Salvation is Ours (Identity in Christ, part 5)

Question #5. What is ours in Christ?

Salvation is ours..

First, salvation is being saved (i.e., spared, rescued, delivered) from sin and divine judgment. 

• Salvation came to us by the power of the gospel and was received through faith.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

• Salvation is found exclusively in spiritual fellowship with Jesus. 

"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

• The message of salvation is for all peoples and cultures. 

"For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" (Acts 13:47)

Second, we only have salvation because Jesus saved us; it is His work for us, not ours for Him.

• Jesus saves from sin.

"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

• Jesus saves from condemnation and perishing (i.e., from divine judgment) by giving us the gift of eternal life (i.e., Spiritual life and a relationship with God).

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:16-17)

• He seeks and saves those lost in the darkness of rebellion against God.

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10)

Third, we therefore boldly confess and joyfully praise Jesus as Savior.

• We profess Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)

• We profess Jesus as God and Savior.

"... waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, [14] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." (Titus 2:13–14)

• We profess Jesus is a man and therefore a properly qualified Mediator: He brings God to sinful man and brings sinful man back to God. This is the fine diamond of 

1. Jesus is a man and Mediator.

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, [6] who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time." (1 Timothy 2:5–6)

2. Jesus brings the unrighteous to God. 

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit," (1 Peter 3:18)

3. Because He first brought God to this world of unrighteousness.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1-2)

and then,

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

and finally,

"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:7)

4. Jesus could bring God to earth because He already was God: the eternal Son who is one with the Father (and the Holy Spirit for that matter).

"But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," (Hebrews 1:2-3)

5. Therefore, when you entered a relationship with Jesus through faith, you entered a relationship with God the Father (and again, this happened by the power of the Holy Spirit).

"Philip said to him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.' [9] Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? [10] Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. [11] Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.'" (John 14:8–11)

Conclusion

What is ours in Christ? Salvation is ours. 

Basically and broadly, what does that mean? It means we have been saved (i.e., spared, rescued, delivered) from sin and divine judgment.

But ultimately and centrally, what does that mean? "Salvation is ours," translates to, "God is ours and we are God's." 

This is the hidden treasure of the kingdom of God, that God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and in so doing, has enabled us to know, love, worship, serve, and honor Him through faith. 

"But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God" (Galatians 4:9a)

For Prayer and Remembrance

Thank God for salvation in Christ. Think about how without Christ, all worldly treasures, pleasures, and fame mean nothing. Think about how with Christ, we can have peace, joy, and contentment despite any worldly, and therefore, temporary sufferings and trials come our way. Pray for the salvation of family, friends, leaders, and the world. Pray for fruitful gospel ministry in and through our church.