CTG 0068

SALVATION ACCOMPLISHED 

SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS 

When God sent his eternal Son into the world he provided a body for him in a virgin's womb through the powerful and miraculous activity of his eternal Holy Spirit. 

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem Satan tried to eliminate him. Via King Herod, who gave the orders for all the male children in the vicinity, two years of age and under, to be killed. Herod felt threatened and was trying to get rid of the Christ. Directed by one of God’s angels, Joseph, Mary and Jesus escaped. 

Many years later, when he was about 30 years of age, God his Father anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit, empowering him for the task he sent him into the world to accomplish. 

Full of the Holy Spirit he was led by him into the wilderness, where he fasted for forty days and was tempted by the devil, who sought to turn him away from his Father and gain control of him. 

At various times Jesus faced many different kinds of temptations. In fact, he was tempted in all the ways we are, yet without sinning. The battle was real and intense, but he resisted the onslaught, refusing to follow Satan’s and Adam’s fall into sin. 

Jesus kept on course. Praying, helping those in need, preaching, teaching, performing miracles and preparing his disciples for the years ahead. 

He was totally committed to his Father’s will. Father, Son and Holy Spirit were united in their objective. And after three years of public and personal ministry the time drew near for Jesus to be crucified. The primary objective for which his Father sent him into the world. He was truly God’s perfect sacrifice for sin, holy, spotless, guiltless. The Lamb of God, who was about to carry, suffer for and die for the sins the world, once for all. Yours and mine. 

Satan entered Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples who had arranged for Jesus to be taken captive and handed over to the Jewish authorities, the majority of whom wanted to get rid of him. They in turn handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the ruling governor of the Roman province of Judea under the Roman Emperor Tiberius. They manipulated the governor to have Jesus crucified, even though Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and that they were motivated by jealousy. The crowd, influenced by their leaders, cried: “Crucify him.” 

There at Jerusalem, outside the city walls, on Golgotha, a prominent location, Jesus gave his life for us, between two criminals who were crucified at the same time, his blood poured out to save sinners: “... the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God ...(Hebrews 9:14). He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).” 

Before Jesus died one of the criminals experienced a fundamental change of heart, turning to Christ in faith. To whom Jesus said: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43).”  

Before he bowed his head and gave up his spirit, Jesus said: “It is Finished (John 19:30).” Accomplished! Paid for! "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7)." 

Calling out with a loud voice, he then said: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46)” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 

His body was laid in a tomb. 

And on the third day he rose from the dead. 

By sharing in our humanity and through his death, Jesus broke the power of the devil who had the power over death. And rising from the dead he is now alive for evermore, holding the keys of death and Hades. His resurrection confirms the victory of the cross on behalf of everyone who belongs to him by faith. 

Salvation is provided for everyone who truly repents of their sins and believes the good news. 

Satan’s ultimate destiny is forever sealed, the lake of fire. Also for all the angels who fell with him. The same is true for everyone who doesn't receive eternal life through faith in the gospel. 

The mission of the church, wherever it is based, is to spread the gospel to others, especially among those who have not yet heard it. Giving the opportunity for people in every nation, among all people groups, to respond to God’s directive to repent and believe. 

Satan is totally opposed to the message of salvation. He and his forces of darkness are committed to hinder the spreading of the gospel. They hate God. They hate humankind. And they do not want people to hear the good news about salvation. So they devise all kinds of strategies to sidetrack and hinder us from speaking to others about Jesus and the reason why he died on the cross and why he rose from the dead. 

Christians are involved in a battle. But it is not against people. It is against the spiritual forces of evil aligned with the devil. And we fight it, not with the military might of humankind, but with the Lord’s strength, with the armour that God provides us with (Ephesians 6:10-24): 

  - His truth 

  - His righteousness 

  - His gospel of peace 

  - Faith that he provides us with 

  - His salvation 

  - His Holy Spirit-inspired Word 

Clothed with the armour that God provides us with, we are able to resist the devil and do what God wants us to do, standing firm. 

We are also encouraged to pray for each other, with the ability that the Holy Spirit provides us with. Praying also for boldness to speak clearly with others about the gospel of Christ. 

When Jesus rose from the dead ... "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you' (John 20:19-21)." 

Biblical quotes are from the ESV