Salvation: The Only Solution
‘For God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have everlasting life’ ” (John 3:16, NKJV).
The Title of our lesson implies that there is a problem that
requires a solution. As we know that
problem is Sin. Now, if the solution is
Salvation, then that means that we are enslaved, kidnapped, dying, and/or lost. Something established in our previous lesson.
Our memory verse is at the heart of a discourse that Jesus
spoke to one Nicodemus, who came to Jesus to inquire more about Jesus’
teachings. This is the passage were
Jesus starts speaking about being born again, what it means and how it is
possible. Jesus tells Nicodemus that yes
there is a problem, and to solve it men must radically change. Here is another problem: man cannot do it by
himself. So, God sent His Son, Jesus to
do it. This is what our verse
indicates. But, let’s read the verse in
context. Christ in this passage reveals
the dynamics of Salvation. We will start
as John 3: 14,
Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he
that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come
into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil.
Elsewhere Jesus said that Scriptures give testimony of
Him. So, that at some event described in
the Old Testament give us an insight into the character and way in which God
works, in fact into the life of Christ.
The children of Israel
are being attacked and killed by serpents.
Moses implores for mercy. God
tells Moses to build a brazen artifact: a serpent on a pole. It will be that when men are bitten, if they
look art the serpent they will live. Some
say this is do and live. But when we
ask, how did they know to look. We
realize that they must have heard and believed.
This is what Jesus is referring to in verses 14 and 15. With this illustration Jesus was referring to
His crucifixion. We know this because in
another occasion Jesus spoke of being lifted up and it clarified that it
referred to how Jesus would die.
Christ saved the world, which means all men are saved in
Christ. It is final. But, not all men believe it. God in Christ has given to men the solution –
the cure – but many men reject it. This
is what Paul says in Romans 5 and Ephesians.
Let us read a few key verses,
Romans 5:6-10
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time
Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die;
yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God
demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we
shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were
reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been
reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 5:16
16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one
who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in
condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in
justification.
Romans 5:18
8 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to
all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the
free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
Ephesians 1:7
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Ephesians 2:4-5
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love
with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive
together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that
not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Our salvation is in, through and with Christ. Salvation is gift to man. It is complete and sufficient. And, whosoever continually believes with
heartfelt appreciation and a contrite humbled heart shall not die eternally but
have eternal life. This is what Abraham
believed, and it was counted to Him for righteousness. Will you believe?
