The Author of Salvation

The Gospel of Jesus Christ liberates men and women of every nation from the stain of sin and the fear of death.

The Epistle to the Hebrews begins by presenting Jesus as the ultimate expression of the Word of God. God has provided his ultimate answer to sin and death in His Son. By his one-time sacrificial death, Jesus cleansed God’s people of the stain of sin and freed them from Satan’s tyranny; therefore, the Father exalted Jesus and made him our “High Priest forever” who mediates life and salvation to his “brethren” – (Hebrews 1:1-4).

[Photo by Kevin Andre on Unsplash]

Jesus declared before his Ascension that “all authority in heaven and on earth is given to me, therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.” He then sent his disciples to announce the Good News of this salvation to all men. Following his Death and Resurrection, the Age of Salvation began in earnest.

His life-giving message is now being proclaimed to all nations as promised in the Scriptures (“Yahweh has bared his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God”).

The idea of a new era of salvation is implicit in the opening words of the Letter to the Hebrews. God has spoken with finality in His Son - “upon the last of these days” - the same Jesus who “achieved the purification of sins” for his people. His “once and for all” sacrifice secured salvation for us – (Hebrews 1:1, 7:27, 9:28, 10:10).

• “And having been made complete, he became for all those who obey him the Author of Everlasting Salvation” – (Hebrews 5:9).

• “But now, once at the end of the ages, he has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” – (Hebrews 9:26).

This salvation is for men and women of every generation and nation without exception. God loved humanity so much that He “gave his only born Son” so all men might believe and receive “everlasting life.” Thus, Jesus died, and God raised him from the dead so we no longer must live in bondage to sin or the fear of death – (“That he might deliver all those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage”).

Because of his suffering “for our sins,” God raised Jesus from the dead and “highly exalted him, granting him the name that is above every name,” – JESUS - the name that means “Yahweh saves.” Through this same Jesus, the salvation promised by the God of Israel is now offered to all men and every nation.

All peoples and nations belong to Jesus. He is the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth,” as John wrote in Revelation, His sacrificial death voided the legal claim of Satan over humanity, and his resurrection broke the iron grip of Death that held us all. This is a radical message of liberation from the tyranny of Sin, Satan, and Death that all men must hear – (1 Corinthians 15:1-6, Philippians 2:6-11, Hebrews 2:14-15, Revelation 1:6-8,3:21, 5:5-14).

• “Since the children are partakers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the Devil; and might deliver all those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” – (Hebrews 2:14-15).

God has “spoken” with eloquent finality through His Son, especially his sacrificial death on the Roman Cross. He alone “achieved the purification of sin,” therefore, he sits “at the right hand of the Majesty on High places” as our High Priest who mediates light, life, and salvation. He alone achieved victory over Sin and conquered Death – (Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:14-18).

HIS COVENANT COMMUNITY

Because of his Death and Resurrection, anyone may now receive the forgiveness of sin and justification before God “from the faith of Jesus Christ.” Death will be reversed when he raises us from the dead on the last day – (Romans 3:21-22, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Hebrews 11:19).

Since His Son “achieved the purification of sins,” God is creating a new community composed of men and women from every nation who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, the ‘Ekklésia’, the “Assembly of God.” Every person who submits to and places faith in Jesus becomes a member of his holy community – (Ephesians 2:15).

No nation, civilization, or political ideology can claim Jesus or his teachings as its property. His Gospel is a message of hope for every man, woman, and child. It transcends all national and cultural boundaries. His disciples proclaim one message for all men, whether “Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male and female, for all are one in Christ Jesus” – (Galatians 3:28).

Salvation is provided on the same basis to every man, woman, and child, from the faith of Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah who “gave his life” as the ransom price to free us from Sin, Satan, and Death.

The angel instructed Joseph in the Gospel of Matthew to name Mary’s child ‘Jesus’ since he would “save his people from their sins.” His name is most fitting since it means “Salvation of Yahweh” or “Yahweh Saves.” Thus, in every sense of the term, “Jesus Saves” – (Matthew 1:21).

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SEE ALSO:

• The Salvation of Yahweh - (Jesus means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In the man from Nazareth, the Salvation promised by the God of Israel has arrived in all its glory)

• Servant and King - (Following his baptism in the Jordan, the voice from heaven identified Jesus as the Son of God and the Servant of Yahweh)

• Seed of Abraham - (Jesus is the promised Seed of Abraham, the heir of the covenant promises, and receipt of the inheritance is based on faith in Him)