will ever share in that life, and God will be angry with them forever.   John 3:16, 36 CEV

God has provided salvation for the Gentiles through Christ

God did this [revealed his plan of salvation] because he wanted you Gentiles to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God’s glory.   Colossians 1:27 CEV

In OT times it was firstly only the Israelites, then after the Babylonian captivity more specifically the Jews, who were “God’s people” and as such knew the way of God’s salvation. But through Jesus Christ’s mission, God has made salvation open to the Gentiles.

Pray for persecuted Christians