The Age of Salvation

The Good News announced by Jesus in “Galilee of the Nations” signaled the start of the Last Days, the time of fulfillment and salvation.

Jesus of Nazareth declared: “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me, therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.” He then sent his disciples to announce the salvation purchased by his death to the “ends of the Earth.” The Age of Salvation began with his Death and Resurrection; therefore, his life-giving message must be announced to all men. The Son of God has achieved salvation for his people!

[Hourglass Photo by Paula Guerreiro on Unsplash]

The ministry of Jesus began in “Galilee of the Nations” when he began calling men to heed the Good News. “Repent! For the Kingdom of the Heavens is at hand!” With his arrival, the reign of the “Anointed Son” commenced, and his sovereignty was destined to extend over all nations. “I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession” – (Psalm 2:8, Matthew 4:12-17).

The idea of a new era of salvation is implicit in the opening words of the Letter to the Hebrews. God has spoken with great finality in His Son - “upon the last of these days” - the same Jesus who “achieved the purification of sins” for his people. His “once and for all” sacrifice secured salvation for all of us – (Hebrews 1:1, 7:27, 9:28, 10:10).

• “And having been made complete, he became for all those who obey him the author of everlasting salvation” – (Hebrews 5:9).

• “But now, once at the end of the ages, he has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” – (Hebrews 9:26).

This salvation is for men and women of every generation and nation without exception. God loved humanity so much that He “gave his only born Son” so all men might believe and receive “everlasting life.” Thus, Jesus died, and God raised him from the dead so we no longer must live in bondage to sin and the fear of death – (“That he might deliver all those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage”).

Because of his suffering “for our sins,” God raised Jesus from the dead and “highly exalted him, granting him the name that is above every name,” – JESUS - the name that means “Yahweh saves.” Through this same Jesus, the salvation promised by the God of Israel is now offered to all humanity and every nation.

All peoples and nations belong to Jesus. He is the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth.” His sacrificial death voided the legal claim of Satan over humanity, and his resurrection broke the iron grip of Death that held us all. This is a radical message of liberation from the tyranny of sin, Satan, and death that all men must hear – (1 Corinthians 15:1-6, Philippians 2:6-11, Hebrews 2:14-15, Revelation 1:6-8,3:21, 5:5-14).

• “Since the children are partakers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the Devil; and might deliver all those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” – (Hebrews 2:14-15).

God has “spoken” with eloquent finality through His Son, especially on the Cross. He alone “achieved the purification of sin,” therefore, he sits “at the right hand of the Majesty on High places” as our Great High Priest who mediates salvation. He alone achieved victory over Sin and conquered Death – (Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:14-18).

ONE HOLY COMMUNITY

Because of his Death and Resurrection, anyone may now receive the forgiveness of sin and justification before God “from the faith of Jesus Christ.” For the disciples of Jesus, death will be reversed when he raises them from the dead on the last day. “By faith, Abraham, accounting that God can resurrect even from the dead, from whence he did also in a figure receive Isaac back” – (Romans 3:21-22, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Hebrews 11:19).

Since His Son “achieved the purification of sins,” God is creating a new community composed of men and women from every nation who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, the ‘Ekklésia’, the “Assembly.” Every person who submits to and places faith in this same Jesus becomes a member of this Holy Community – (Ephesians 2:15).

No nation, civilization, or political ideology can claim Jesus or his teachings as its property. His Gospel is a message of hope for every man, woman, and child. It transcends all national and cultural boundaries. His disciples proclaim one message for all men, whether “Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male and female, for all are one in Christ Jesus” – (Galatians 3:28).

Salvation is provided on the same basis to every man, woman, and child, from the faith of Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah who “gave his life” as the ransom price to free us from sin, Satan, and death.

The angel instructed Joseph in the Gospel of Matthew to name Mary’s child ‘Jesus’ since he would “save his people from their sins.” His name is most fitting since it means “Salvation of Yahweh” or “Yahweh Saves.” Thus, in every sense, “Jesus Saves.”

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SEE ALSO:

• Priestly Kingdom  - (Disciples reign with Jesus as priests who render service in his Tabernacle and mediate his light and Word in the World)

• The Redeemed of the Earth  - (The one people of God is composed of the men and women purchased from every nation by the blood of the Lamb)

• The Shepherd King  - (The Lamb’s reign commenced with his death and resurrection, and since then, he has been shepherding the nations toward New Jerusalem)

• His Name is 'Jesus'!  - (Jesus means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In the man from Nazareth, the Salvation and Kingdom promised by the God of Israel had arrived in all their glory)