The Good News

The Good News

Introduction

We know that after the fall of Adam all men became sinners, law breakers and were under the righteous judgment of God. Yet God's plan was not destroyed at this point. God still wanted to be a good Father to us. But now it was necessary for us to be saved from the consequences of our rebellion against God.

Jesus - The Saviour of Mankind

The Bible reveals Jesus Christ as God's son, and the only Saviour of mankind from sin, judgment and curse. Therefore everybody needs to know about Jesus, and what He has done for us.

The angel, speaking to Joseph concerning his betrothed wife, Mary, said:

"And she shall bring forth a Son, and you will call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Mt 1.21

Jesus was conceived by God in Mary, and so did not share the rebellious nature of mankind. Although we acknowledge that Mary had an important role in bringing the Saviour into the world, we cannot recognise her as a saviour or a way to God. For Jesus said:

"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14.6)

Paul said: "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Timothy 2:4-5)

Therefore, in looking for salvation from the sin problem, we must look to Jesus Christ. There is no other source of salvation. There is no other way to God. Neither Mary, nor the saints, nor Mohammed, nor some guru or any teaching of mysticism or philosophy can do away with our great personal need for Jesus Christ, the only True Saviour.

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Jesus was qualified to be our saviour for the following reasons:

1. He is fully God. Isaiah 43:10,11 states that besides the Lord GOD there is no Saviour. Jesus, however, is called "the mighty God" (Is. 9:6) and "our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2.13). It takes God to save sinners. This is one reason why it matters if we believe the doctrine of the Trinity.

2. He is fully man. (1 Tim 2.4). Only as a man could Jesus pay the price for the sins of mankind. Only as a man could he be the representative head of the new race of new men, born again of the spirit of God. He is the last Adam and the Second Man. (1Cor 15:45,47). "For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead." (1Corinthians 15:21)

3. He perfectly fulfilled the law of God, including all of the Mosaic Law. If Jesus had sinned, he would need a saviour. But Jesus "committed no sin, nor was guilt found in his mouth" (1 Peter 2:22) and is described as "a lamb without blemish and without spot". (1 Peter 1:20). A careful study of the life of Jesus as recorded in the gospels reveals no sin in his life. Instead it reveals that he fulfilled both the commandments and ordinances of the law and also that he fulfilled the O.T. prophecies concerning the promised Messiah and Saviour.

4. What he did for us, he did willingly. In John 10:17,18 Jesus states:

"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

Jesus began to reveal Himself as saviour, deliverer and healer in his ministry to the sick and oppressed in Galilee and Judea. It is recorded that he cast out demons, healed the sick (Mt 4:23) declared God's forgiveness to sinners (Mark 2:5) and brought provision and joy where it was needed (Jn 2:1-12; Mk 6:30-34). All these things were signs that indeed Jesus was the promised Messiah (Christ), Saviour and Deliverer of Mankind. We know that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and that He wants to do these things today for people also. However, we must understand that Jesus' greatest work was not any of these miracles but rather his work of suffering on the cross. This is where He conquered evil, by paying the price for sin and taking upon Himself the consequences of man's rebellion against God. God demonstrated this by raising Christ physically from the dead.

What did Jesus do for us at the cross?