This is the first in a 4-part series on the Ministry of Christ as our Savior, Holy Spirit Baptizer, Healer and Soon Coming King.
We believe Jesus our Savior is co-existent and co-eternal with God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He took upon Himself the form of man and bore our sins on the cross. There He provided forgiveness for sin, He rose from the grave the third day and ascended back to Heaven where He is seated at the right hand of God. Today Christ serves as Mediator between God and man and makes intercession for us. – The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.
MAN’S NEED FOR A SAVIOR
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned… Romans 5:12
THE RESULT OF MAN’S FALL
1. Man’s sinful condition is directly attributed to the sin of Adam in Genesis 3 (Romans 5:12).
2. Everyone is born into and guilty of sin (Romans 3:19, 23).
3. Everyone is a captive, a prisoner of sin (Romans 7:23).
4. Everyone is condemned because of sin (John 3:18).
THE RESULTS OF SIN
1. We are separated from God and dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13).
2. All of our actions are basically sinful and self-centered (Romans 8:3-8).
3. Because the righteous judgment of God upon sin is death, man, in his sinful condition, has but one inevitable end, eternal separation. But God’s revelation does not stop at the realization of guilt. He tells us that there is a way out from under this condemnation! (Romans 6:23)
GOD’S PROVISION FOR SIN THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5: 21
1. Jesus Christ, THE PERSON
- He is the Son of God (Matthew 17:5; Luke 1:32; Romans 1:3-4).
- He was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35).
- He was born of a virgin whose name was Mary (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:27).
- He lived a sinless life as a man (Galatians 4:4; Philippians 2:5-8).
“The Scripture declares that Christ came to die for the sins of man. But before He could die the sacrificial death which would atone for the sins of the world, He had to establish in human circumstances a righteousness that would fulfill the Law, and thereby make the giving of His life a substitutionary atonement. The object of His life, therefore, was to meet sin face to face and conquer it by His sinlessness. When pressed by the leading teachers of His day and endeavoring to reveal to them His Deity, He said, ‘Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?’ (John 8:46) He declared Himself to be the sinless Son of God and through the thirty years of His life demonstrated His claim by living without sin (Matthew 26:59-60; 1 Peter 1:18-19).” – Aimee Semple McPherson
2. Jesus Christ, THE SAVIOR
He gave His life (Titus 2:14; John 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:13)
In giving His life as the universal payment for sin, He completed the work of salvation. Redemption’s plan was finished and the way back to God, for sinful man, was now completely open! In giving His life, Jesus became our “mediator,” one who comes in to help settle a dispute, to act in order to bring about an agreement between persons or sides. (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
Below is a more expanded understanding of how Jesus gave His life for us and for our sins…
- Substitution – The impossible chasm which separated man from God was bridged through the vicarious or substitutionary death of Christ on the cross. Jesus died FOR the sins of others (Isaiah 53:6).
- Atonement – Used as “reconciled” in many instances, it literally means to cover and to take out of the way. Our sins have been taken out of the way to be remembered no more (Psalm 103:12).
- Propitiation – This means to “turn away the wrath of God through sacrifice.” God, Himself, provided the sacrifice to turn away His own wrath against sin.
- Reconciliation – This is the great blessing of salvation: that we are brought back into a relationship with God.
- Redemption – This is the releasing from captivity, slavery or death by payment of a price, called a ransom. (Titus 2:11-14)
He rose from the grave (Acts 1:3)
As a glorified, resurrected man, He arose the third day from the dead as He said He would, was seen of men, and by many infallible proofs showed Himself not only to be the Son of Man, but also the Son of God.
He ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:11)
As a glorified man, He ascended into Heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:9-11). Today Christ rules and sits at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19), and intercedes for those who believe (Hebrews 7:25-27; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 Timothy 2:5)
BECAUSE OF SALVATION…
- The believer is a new creation! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- The believer is a heavenly being! (1 Corinthians 15:45-48)
- The believer has everything he or she needs! (2 Peter 1:3-4)
- The believer has passed from death into life! (John 5:24)
- The believer experiences constant renewal! (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
- The believer has the certainty of eternal life! (John 14:2-3; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2 Timothy 4:18; 1 John 5:13)
- The believer can be baptized with the Holy Spirit who gives power to overcome all the power of sin and the devil! (Luke 9:1-2; Acts 1:8)
- The believer can worship God in Spirit and in Truth! (John 4:23-24)
- The believer has victory over the sinful nature! (Romans 6:8,12,14)
- The believer has been given Kingdom Authority! (Mark 16:15-20)
HOW TO BE BORN AGAIN (John 3:3)
…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation… For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Romans 10:9-14
Use the following prayer to make a life changing decision to follow Christ. It is not the prayer that saves but the sincerity of your decision. It helps if you pray it out loud. Then, after you’ve asked the Lord to come into your life, rejoice and thank Him for answering your prayer!
Heavenly Father, I am a sinner and I’ve broken God’s Law. I confess and turn from my sins and I ask Your forgiveness. Jesus, I believe you died on the cross and took my place in judgment. I believe that You rose from the grave and that You sit at God’s right hand in Heaven. Come into my heart, fill me with Your Holy Spirit’s power and change me into the person that You want me to be. Today I accept You as my Lord and my Savior and I thank You for giving me eternal life! Amen
Notice what 1 John 5:13 says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
Welcome to the family of God! Please contact us if you prayed this prayer and we’ll send you information to help you in your new found relationship with Jesus Christ!
CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER & INSTITUTE 