Introduction
The belief in Christ and salvation is often taken for granted in the modern world. Many people fail to fully appreciate the incredible gift freely given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. The price He paid on the cross, so that humanity may be saved from eternal damnation, is frequently overlooked. Similarly, the breaking of sin’s power and the authority granted to the believer is also a topic of great debate. Most importantly, the promises of the new covenant, which brought salvation to mankind, transcend our ability to fully comprehend the mystery that was hidden since the foundation of the earth. It is only through faith in Christ that we can be justified and receive eternal life.
All these benefits are given to a person by simply believing in our hearts that Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives and confessing this belief with our mouths. Salvation rests on three foundational truths: salvation is by grace, the price paid on the cross, and justification by faith.
Discover the true meaning of salvation through faith in Christ. Learn how the price paid on the cross, grace, and justification by faith offer eternal life to believers. Explore the promises of the new covenant in this deep reflection on salvation in the New Testament.
Three Main Foundational Truths to Salvation
- Salvation is by grace and not by works
- Jesus paid the price by the power of the cross and the blood that was shed for our sins.
- Justification of the righteous is by faith
Salvation is by Grace and not by Works
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul explains the grace of salvation that is available to all mankind. It is by grace that we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ—not by our own power or might. Salvation is a gift from God, and it is not something we can earn through works or self-righteousness (Ephesians 2:8-9). Humankind cannot save itself from the wickedness of this world. It requires a greater power—grace—that ensures our safe passage through eternity. This grace is freely given to us in this dispensation, offering us the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is the only true and perfect gift from God the Father to humanity, embodied in the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
This grace is the love of God for humanity, as expressed in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” We cannot boast that we are our own saviors or claim self-sufficiency. It is the grace of God that brings salvation to humanity after our earthly lives have come to an end.
Jesus Paid it All: The Price on the Cross
Jesus Christ became sin for us so that we could be saved. God offered the perfect sacrifice for mankind’s deliverance from sin. As the Scripture says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Born of a virgin, blameless before God, and without sin, Jesus bore our sins on the cross so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness (1 Peter 2:24). This is the formidable price He paid on the cross so that we might receive the gift of salvation.
In spirit, when He died on the cross, He died with all sinners who are willing to believe in Him (2 Corinthians 5:14). Thus, He became the propitiation for our sins—the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humanity (1 John 2:2). To save the world and the human race, there was no other price that could be paid except the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
The blood of Jesus shed on the cross takes away the sins of mankind—a phrase commonly used but often overlooked in its full significance. Ideally, when a person wrongs another, there is a need to make amends, which typically comes in the form of a price. This is the price that Jesus paid to atone for our sins.
Out of His great love, Jesus died for sinners—a price that no human would willingly pay. As Paul writes, “It is rare for someone to die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7-8). We need to understand the profound meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice. His blood shed on the cross atones for sins mankind, demonstrating God’s love for humanity while we were still sinners.
- The cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ
In the Old Testament, when people sinned against God, they offered burnt or sin offerings, with their hands dipped in the blood of the sacrifice for the atonement of their sins. Alternatively, the cleansing was done through the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer were sprinkled on those who were ceremonially unclean (Hebrews 9:13).
In the New Testament, however, the blood of Christ—the most precious blood—cleanses us from every act that leads to sin. As Hebrews 9:14 states, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” The blood of Jesus administers the forgiveness of sins when we repent and further cleanses us from all iniquity within us (1 John 1:9). The blood of Jesus gives us a clean slate, wiping away all our sins. This sacrifice, shed on the cross, gives us a new beginning and brings the unbeliever into salvation.
Justification by Faith
We cannot be justified by works, especially not through self-righteousness. People often create and attempt to follow laws and principles that they believe might help them attain righteousness. Religion and the traditions of men make a concerted effort to establish laws and codes to control people and prevent unrighteousness. However, the lawmakers themselves fail to keep these laws and fall into wickedness.
Even the laws given to Moses proved difficult to obey, leading to an entire generation perishing in the wilderness. Yet, Jesus Christ saved us from such burdens by delivering us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13). Therefore, the New Testament believer is no longer bound by the laws of the Old Testament.
If we are no longer under the law, the only way we can attain righteousness is by our faith in Jesus Christ. As Scripture says, “The just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38). The keeping of laws, customs, traditions, and doctrines of men cannot lead to justification. A righteous person cannot be justified by the works of the law, but only by faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16).
Keeping the Torah, the circumcision of the flesh, singing hymns, wearing specific attire, and adhering to moral codes cannot help a person live a life that is pleasing or justified before God. It is faith in the person of Jesus Christ that brings righteousness and is pleasing in the sight of God.
Abraham, our patriarch, believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4:3). Believing in His Son, Jesus Christ, and the price He paid is the only way to demonstrate to God that we acknowledge His existence. Righteousness begins by believing that we are the righteousness of God in Christ, revealed from faith to faith (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 1:17).
The Benefits of Salvation
There are many benefits of salvation, but lets talk about the three most important:
- The Promised Holy Spirit
- Deliverance: breaking the power of sin over mankind
- Freedom: a life of liberty
The Promised Holy Spirit
The promises of the new covenant, mediated by our Lord Jesus Christ, are far better than the promises of the old covenant. The laws of Moses in the old covenant proved difficult to keep for the Israelites. Specifically, without the help of the Holy Spirit, it was impossible for the Israelites to fully obey the law.
God acknowledges in Ezekiel that He gave them laws that they could not possibly keep and, as such, He will put His Spirit in man. Ezekiel 36:27 says, “I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” Because of the lusts of the flesh and the desires of this world, we cannot justify ourselves through the law. However, God established a new covenant and rewrote His laws in our hearts. As He told Jeremiah, He would establish a new covenant based on better promises (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
In the new covenant, God gives us the ability to keep His law in our hearts and minds through the Holy Spirit, who continually brings His teachings to our remembrance. The Holy Spirit teaches us and reminds us of everything that was spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ. He further empowers us, giving us the words to defend ourselves against authorities and accusers.
Through faith in Christ, we are grafted into this new covenant and made children of God (Galatians 3:26-29). Indeed, New Testament believers are God’s holy people, whose wickedness is forgiven and whose sins are remembered no more (Hebrews 8:10-12). We are made heirs to the promise given to Abraham, and we are no longer in the bondage of sin.
Jesus explained that it was expedient for Him to die, resurrect, and then ascend to the Father, so that we may receive the promised Holy Spirit. His death and resurrection gave us the precious gift of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7). In Galatians 3:14, we learn that it is by faith that we receive the promise of the Spirit. Hence, faith is the prerequisite to receiving the promised Holy Spirit.
When a person believes in Christ and the finished work of the cross, they are sealed in Christ with the promised Holy Spirit, who guarantees our passage to heaven (Ephesians 1:13). The Spirit of God serves as a guarantee to the believer that they will live eternally and have an inheritance in God’s kingdom. However, the full acquisition of this inheritance depends on living according to God’s will, as the Holy Spirit helps us attain spiritual maturity,
Deliverance: Salvation Breaks the Power of Sin
- The Power of Sin
The power of sin over humanity is a concept that remains elusive to many. Most people refuse to acknowledge that they are in bondage to sin while living in the world. Astonishingly, humanity on its own cannot break free from the power of sin because sin was not created on earth—it originated in heaven through Satan. This iniquity or wickedness was found in Satan himself (Ezekiel 28:15). Sin then made its way into the world through the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden. As descendants of the first Adam (ben Adam – son of man), we are, therefore, powerless to defend ourselves against the power of sin.
A quick look at the world reveals that people are struggling with addictions, depression, lust, wickedness, bitterness, anger, and many other destructive forces that lead to their demise. They walk through life helpless and hopeless, convinced they will never break free. Philosophies, customs, and cultures create systems to normalize this iniquity or offer passive solutions for individuals to cope with life’s struggles. For instance, therapy, personality assessments, cultural norms, and traditions all attempt to alleviate the dire effects of sin in people’s lives. Yet, despite these efforts, they never truly work—especially in the long term—as the world continues to spiral deeper into wickedness. In essence, people in such societies cannot free themselves from the grip of the evil one, who afflicts them with sin and its destructive consequences.
- Breaking the Power of Sin
Our Helper, the Holy Spirit, is the only one who can enable us to break the power of sin in the life of a New Testament believer. Jesus Christ promised us a Defender who would break the curse and power of sin (John 14:16). This Advocate came in the person of the Holy Spirit. Because we are now sons of God, He sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. We are no longer slaves to sin but sons of God. As many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. The Spirit we have received is not one of bondage again to fear (Romans 8:14-15). Therefore, the Holy Spirit breaks us free from the bondage of sin, empowering us to live in the freedom that Christ has given us.
The Holy Spirit, as our Advocate, further defends us in the courts of heaven, standing against the accuser, Satan. The accuser constantly tempts us and brings accusations before God, seeking that we fall under the power of sin (Revelation 12:9-10). However, the Holy Spirit intervenes on our behalf, defending us to ensure that we maintain our salvation.
When we partner with the Holy Spirit, He provides us with a way out of temptation and sin. No temptation has overtaken us except what is common to man. God is faithful, and He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13). He will always provide a way for us to overcome sin—through prayer, fasting, the Word of God, and fellowship. In all these areas, the Holy Spirit will guide us, pointing out the best course of action depending on the situation.
A Life of Liberty
The Holy Spirit empowers us to live a victorious life, free from the power of sin and the afflictions we face in this world. Scripture reveals, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17). The more we try to break free from the power of sin on our own, the more we fail. It is not by might nor by power that we are saved, but by His Spirit that we experience victory and freedom in Christ.
The Holy Spirit helps us behold the image of God in Jesus Christ, transforming us to become more like Him. John emphasizes that as children of God, when Christ appears, we will be like Him, and we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). This transformation is complete and pure. Through the Holy Spirit, we can live a life that embodies the person of Jesus Christ, including a life without sin.
The Holy Spirit teaches us how to avoid the wiles or schemes of the devil. Paul warns us to “stand against the wiles of the devil” in Ephesians 6:11, lest Satan take advantage of us (2 Corinthians 2:11). Peter also emphasizes that the devil, like a roaring lion, seeks to devour those who are not on their guard (1 Peter 5:8). Believers, therefore, need spiritual armor to withstand such attacks from the evil one.
Praying in the Spirit and living by faith in Jesus Christ are the most effective weapons in spiritual warfare against the devil (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Peter 5:9). As our Teacher, the Holy Spirit uses prayer to expose Satan’s devices and help us outwit him in spiritual battles. Ultimately, it all comes down to faith in Jesus Christ, which empowers us to live this glorious life of salvation.
Conclusion
In summary, salvation is built on three foundational truths: grace, the price paid on the cross, and justification by faith. Through God’s grace, we are saved, not by our works or self-righteousness, but as a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ. The price Jesus paid on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice, breaking the power of sin and offering us redemption. Finally, justification by faith means that, by believing in Christ, we are made righteous before God, not through our own efforts, but by trusting in His finished work.
The benefits of salvation are immense—freedom from the bondage of sin, access to the Holy Spirit, and the promise of a life of liberty. Through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live a victorious life, overcome temptation, and be transformed into the image of Christ. Ultimately, salvation brings us into a restored relationship with God, offering peace, joy, and the assurance of eternal life in His kingdom.
