The cross overshadowed the life of Jesus, and He knew dying for lost sinners was the ultimate purpose of the Father. When facing the cross, Jesus said, “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour ‘? But for this purpose I came to this hour” (John 12:27). For lost sinners, the cross of Christ is both personal and purposeful. It is personal, because “Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8), “for our sins” (1 Cor 15:3), and “not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). And His death was purposeful, "so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18), and that we might “reconciled to God through the death of His Son” (Rom 5:10). The cross is God’s righteous solution to the problem of sin, as well as His greatest display of love toward sinners. At the cross, God judged our sin as His righteousness required, and pardons the sinner as His love desires. To understand the cross of Christ is to understand the heart of God toward a fallen world He wants to save.
Category: Evangelism
The Spirit’s Convicting Ministry to the World
There is a special work that God the Holy Spirit is doing in the hearts of unbelievers to help prepare them to turn to Christ as Savior. Concerning this special work, Jesus said, “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). Jesus’ statement about the Holy Spirit is in the future tense (He will convict), which implies the Spirit’s special ministry was not active at the time Jesus uttered His statement. This special convicting ministry would be inaugurated on the day of Pentecost.
Theological Implications of Jesus’ Resurrection for Salvation
Jesus’ resurrection is an essential element in soteriology. In fact, every writer of the NT assumes that Jesus was resurrected from the grave and treat it as an event that took place in time and space. Paul wrote that Jesus “was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:4), that He was “the first fruits of those who are asleep” (1 Cor 15:20), and that “having been raised from the dead, is never to die again” (Rom 6:9).
Defining Salvation in the Bible
Soteriology is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words "soter" (σωτήρ), which means savior, and "logos" (λόγος), which means a word about, or the study of something. Soteriology is the sphere of systematic theology that speaks to the nature, means, scope, and purpose of salvation. It is an important theme that runs throughout Scripture and reveals the God who saves.
The Exclusivity and Sufficiency of Christ for Salvation
In Acts 4:1 Peter states that salvation can only be found through Jesus Christ. It is necessary to trust in Jesus alone for salvation, and this salvation is a free gift from God that cannot be earned through works. Jesus died for everyone, but only those who believe in Him as their Savior will receive the benefit of salvation. Trusting in Jesus as Savior brings forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and spiritual blessings. This decision is crucial, as it determines both the quality of life in this world and eternal destiny afterwards.
A Role Model for Believers
There’s a wonderful passage in the book of Ezra that tells us, “Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). Ezra's determination speaks of an inward decision to do three things: 1) to study the law of the LORD, 2) to practice it, and 3) to teach it to others.