IS SALVATION ONLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST?

            Salvation [Part 2 – Salvation only through Jesus Christ]

In this study we are going to be looking at what the Bible has to say about the ultimate path to salvation, and in whom we can obtain salvation, and why.

1    Why was Jesus given the name “Jesus”?

“And she [Mary] shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall SAVE His people FROM THEIR SINS.” – Matthew 1:21.

Note: According to this text, Jesus is the solution to the sin problem that we have been discussing in the previous series entitled ORIGIN OF EVIL. This name [Jesus] reveals His primary mission here on earth as “to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Luke 19:10. Read Luke 5:32.

2    How many names are given to humanity from which salvation can be obtained?

“For there is...one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus...Neither is there salvation in other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” – 1 Timothy 2:5; Acts 4:12.

Note: Acts 4:10 reveals that the only name from which we obtain salvation is “the name of Jesus.” “Jesus saith unto him [Thomas], I am THE WAY, the truth, and the life...” – John 14:6. Jesus is not one of the ways, but the only way, hence He calls Himself “the way” and not “a way.” To ensure that we don’t miss this point He adds the following in this very verse, “no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” While the Bible teaches that any man can be saved, it also teaches clearly that there is only one way to obtain salvation, and that is through Jesus Christ.

3    Why was Jesus’ incarnation necessary?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of the flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that THROUGH DEATH He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” – Hebrews 2:14.

Note: One of the reasons why Jesus had to become a man was so that He could die in the place of a sinner. “...Jesus came into the world to save sinners...” – 1 Timothy 1:15. Read Luke 19:10; Matthew 20:28. Him becoming a human being allowed Him to live as a human being, and to die in the place of sinner. Even though He “knew no sin”, still He was “made sin for us...that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” See 2 Corinthians 5:21. He traded places with us.

4    How does the blood of the Lamb [Jesus] play a role in the forgiveness of sin?

“...without [the] shedding of blood [there] is no remission [of sin]...In whom [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” – Hebrews 9:22; Ephesians 1:7.

Note: When Adam and Eve sinned, they were disconnected from God, and the Saviour took the initiative to reconcile them to their heavenly Father. He sought them when they sought Him not, even though they sinned. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of SKINS, and clothed them.” – Genesis 3:21. Not only did the Saviour provide the physical clothes to cover their physical nakedness, but the blood that was shed as the animal was slaughtered was to cover their spiritual nakedness. God was the first to initiate the sacrificial system after Adam and Eve sinned. Since “without [the] shedding of blood [there] is no remission [of sin]”, the animal had to be sacrificed to make atonement [propitiation] for them. As this animal shed its blood, this was a symbol for the blood of Christ which was soon going to be “shed...for the remission of sins.” – Matthew 26:28. Jesus, the Son of God is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” – Revelation 13:8. There were many animals which were sacrificed in the Old Testament as a symbol of Jesus, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” – John 1:29. In other words, Jesus was the ultimate Lamb which every person looked forward to. Jesus Christ took the position of the sinner as the Lamb of God, and died on his behalf. All the animals sacrificed were a type [shadow] of the anti-type [fulfilment] which is none other than Jesus, the Lamb of God. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 6:23. This shows that those who lived prior to the first coming of Christ looked forward in FAITH to the coming Saviour as they sacrificed those animals, and us today we look back to the cross in FAITH. FAITH HAS BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE MEANS FOR ACCEPTING THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS.

5    How did God demonstrate His love toward humanity? 

“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. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” – John 3:16,17.

Note: Read Romans 5:8. Jesus was given to make salvation available for everyman that would ever be born on this planet, yet it is the responsibility of that individual to accept this free sacrifice by faith. Please read Isaiah 53 which is a prophecy about Jesus, the Saviour of mankind.