The Era of Salvation

The Good News announced by Jesus of Nazareth offers salvation and life to men and women of every nation and people.

After his resurrection, Jesus declared: “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me, therefore, go and make disciples of all nations!” He sent his disciples to announce his salvation to the “ends of the Earth.” The Era of Salvation began with his Death and Resurrection and the “last days” began, therefore, his life-giving message must be announced to all men – (Matthew 28:18-20).

God exalted Jesus to the Messianic Throne as promised in the Scriptures: “I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession,” and therefore, he is now sending his emissaries to announce his sovereignty and salvation throughout the Earth – (Psalm 2:8).

[Lantern Photo by Isaac Davis on Unsplash]

By bestowing the Gift of the Spirit on his Church, Jesus has empowered us to proclaim this Good News to all humanity. Through Christ, the promise to bless all the nations “in Abraham” is being fulfilled:

• “So, it is written, that Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you. But wait in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” – (Luke 24:46-49).

• “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the Earth” – (Acts 1:8. Compare Acts 13:47).

This salvation is for men of every generation and nation without exception. Jesus died and God raised him from the dead so we no longer will live for ourselves but for Him, and in newness and fullness of life. This occurred at the appointed time. We are the ones “upon whom the ends of the ages” have come – (1 Corinthians 10:11. Hebrews 9:26 - “But now, once for all, upon a conjunction of the ages, for a setting aside of sin through means of his sacrifice, he has been manifested”).

God loved humanity so much that He “gave his only born Son” over to death so all men might believe and receive “everlasting life.” 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.” He therefore reigns forevermore at God’s “right hand” – (John 3:16, Acts 2:36-38, Philippians 2:6-11).

The salvation promised by the God of Israel has become real for men of every nation who embrace and follow His Son. Jesus is the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth” who “shepherds the nations” – (Revelation 1:4-6, 7:15-17, 12:5).

All peoples and nations belong to Jesus. His sacrificial death voided the legal claim of Satan over mankind, 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 we must all hear – (1 Corinthians 15:1-6, Philippians 2:6-11, Hebrews 2:14-15, Revelation 1:6-8,3:21, 5:5-14).

ONE PEOPLE

God has “spoken” with eloquent finality through His Son. 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 intercedes for us. Christ did this in the “fullness of time” at the “end of the ages”:

• “In many parts and many ways, God, having of old time spoken to the fathers in the prophets, has upon the end of these days spoken to us in his Son” – (Hebrews 1:1-2).

• “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).

• “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” – (Galatians 4:4-5).

Salvation is available to all men “through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe, for there is no distinction.” Since his Death and Resurrection, the offer of life is made to all men because of the faithful obedience of the Messiah who “died for our sins” when we were still “enemies of God” and “dead in our trespasses” – (Romans 3:21-22).

Sin is the equalizer that condemns every man, woman, and child to bondage, decay, hopelessness, and eventually, death. However, because of Christ’s sacrifice, anyone may receive forgiveness and acquittal before God, whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, poor or rich. Death still occurs, but for us, it will be reversed when Jesus raises us from the dead – (1 Corinthians 15:20-28):

• “God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before everlasting times, but has now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” – (2 Timothy 1:9-10).

Considering Christ’s faithful act on our behalf when we deserved only death, we can only respond to his generous offer by repenting of our sins and placing faith in Jesus and what God has accomplished through him.

Ever since His Son “achieved the purification of sins” through his sacrificial death, God has been forming a new community composed of men and women from every nation, the ‘Ekklésia’, the “Assembly of God.” Every person who places faith in 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 for every man, woman, and child; therefore, it transcends all national, cultural, and racial boundaries. His disciples proclaim one message for all men, whether “Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” and in Christ, they become One People – (Galatians 3:28).

• “Wherefore remember, that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands, that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now, in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off are brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both one, and dismantled the middle wall of separation, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself of the two one new man” – (Ephesians 2:11-15).

Thus, at the appointed time, at the “ends of the ages,” God sent His Son to redeem all men and women who turn from their sins and place faith in Him and His Son. Salvation is provided on the same basis to every man, woman, and child, from the faith of Jesus Christ. We stand acquitted before God because of Christ’s faithful act. All we can do is respond with repentance and faith.

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SEE ALSO:

• The Death of Death - (The arrival of Jesus at the end of the age will mean the end of the Last Enemy, namely, Death - 1 Corinthians 15:24-28)

• Christ is Risen! - (Paul anchors all that God has done in the past death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus of Nazareth, inaugurating the messianic age – Galatians 1:1-5)

• Redeeming the Nations - (The nations and the Kings of the Earth are found in the City of New Jerusalem because of the redeeming work of the Lamb)

• Das Zeitalter der Erlösung- (Die von Jesus von Nazareth verkündete Frohe Botschaft bietet Männern und Frauen jeder Nation und jedes Volkes Heil und Leben an)