Part One - Why Does a Person need to Be Saved?
Part Two - How Can I Be Saved?
As I have said before, a person needs to look at the Old Testament and the New Testament together to get a complete picture of sin and salvation. Part Two focused on the laws and prophecies of the Old Testament, this post will try to show that Jesus did indeed fulfill the prophecies regarding salvation from the Old Testament.
We will start with this verse which speaks of Jesus, from the book of Isaiah.
Jesus’ death on the cross was the last bloody sacrifice that God requires for the penalty of our sins.
Jesus took all your sins upon Himself, so that you can appear before God as spotless. You see – He took our sins, and we took His righteousness before God.
Part Two - How Can I Be Saved?
As I have said before, a person needs to look at the Old Testament and the New Testament together to get a complete picture of sin and salvation. Part Two focused on the laws and prophecies of the Old Testament, this post will try to show that Jesus did indeed fulfill the prophecies regarding salvation from the Old Testament.
We will start with this verse which speaks of Jesus, from the book of Isaiah.
But the LORD was pleasedIn the New Testament we read much about how God’s righteous servant, Jesus, justifies us (that is, he reconciles us with God). In the verse below, the Apostle Paul is saying what the purpose of the law is:
To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring ,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
Isaiah 53:10-11 (NASB)
. . . by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20 (NASB)We see, then, that the law cannot justify, but rather shows us that we are indeed sinners. Here is another verse to that effect.
What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET ." But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.The law cannot justify, but Jesus can.
Romans 7:7-8 (NASB)
. . . a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.The following verses are from the Romans 3 discourse on justification. These verses tie together the law, the prophets, Jesus, and justification much better than I can!
Gal 2:16 (NASB - emphasis added)
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:21-26 (NASB)
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Romans 3:28 (NASB)These verses have plainly showed that justification comes through Jesus, but how?
Jesus’ death on the cross was the last bloody sacrifice that God requires for the penalty of our sins.
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle , not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?Later the author of Hebrews says of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross:
Heb 9:11-14 (NASB)
Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Heb 10:11-14 (NASB)That passage continues to speak of the covenant God has made with them who believe in the sacrifice of Jesus.
And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, "THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEMAlso, consider these words from Peter:
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,
AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,"
He then says, "AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE."
Heb 10:15-17 (NASB)
These last two verses also come from Peter:For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross , so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.1 Peter 2:21-25 (NASB)
. . . knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.1 Peter 1:18-19 (NASB)
. . . for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:23 (NASB)God has sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross – as the punishment for our sins. Jesus is the key to salvation, friends. You must believe that Jesus was without sin, that He died on the cross, and rose from the dead. You must believe that you cannot earn salvation on your own.
Jesus took all your sins upon Himself, so that you can appear before God as spotless. You see – He took our sins, and we took His righteousness before God.
