Sunday: Salvation in Jesus
Although as Seventh-day Adventists we have much in common with other Christian bodies, our set of beliefs form a unique system of biblical truth that no one else in the Christian world is proclaiming. These truths help define us as God’s end-time remnant.
Read Acts 4:8-12, Acts 10:43. What importance does Peter give to the place of Jesus Christ in his understanding of the plan of salvation?
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
The apostle Paul told the Corinthians that the good news is “that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Cor. 5:19, NKJV). Christ’s death is our reconciliation with the Father, bridging the chasm left by sin and death. For centuries, Christians have pondered the meaning of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and the reconciliation He came to accomplish. This process of reconciliation has been termed atonement, an old English word that originally meant “at-one-ment.” This is a state of being “at one”, or in agreement. Accordingly, atonement denotes harmony in a relationship, and when there has been estrangement, this harmony would be the result of reconciliation. Church unity is thus a gift of this reconciliation.
What What do the following passages teach about the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection?
Though we hold this belief in Christ’s death and resurrection in common with many other Christian bodies, we proclaim it in the context of the “everlasting Gospel” (Rev. 14:6), part of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12. As Seventh-day Adventists, we place an emphasis on these messages that no other Christian body does.
| How can you learn to keep before you at all times the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection and the hope that it offers? |
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All human religion teaches how we can reach God.
Only in Christianity, Christ is the provider of our redemption.
Salvation is perfected in Christ alone.
While the world is telling us, we are not good enough to come to the presence of God.
Christ is calling out to his people, "Come to me"
Satan is in the business of dividing and driving people away from each other.
Christ is in the business of reconciling the people unto himself.
We are all united one in Christ.
Galatians 3:27&28
27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
We who were alienated from God became one in the At-one-ment of God.
Let us be careful not to take our human division and apply to the gospel in Jesus Christ.
Glad you are back!
Quote: "How can you learn to keep before you at all times the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection and the hope that it offers?"
Christ has not risen if he is not living in us. The very best argument for a risen Christ is the life of a dedicated and loving Christian, showing compassion to the fallen, a willingness to understand those who are different and a non-judgemental attitude to those who still struggle with sin.
Christ rose from the grave, and is alive. Even if the world deny this fact - He died so that we might live, and upon His return, every man will receive his reward according to his work
I think you are perhaps missing the point of what I am saying, Janetta. The evidence for a living Christ is when we show evidence of him living in us.
Let me add a text that is not word for word Maurice's point, however I believe implys it. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him."
2 CORINTHIANS 2:14 AMP
"Leads us in triumph in Christ", to me implying "evidence of Christ living in us". One aspect of the knowledge of Him, is Christ is risen. Others will know that Christ is alive by the sweet fragrance seeing Christ alive in us, by treating others as Christ treats us. "By us as a dedicated and loving Christian, showing compassion to the fallen, a willingness to understand those who are different and a non-judgemental attitude to those who still struggle with sin."
The angel of the Lord told Mary the she would bore " you will call him Jesus because he save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21)
Any understanding of how one is saved that is not always centered on Jesus, the Lamb of God, will save no one. There are many “gospels” to be heard, but they are powerless to save anyone. In fact, the Bible calls the false gospel “the abomination of desolation”, because it is hopeless to save while being presented as the way to salvation, and comes in many variations. If sinners are not saved from sin, they are not saved.
"What What do the following passages teach about the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection?"
These are all true, but only one part of the Gospel. Many teach that Jesus' death saves us from sin, but the specific requirements/conditions are absent, thus making Christ's propitiation useless to those who know not how to “receive Him” through faith. God is specific and only the truth can bring eternal life to the one who receives Him and believes on His name.
The Gospel must be our central focus if we would benefit from it's power. Nothing else must be allowed to take our focus off this only hope for sinners, for it is our constant need and only means of being saved.
This is a question that I’ve pondered and that bugs me every day of my life! “How can you learn to keep before you at all times the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection and the hope that it offers?”
With the cares of this world when you fight to just make a living sometimes and keep your head above water. With the Temptations of this world when you have it made and you’re on top of it financially and you want things that you know Don’t add to your salvation but that make for a good fun Sunday. When you reach the time in your life Were you have achieved retirement and you find that you’re preparation is not adequate to live the life you think you need to live. How do you keep before you the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection and the hope that it offers? How do you stay at the foot of the cross. How do you work closer and closer to living a life like Jesus did every day?
I don’t have the answer! I do know that in my life, after my prayer and worship in the morning I’m back on track to seek after the worldy goals within 20 to 30 minutes, sometimes less than that.
Every day, every moment of every waking hour, our goal is to move closer and closer to the foot of the cross. Our goal is to live our lives like Jesus! What is so hard…Royce
In the words of Jesus, only one thing is needful. To sit at Jesus feet and to hear his words. (Jesus reply to Martha when she complained about Mary)
Your morning time with him is exactly that. The more we spend time with him, the more we are inclined to say, what is man that you are mindful of him. His thoughts constantly turn to evil.
To see and to realise our great and desperate need, our total reliance on him for any good thing, a constant return to him daily, and a weekly Sabbath off from the cares of the world to recalibrate our compass - this is working out our salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God working in us to will and to do his good pleasure.
Do this, and you are one of the 5 virgins who carried spare oil, practicing perseverance. Continue, the reward IS coming.
Thank you for your thoughts Ian. The Sabbath is best time!!!
The subject is "Unity in Faith", yet there is no doubt that whichever angle we look at it, but Jesus Christ is only means to salvation. This may be a great point to uniting us as a church today. Our lives should emblem the teachings and ways of Christ. When it does then we have a chance to crossover into other believers or faiths as they watch our lives portray Christ. As instruments, salvation in Jesus, should show in every action we do. This is a great starting point for our study this week.