Jesus the perfect work of salvation

169 Jesus perfect work of redemptionTowards the end of his gospel one reads these fascinating comments from the apostle John: "Many other signs did Jesus perform before his disciples, which are not written in this book [...] But if they were to be written down one by one, it would, I think the world cannot contain the books to be written” (John 20,30:2; Cor1,25). Based on these comments and considering the differences between the four gospels, it can be concluded that the accounts referred to were not written as complete depictions of Jesus' life. John states that his writings are intended “that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing ye may have life in his name” (John 20,31). The main focus of the gospels is to proclaim the good news about the Savior and the salvation bestowed upon us in Him.

Although John sees salvation (life) linked to Jesus 'name in verse 31, Christians speak of being saved through Jesus' death. While this succinct statement is so far correct, the sole reference of salvation to Jesus' death can obscure the fullness of who He is and what He did for our salvation. The events of Holy Week remind us that Jesus' death - of crucial importance as it is - must be viewed in a larger context that includes the Incarnation of our Lord, his death, his resurrection and ascension to heaven. They are all essential, inextricably interwoven milestones in his work of redemption - the work that gives us life in his name. So during Holy Week, as in the rest of the year, we want to see in Jesus the perfect work of redemption.

incarnation

Jesus' birth was not the ordinary birth of an ordinary person. Being unique in every way, it embodies the beginning of the incarnation of God Himself. With Jesus' birth, God came to us in the same way as man has been born since Adam. Although he remained what he was, the eternal Son of God took on human life in its full extent-from beginning to end, from birth to death. As a person, he is totally God and human. In this overwhelming statement we find an eternally valid meaning, which deserves an equally eternal appreciation.
 
With his incarnation, the eternal Son of God emerged from eternity and entered his creation, ruled by time and space, as a flesh-and-blood man. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1,14).

Jesus was indeed a true human being in all his humanity, but at the same time he was totally God - like the Father and the Holy Spirit. His birth fulfills many prophecies and embodies the promise of our salvation.

The incarnation did not end with the birth of Jesus - it continued beyond his entire earthly life and is still being realized today with his glorified human life. The incarnated (ie incarnate) Son of God remains in essence with the Father and the Holy Spirit - his divine nature is unreservedly present and almighty at work - which gives his life as a human being a unique meaning. This is what it says in Romans 8,3-4: "For what the law could not do, because it was weakened by the flesh, God did: He sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin's sake, and condemned sin in the flesh so that righteousness, of the required of the law would be fulfilled in us, who now live not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Paul goes on to explain that “we are saved through his life” (Romans 5,10).

Jesus' life and ministry are inextricably interwoven - both are part of the incarnation. The God-Man Jesus is the perfect High Priest and mediator between God and men. He took part in human nature and did justice to humanity by leading a sinless life. This circumstance allows us to understand how he can cultivate a relationship, both with God and with men. While we usually celebrate his birth at Christmas, the events of his whole life are always part of our all-out praise, even in Holy Week. His life reveals the relationship character of our salvation. Jesus, in the form of Himself, brought together God and humanity in a perfect relationship.

Tod

The brief statement that we were saved through Jesus' death leads some to misconceive that his death was an atonement that God brought to grace. I pray that we will all see the fallacy of this thought. TF Torrance writes that, against the background of a correct understanding of the Old Testament sacrifices, we do not recognize a pagan sacrifice for the sake of forgiveness in Jesus' death, but the powerful testimony of the will of a gracious God (Atonement: The Person and Work of Christ : Person and ministry of Christ], pp. 38-39). Pagan sacrificial rites were based on the principle of retribution, while Israel's sacrificial system was based on forgiveness and reconciliation. Instead of earning forgiveness with the help of offerings, the Israelites saw themselves enabled by God to be acquitted of their sins and thus reconciled to him.

Israel's sacrificial behavior was designed to testify and reveal God's love and grace with reference to the purpose of Jesus' death, which is given in reconciliation with the Father. With his death, our Lord also defeated Satan and took away the power of death itself: "Because children are of flesh and blood, he also accepted it in the same way, so that by his death he might take away the power of him who had authority over death. namely, the devil, and redeemed those who were forced to be slaves all their life through fear of death" (Hebrews 2,14-15). Paul added that Jesus “must reign until God puts all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death" (1. Corinthians 15,25-26). Jesus' death manifests the atoning aspect of our salvation.

Auferstehung

On Easter Sunday we celebrate Jesus' resurrection, which fulfills many prophecies of the Old Testament. The writer of Hebrews points out that Isaac's salvation from death reflected the resurrection (Hebrews 11,18-19). From the book of Jonah we learn that he was "three days and three nights" in the belly of the great fish (Jon 2:1). Jesus referred to that incident regarding his death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 1 Cor2,39-40); Matthew 16,4 and 21; John 2,18-22).

We celebrate Jesus' resurrection with great joy because it reminds us that death is not final. Rather, it represents an intermediate step on our way into the future - eternal life in communion with God. At Easter we celebrate Jesus' victory over death and the new life we ​​will have in him. We look forward with joy to the time of which Revelation 21,4 the speech is: “[...] and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will there be more mourning, nor outcry, nor pain; for the first has passed away.” The resurrection represents the hope of our redemption.

Ascension

Jesus' birth led to his life and his life to his death. However, we can not separate His death from His resurrection, nor His resurrection from His ascension. He did not emerge from the grave to lead a life in human form. In glorious human nature he ascended to the Father in heaven, and only with that great event did the work begun by him end.

In the introduction to Torrances' book Atonement, Robert Walker wrote: “With the Resurrection, Jesus takes our human nature into himself and brings it to the presence of God in the unity and communion of Trinitarian love.” CS Lewis put it this way: “In of Christian history God descends and then ascends again.” The wonderful good news is that Jesus lifted us up with Himself. "[...] and he raised us with him, and instituted us in heaven in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace through his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2,6-7).

Incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension - they are all part of our salvation and thus our praise in Holy Week. These milestones point to everything that Jesus has accomplished for us with all his life and ministry. Let us see more and more, who he is and what he has done for us, all year long. He represents the perfect work of salvation.

May the blessing that we experience through Jesus Christ be given to you and your loved ones,

Joseph Tkach

President
GRACE COMMUNION INTERNATIONAL


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