- Jesus can save us from our sins

God’s perfect world was tainted with sin when its first inhabitants decided not to obey God’s commandment. The result - a sentence of death.

Conscience-stricken, Adam and Eve tried to cover their newly discovered nakedness with fig leaves. God showed that only he could save them, providing his own animal-skin covering.

Another believer, Abraham, understood this when he took his son to sacrifice to God.  Isaac asked where the sacrificial lamb was.

Abraham replied,

‘… God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering’ 

(Genesis 22:7)

Reconciliation between God and his fallen creation, then, has always been on his initiative and on his terms.

From the start God promised a specific descendant to bring salvation (Isaiah 59:16,20). God told Mary she would have a son, Jesus (Saviour),

‘…for He will save His people from their sins’ 

(Matthew 1:21)

To accomplish this, Jesus did what no human or animal sacrifice had done before: present himself as a perfect (i.e., sinless) offering to God. So, despite inheriting the same nature as ourselves, Jesus completely overcame those ungodly desires that reign in the hearts of all men and women.  He took that conquered body and gave it in loving obedience to his Heavenly Father as the perfect offering for sin. This declared to the world that God was righteous when he condemned sinners to the grave. And because Jesus had never committed sin, it was right that God resurrected him:

‘[Jesus]…God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it’ 

(Acts 2:24)

Jesus’ sacrificial act removed the barrier between God and humankind that sin caused in the first place.  After Jesus’ death and resurrection all who associate, in faith, with him are counted ‘righteous’ (sinless) in God’s sight.  This is the good news.  At last someone has done for us what we could not do ourselves.

‘…through His [Jesus’] name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.’ 

(Acts 10:43)

Union with Christ means following his example and being baptised in water:

‘…we were buried with Him through baptism into death’ 

(Romans 6:4) 

and so will be resurrected just as Jesus was (Romans 6:5).

‘For the wages of sin is death’

…but God’s gift is

‘…eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord’ 

(Romans 6:23)

[All Bible references are from the New King James Version unless stated otherwise]

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