We are saved by blood of Jesus

There is a cry in the heart of every person at one time or the other to be saved from the wretchedness of sin, the power of sin and the punishment for sin.

We also want to be free from not only slavery to sin and wrongdoing, but from the oppression and suppression of evil spirits. We do not want to be affected by generational curses, and curses that people may throw at us. Where does our help come from? Jesus alone saves totally (see Luke4:18-20).

The Lord Jesus says “if the son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36 NLT). We want to live a more fully functional life day-to-day. Again, the Lord says, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 NLT). Total salvation is in the hands of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus alone: “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb” (Revelation 7:10). “A sin-tossed soul can only find peace and rest in the Saviour; Jesus Christ!

We go on to raise and answer the following questions on this matter.

Jesus Christ

First, why did Jesus Christ come into the world of humanity? When Jesus of Nazareth was to be born, an Angel from Heaven instructed: “you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21 NLT).

The Lord Jesus Himself says, I have come to seek and to save those who are lost” (see Luke 19:10). The Apostle Paul says, “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15 NLT).

Second, how did Jesus fulfill this unique expectation of His coming into the world? How did Christ do His work of saving people from their sin?

The Lord Jesus did His work of saving us from our sins, supremely through His death on the cross, by shedding His blood for the forgiveness of sin. The following Bible texts variously talk about the power of the blood of Jesus and His work on the cross in saving people:

• “You have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood” (1 Peter 1:2 NIV).
• “You know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NLT)
• “Christ personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right” (1 Peter 2:24 NLT).
• “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7 ESV).
• “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses” (Ephesians 1:7 ESV)
• “Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13 ESV).
• “Jesus suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood” (Hebrews 13:12 ESV).
• “To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood” (Revelation 1: 5 ESV).

Indeed, believers who made it to heaven are said to be “the ones who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white. That is why they stand in front of God’s throne and serve Him day and night in His temple” (Revelation 7:14-15a). Only the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus in their lives gave them entrance into Heaven.

The following precious Bible text perfectly sums up the saving work of Christ on the cross: “God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT).

Blood of Christ

We are saved by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and His shed blood alone. We cannot save ourselves! The salvation we receive is apart from us, and comes to us through Christ alone. God saves us from the punishment for sin-eternal separation from Him - in hell; and restoration to Himself only through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thirdly, how can i benefit from the saving work of Christ on the cross? That is, “what must I do to be saved?” What shall we do in response to Christ’s saving work on the cross? “When they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:37-38 ESV).

To be saved from our sins, and experience a new birth in Christ, we are to “repent and believe.” In very practical terms, we are to take the following ABC steps to be saved:

1. Agree you are a sinner and repent of your sin and wrong-doing (see Romans 3:23; Proverbs 28:13).
2. Believe that Jesus Christ who never sinned, became the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of your sin; and your acceptance into a right relationship with God. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:20). Jesus died to save you totally!
3. Confess to God that you are guilty of sin and need His forgiveness. And Commit yourself to Him to save you, clean you up, make you a new person from within, and give you eternal life. You are encouraged to sincerely and meaningfully pray the following prayer:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins to You. I invite You to come into my heart and life and make me a completely new person from within. Please give me power by Your Holy Spirit to follow You and live for You all of my life; as my Lord and Savior.” Amen!

The Apostle Paul sums up the Good News of Christ’s saving power as follows: “Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. It is this Good News that saves you. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.  He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NLT).

Rev. Dr Philip Ryken remarks, “With the cross at the centre, we are offered the only ground for our standing before God as saved men and women. And the only adequate motivation for a life of rest in God and genuine service and self-sacrifice for others.”

The Bible text in 2 Corinthians 5:13 & 14 captures this well: “Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone, so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ who died and was raised for them.

Christ has shown us the way: to give all we have because on the cross, He gave all He had for us: “Love so amazing, so Divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Jesus saves. Becoming saved and a true child of God is the best thing that can happen to you at Easter 2023!

God bless us all at Easter.

(The author is a consultant in authentic Christian Spirituality and Discipleship and former CEO of Scripture Union)