A perspective on the Gospel and salvation – The victory of Christ

Praise be unto the Lord God our Father who sent his only begotten Son Jesus to save us from our sins. Every blessing and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ who is victorious over sin, death and Satan. We ask that the Holy Spirit always keeps us mindful of the mercies and the triumph of God in Christ Jesus. Amen.

For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’  Deuteronomy 20:4

The Gospel and salvation are two sides of the same coin. No one who forever rejects the Gospel can receive salvation. Nor can anyone who is saved try to avoid the Gospel and then continue to be faithful to the Lord God.

 

One view of salvation mentioned in the Gospel is how sinners get an escape from the eternal consequences of their sins when they repent of their sins and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact this is profoundly true. To elaborate more on this, it can be said that God’s mercy for mankind was so great that He sent his only begotten Son Jesus Christ to atone for their sins on the cross. Therefore, anyone who is repentant of his or her sins and believes in the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus on one’s own behalf has passed from death to life. So here the emphasis is on the sinners response towards Christ.

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)

 

There’s another view of the Gospel and salvation. This is called the perspective of the victory of Christ. And this one is equally true. In this view Jesus Christ is glorified as the Lord who overcame sin and death. He even overcame temptations and the Devil himself even as a man. So here the focus is on the greatness of God in his mighty Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,  having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Colossians 2:11-15)

As a believer in Christ you share in the victory of Christ.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:4-5)

Jesus took on human nature so we can share in his victory.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,  and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

You didn’t get this victory of salvation by your own efforts.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

We are warned against neglecting the salvation which comes from Christ.

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:1-4)

We are called to live for Christ our victorious Lord and Savior.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 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. (2 Titus 2:11-14)

 

If we combine the view of the victory of Christ and the view of the sinners need to accept Christ you have a far more complete view of salvation and the Gospel. It’s undeniable that the sinner must repent as the penalty for sin is eternal damnation and therefore he needs to receive salvation. Also, one must not discount the fact that no man could ever receive salvation without the hand of God actually offering salvation in the first place. Be joyful when anyone repents and believes in Gospel, be happy for that person for such a person has escaped the grasp of the Devil. Yet, even be more happy that the victory of Christ made salvation possible for that precious brother or sister in Christ.

Christ be with you!

Related articles

• Dimensions of salvation to be revealed in the future (disciplesofhope.wordpress.com)
• Salvation: Easy as A-B-C and D (billrudgeministries.wordpress.com)
• Never Apologize For Sharing The Word (birdchirp.wordpress.com)