This post explores the popular topic, “Jesus saves” by focusing mainly on “the legal case” from a biblical point of view.

Yes, the Bible does make a legal case in answer to the question: How can God say that He will give over to eternal death (annihilation) all those who sin (who do evil) and yet save human beings who are guilty of sin from said eternal death?

That is, is God two-faced? Does God contradict Himself? Does He have favourites? Does God have one law for everyone else in the universe and another law for humanity? Is God evil?

God Himself answers these questions in giving the Bible to humanity and to the other intelligent beings in the universe.

For God answers, saying, One purpose of the Bible is “to declare…at this time his [God’s] righteousness: that he [God] might be just, and the justifier [the God who declares as righteous] of him [or her] which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:26.

Now for those who are new to Bible notation, “Romans 3:26” is a reference to the Bible, which is a collection of books. In the Bible, each book consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. The quotation referred to as “Romans 3:26” is taken from the book of Romans in the Bible, the 3^rd chapter, and the 26^th verse.

What God is Like

To really get to know and understand what God is like we would have to study the whole Bible.

Notwithstanding this, we can know that God is a Family of three divine Persons, namely, the Father, the Son called Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

“God is love.” 1 John 4:8. “Thou [God] art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity [wickedness].” Habakkuk 1:13.

“For the righteous LORD [God] loveth righteousness.” Psalm 11:7. So, God is not evil.

The First Human Pair

God created the human race by first creating a man named Adam and then a woman named Eve. So, every human being who has ever lived or will ever live are descendants of Adam and Eve, the first human pair.

Now “God hath made man [humanity] upright [holy]” (Ecclesiastes 7:29) but “by one man [Adam] sin [which is evil and wrongdoing] entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men [people], for that all [humanity] have sinned.” Romans 5:12. “For the wages of sin is [eternal] death.” Romans 6:23.

As a result of their sin, Adam and Eve were banished from the garden of Eden which God had planted on earth to be their home, and from “the tree of life…in the midst of the garden.” Genesis 2:9.

Therefore, “for their good” (Jeremiah 24:5), God said to Adam and Eve and to all their descendants, “In the sweat of thy face [by toil] shalt thou eat bread [food], till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Genesis 3:19.

Thus, God ensured that there would be no immortal sinner and He designed that, by their reaping the consequences of sin, that humanity would learn to abhor and shun sin.

So, then all humanity is under the condemnation of God’s law of love because of their sin and, hence, are destined for eternal death (annihilation), a permanent separation from God.

God’s Love for Humanity

“All we [humanity] like sheep have gone astray [from God]; we have turned every one to his own way.” Isaiah 53:6.

So, humanity is estranged from God in that they find no joy in holiness and in knowing God.

Thus, God says to humanity, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3) to myself.

“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death…Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.” Song of Solomon 8:6, 7.

Therefore, we can see that God loves humanity with all His heart. To reiterate, according to God’s law of love, “the wages of sin is [eternal] death.” Romans 6:23. So, since God has one law for all the universe, God seeks to save the human race which He loves from eternal death (annihilation) “for all [humanity] have sinned.” Romans 3:23.

That is, God rules the universe by His law of love and anyone who deviates from it by doing evil, God will destroy (annihilate).

Thus, God “he devise[d] means, that his banished [the human race] be not expelled from him” (2 Samuel 14:14), “that the king [God] doth…fetch home again his banished [the human race].” 2 Samuel 14:13.

God Seeks to Save Humanity

“And I [God] sought for a man among them [humanity], that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land [for the earth], that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30.

That is, “if there be a messenger [Christ] with him[God], an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man [to humanity] his [Christ’s] uprightness: Then he [God] is gracious unto him [humanity], and saith, Deliver him [humanity] from going down to the pit [to ruin]: I [God] have found a ransom” (Job 33:23, 24) in the person of Christ.

So, “he [God] saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm [Christ] brought salvation [the saving from eternal death] unto him [God]; and his [Christ’s] righteousness, it sustained him [Christ].” Isaiah 59:16.

Christ as Mediator: The Everlasting Covenant Initiated

So, the moment when Adam and Eve sinned, “he [Christ] stood between the dead and the living; and the plague [eternal death] was stayed [held back from humanity].” Numbers 16:48.

Why was the plague held back? Why didn’t the human race become extinct with the deaths of both Adam and Eve who had sinned? The answer to these questions is that Christ saves humanity through a legally grounded solution to the problem of sin which God devised.

According to this legal solution, “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men [humanity], the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5. Thus, Christ as Mediator, was destined to become One with the human race by being born as “the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5.

That is, the legal case upon which God built His plan to save humanity involves the “the everlasting covenant.” Hebrews 13:20. This covenant was a contract between Christ and God in which God promised to bless humanity with salvation through Christ as Mediator.

God’s everlasting covenant, His plan of salvation, is also called “the gospel” (Matthew 4:23) in the Bible.

The role of Christ as Mediator then was the initiation of the promises of the everlasting covenant which is the gospel. By this means, Christ legally saved the human race from becoming extinct with the deaths of both Adam and Eve.

Christ as Mediator: God’s Promises to Humanity

“And this is the promise that he [God] hath promised us [humanity], even eternal life.” 1 John 2:25. That is “this is the record, that God hath given to us [humanity] eternal life, and this life is in his Son [Christ].” 1 John 5:11.

“For all the promises of God in him [to humanity through Christ] are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory [honour and praise] of God by us [human beings].” 2 Corinthians 1:20.

Thus, ONLY through Christ can humanity be legally saved by God from eternal death (annihilation) and instead receive eternal life from God.

So then, the legal case by which God saves humanity involves the fulfilment of the promises of the everlasting covenant, the gospel, through Christ as Mediator.

Therefore, we will now turn our attention to the legal workings of the everlasting covenant.

Christ’s Prophecy: The Everlasting Covenant Revealed to Humanity

Christ came to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden after they had sinned. He spoke to “Lucifer” (Isaiah 14:12), an angel whom God now calls “the Devil, and Satan” (Revelation 12:9), in the presence of both Adam and Eve.

Lucifer, Satan, had been cast out of heaven by God because of his sins and it was through his temptations that both Adam and Eve to fall into sin.

Christ said to Satan, “I will put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman [Eve], and between thy seed [your (Satan’s) followers] and her seed [the followers of Christ]; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15.

This then was a prophecy which Christ spoke to Satan. But what does this prophecy mean? Well, although it is not yet clear, this was actually a prophecy of the legal workings of the everlasting covenant, the gospel.

So, it was the first time that the everlasting covenant was revealed to humanity.

Christ’s Prophecy: The Everlasting Covenant and the Transformation of Humanity

Christ’s prophecy, first of all, stated that He, Christ as God, would “put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman [Eve].” Genesis 3:15.

Only God can change the human heart from the selfishness which took the place of love in Adam and Eve’s hearts, to a hatred, an enmity, for sin and Satan. Such an enmity means that God’s law of love rules in the heart.

Secondly, Christ’s prophecy, was that “I [Christ as God] will put enmity… between thy seed [your (Satan’s) followers] and her seed [the followers of Christ].” Genesis 3:15.

Christ’s prophecy then predicted that there would always only be two classes of people on earth—the followers of Satan and the followers of Christ. Furthermore, Christ as God would put enmity between these two classes of people.

Thus, according to the prophecy, the fact that every human being is born a follower of Satan does not mean that they have to remain like this. That is, every human being could “be…transformed” (Romans 12:2) to become followers of Christ and so have God’s law of love rule in their heart.

This then was a prophecy of how the everlasting covenant, the gospel, would work in actuality. Of course, even if humanity ceases from sin, the fact remains that they had sinned in their past lives.

That is, legally, justice must be done in that the penalty of death for sins must be executed. For God cannot legally turn a blind eye to sin and ignore it. How then can humanity be saved from eternal death (annihilation)?

Christ’s Prophecy: The Battle Between Christ and Satan

Let’s further consider Christ’s prophecy: “I will put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman [Eve], and between thy seed [your (Satan’s) followers] and her seed [the followers of Christ]; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15.

Christ, in saying to Satan, “it shall bruise thy head” (Genesis 3:15) was speaking of Himself. In other words, He, Christ, as “her seed” (Genesis 3:15), as a descendant of the woman, Eve, would bruise Satan’s head. In turn, Satan would bruise Christ’s heel.

What does all this mean? Specifically, Christ’s prophecy spoke of the enmity between Christ and Satan. According to the prophecy, this enmity would result in a future battle between Christ and Satan, with Satan acting through his followers who always do Satan’s bidding.

Thus, as prophesied, Christ would suffer harm from Satan in the battle, but Christ would inflict a “fatal wound” upon Satan. In other words, Satan would cause Christ to be put to death, but Christ’s death would seal the doom and eternal death (annihilation) of Satan and his followers.

Well, we now understand the interpretation of Christ’s prophecy and the legal workings of the everlasting covenant. But how does this relate to the legal case by which God saves humanity from eternal death?

Christ’s Prophecy: The Death of Christ

According to Christ’s prophecy, He, Christ, would die. But how could this be seeing that Christ is God? It is evident that God “who only hath immortality” (1 Timothy 6:16) cannot die for “even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” Psalm 90:2.

The answer to our question is that Christ would become “the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5) by being born in human flesh.

Therefore, as a man Christ would be able to say, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” John 10:17, 18.

So, we see that Christ as a human being would rise from the dead to life again because He had power to lay down His life and power to take up His life again.

This is still a mystery, but the essence is that as a man Christ could die. Again, we ask, how can the death of Christ save humanity? Also, what would give Him the right as a human being to rise from the dead? After all, aren’t all human beings sinners?

Christ’s Prophecy: The Confirmation of the Everlasting Covenant

Now according to prophecy, Christ was required to be “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.” Hebrews 7:26.

In addition, the everlasting covenant, the gospel, required the death of Christ “for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2.

In dying, Christ then would be such “that he by the grace [work] of God should taste death for every man [every human being].” Hebrews 2:9.

Therefore, since Christ would not be a sinner Himself, He as Mediator would be qualified to be humanity’s Sin Bearer. That is, Christ would die in humanity’s place, and thus exhaust the penalty of death for every human being.

According to God’s legal case in saving humanity, Christ’s death would confirm the everlasting covenant making it secure so that the salvation, the saving, of the human race was guaranteed.

But how could salvation be guaranteed? As wonderful and lovely as it is that God would die for sinful humanity, they are still guilty of sins and deserving of eternal death (annihilation).

Jesus Saves: The Legal Case – Its Foundation

Now here’s the important point to grasp in making the legal case whereby Jesus saves humanity from eternal death.

God says, “There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20. The only exception would be Jesus Christ. That is, no other human being besides Jesus Christ would ever be without sin.

Therefore, only Jesus Christ as a human being meets God’s requirements to be saved. This means that, legally, according to God’s law of love, only Jesus can be saved.

How then can the human race be saved? They must somehow be partakers of Jesus Christ’s right to be saved. This is the only legal way that humanity can be saved.

As it turns out, this is exactly what God has done. God has made the human race participants in Christ’s right to be saved under certain conditions.

How? This is what we will now explore, so continue reading and it will be made clear.

Jesus Saves: The Legal Case – A Part of Jesus’ Body

Now God says, “For if by one man’s offence [Adam’s—the first human being God created— offence] death reigned by one [Adam]; much more they [Christ’s true followers who are true Christians] which receive abundance of grace [God’s unmerited favour] and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17.

Thus, true Christians could say of themselves, “We are members of his [Jesus Christ’s] body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” Ephesians 5:30, 31.

“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the [Christian] church.” Ephesians 5:32.

Such persons would be “the children of God” (Romans 8:16) for they would be partakers of Christ’s death for sins in their behalf, and their sins would have been forgiven by God. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” Romans 8:17.

So then, as members of Christ’s body, the genuine Christian would be eligible to receive all that Christ received. That is, Christ’s right to be saved would give the Christian a right to be saved as well.

Here then is the key to God’s legal case in saving humanity from eternal death. God has made the true Christians among humanity, in some supernatural and mysterious way, a part of Jesus Christ’s body.

Isn’t this wonderfully great news! That God has made those human beings who have been “transformed” (Romans 12:2) from sinfulness to “the love of God” (Romans 5:5) in their hearts, eligible to receive eternal life from God.

Jesus Saves: The Legal Case – A Glorified Body

According to God’s everlasting covenant, the gospel, Christ “shall change our [the genuine Christian’s] vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his [Christ’s] glorious body, according to the working whereby he [Christ] is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:21.

For, “behold, I shew you a mystery; We [true Christians] shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump [trumpet]: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible [a body subject to decay] must put on incorruption [incorruptibility], and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.

That is, the true Christian would receive from God a glorified body just like that which Christ would have after He rose from the dead to life again.

“Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.” Romans 6:9. So too, the true Christian would be immortal, no longer subject to death.

The question then is, Did God’s everlasting covenant, the gospel, His plan of salvation, become a reality? The answer is, Yes. How? This is the what we will now explore, to find out how God’s plan came to fruition.

The First Rejection of God

The everlasting covenant, the contract, between God and Christ was built on the promises of God to humanity.

Notwithstanding God’s gracious and benevolent everlasting covenant which was communicated to Adam and Eve and to all their descendants, that God would save mankind, the entire human race, except for a few persons, continued in their sins. This was the first rejection of God and His law of love by the human race.

Humanity’s sins were so grievous in God’s sight, that God destroyed the whole human race, except for eight persons, by a flood.

The eight persons saved were a man named Noah, his three sons, and his sons’ wives.

The Second Rejection of God

“Noah was a just man and perfect” (Genesis 6:9) in God’s sight and before the flood, God said to Noah, “With thee will I [God] establish my covenant.” Genesis 6:18.

So, after the flood and through Noah, God gave to the inhabitants of the earth a knowledge of His everlasting covenant. (Note that every human being who has lived or will live after the flood is a descendant of Noah).

All the earth then had the God-given privilege of knowing and understanding God’s everlasting covenant which promised that if they ceased from all sin they would be saved. Nevertheless, “they sinned yet more against him [God].” Psalm 78:17.

This was the second rejection of God and His law of love by the human race. Now God, because “he knoweth the secrets of the heart” (Psalm 44:21) of every human being, knew that any further attempts on His, God’s part, to cause humanity to obey His law of love would fail.

What was God to do then in the face of the repeated rejection of humanity? Well, God did not give up on humanity. No, no! God instead tried another strategy in His desire to save humanity.

God’s Covenant with Abraham

God saw a godly man named Abram, whose name God changed to Abraham, and God established His everlasting covenant with Abraham.

The terms of the covenant were that God would give Abraham many descendants “as the stars of heaven” (Genesis 26:4) and that God would give the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants. Also, God covenanted with Abraham, that he, Abraham, would be the forefather of Christ when Christ came to the earth in human flesh.

Moreover, the terms of God’s covenant with Abraham were: “If ye will obey my [God’s] voice indeed, and [thus] keep my [God’s] covenant, then ye [Abraham and his descendants] shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.” Exodus 19:5.

Now Abraham had a godly son named Isaac with whom God also established His everlasting covenant. Likewise, Isaac had a godly son named Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel, and with whom God established His everlasting covenant.

So, the covenant between God and Abraham was passed on from generation to generation. From Abraham to Isaac, from Isaac to Jacob (Israel), and from Jacob (Israel) to his descendants, “the Israelites.” Exodus 9:7.

Abraham’s Response to God’s Covenant

When God made the covenant with Abraham, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted [reckoned, imputed] unto him for righteousness.” Romans 4:3.

This meant that because of Abraham’s faith in God’s promises and his submission to God’s will, God forgave Abraham of his sins and God also gave to Abraham “the gift of righteousness” (Romans 5:17) which enabled Abraham to obey God’s law of love.

“And he [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed [reckoned] unto them also.” Romans 4:11.

In other words, Abraham was not only the forefather of literal Israel, but also the spiritual father of all those people to whom, like Abraham, God imputed (reckoned) righteousness.

The Sign of Circumcision

The practice of circumcision which God gave to Abraham and his descendants was to be a sign of the individual’s spiritual condition.

Specifically, physical circumcision was to be a sign to Abraham, a symbol, that “the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed [your descendants the Israelites], to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live [eternally].” Deuteronomy 30:6.

Now the Israelites were also known as “Jews.” 2 Kings 16:6. So, to further make the same point regarding circumcision God says, “He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Romans 2:28, 29.

So, God counts as true Israelites ONLY they who are obedient to His law of love and who He regards as spiritual Israelites.

In fact, then, God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Israelites, was not just with literal Israelites but also, in a wider sense, with those who spiritually belonged to Israel and who were spiritual Israelites, spiritual Jews.

The Israel of God

Now God says, It is Christ “in whom…ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh [the sinful nature] by the circumcision of Christ.” Colossians 2:11. “And [so] ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” 1 Corinthians 3:23.

“The circumcision made without hands” (Colossians 2:11) is another way of saying that because of their faith in God’s promises and their submission to God’s will, God has forgiven them of their sins and God has given to them “the gift of righteousness” (Romans 5:17) which has enabled them to obey God’s law of love.

So, people who are circumcised in heart, meaning that they are obedient to God’s law of love, are “accepted in [Christ] the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6) and so they belong to Christ.

They are actually spiritual Jews, spiritual Israelites, and God calls them “the Israel of God.” Galatians 6:16.

Christ and Abraham

God says, “Now to Abraham and his seed [descendant] were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds [descendants], as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed [descendant], which is Christ. ” Galatians 3:16.

The covenant between God and Abraham then was a type, a symbol, of the everlasting covenant, the contract, between God and Christ.

Thus, the literal application of the covenant to Abraham that he would have many descendants and that these descendants would inherit the earthly Canaan was symbolic.

In actuality, the covenant between God and Abraham, was really a covenant between God and Abraham’s seed (descendant), Christ.

God’s promises to Abraham were actually promises to Christ. So, God promised Christ that He would have many spiritual descendants, people whose hearts had been circumcised by Christ Himself. These spiritual descendants of Christ would inherit the heavenly Canaan which is heaven itself.

Now we are in a position to understand what God means when He says, “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed [descendants], and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29) of God to Abraham.

The spiritual descendants of Christ are also spiritual descendants of Abraham and thus they are spiritual Israel, the Israel of God. For Abraham is “the father of all them that believe” (Romans 4:11) God’s promises and who submit themselves to God’s will.

So, to reiterate, God says, “For all the promises of God in him [the promises to humanity through Christ] are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory [honour and praise] of God by us [human beings].” 2 Corinthians 1:20.

Jesus Saves: Christ Born in Human Flesh

Now God had promised to ancient Israel that “the LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren…unto him ye shall hearken [render obedience].” Deuteronomy 18:15. “And he [as a Prophet] shall be thy [God’s] spokesman unto the people [humanity].” Exodus 4:16.

This promise was to be a fulfilment of the “the everlasting covenant” (Hebrews 13:20) between God and Christ to save mankind from eternal death. Thus, Christ was born on earth just over 2,000 years ago as a baby boy named “Jesus” (Matthew 1:21) who was a descendant of Abraham.

Christ was unique among humanity in that He was “God with us [with the human race]” (Matthew 1:23) for He was 100% God, and simultaneously He was “the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5) in that He was 100% human.

How could this be? “This is a great mystery… I speak concerning Christ” (Ephesians 5:32) which God has not revealed to humanity.

For “the secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us [mankind] and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this [God’s] law” (Deuteronomy 29:29) of love.

When we come to the contemplation of the nature of Christ then, we should not attempt to speculate beyond what God has revealed in the Bible. For God says, “Draw not nigh [near] hither [here]: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5.

Jesus Saves: The Life of Christ

“Christ…suffered for us [for humanity], leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” 1 Peter 2:21, 22.

“Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him [God] that judgeth righteously.” 1 Peter 2:23.

We see then, Christ “did no sin” (1 Peter 2:22) and, hence, was not under the condemnation of God’s law of love as was prophesied of Him.

Jesus Saves: The Everlasting Covenant Confirmed

It was Christ “who his own self bare our [humanity’s] sins in his own body on the tree [the cross], that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes [blows] ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:23, 24.

Thus, Jesus Christ suffered, bled, and died, being nailed to a t-shaped wooden structure called a cross, so that the human race may be healed of their sinfulness.

In dying, Christ was such “that he by the grace [work] of God should taste death for every man [every human being].” Hebrews 2:9.

Christ as humanity’s Mediator was their Sin Bearer in that He died in their place, and therefore exhausted the penalty of death for every human being.

“Our [humanity’s] Saviour Jesus Christ…hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality [for humanity] to light through the gospel.” 2 Timothy 1:10. This Christ has accomplished this “through the blood of the everlasting covenant” (Hebrews 13:20) according to God’s plan of salvation, the gospel, to save humanity from eternal death.

For Christ’s life wherein He was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26) and Christ’s death were in fulfilment of the everlasting covenant between God and Christ. By these means, Christ made secure and confirmed this covenant so that the salvation, the saving, of the human race was guaranteed.

God says then, “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men [humanity], the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all [humanity], to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:5, 6.

Jesus Saves: Called to be Ambassadors

While Christians are on earth, they can say of themselves, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18.

“To wit [that is], that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses [wickedness] unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19) which is the word of God, the Bible.

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you [every human being] by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead [place], be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20.

Thus, just as Christ was a Prophet, a spokesman for God, Christians are called to be ambassadors for Christ, speaking to every human being on behalf of God.

If Christians fail to be spokesmen for God, they are disqualified from being partakers of salvation through Christ and, hence, are lost in that they lose eternal life.

Jesus Saves: High Priest

After His death on the cross, Christ rose again to life from the dead and He ascended to heaven where He began a new phase of His ministry to humanity, that of High Priest.

We now “consider the Apostle [the Sent of God] and High Priest of our [the Christian’s] profession, Christ Jesus.” Hebrews 3:1.

“He is able also to save them [every human being] to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25.

So, Christ humanity’s Mediator in His role as High Priest, says to every human being, “As for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD [God] in ceasing to pray for you [humanity]: but I will teach you [humanity] the good and the right way.” 1 Samuel 12:23.

Jesus Saves: Called to be Priests

God says to every Christian, “Ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD [God]: men shall call you the Ministers of our God.” Isaiah 61:6.

As a priesthood of believers in Christ, Christians are called to be just like Christ, to intercede, that is, to pray for all mankind.

They are to say to every human being, “As for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD [God] in ceasing to pray for you [humanity]: but I will teach you [humanity] the good and the right way.” 1 Samuel 12:23.

If any Christian fails to intercede for others, they are disqualified from receiving salvation through Christ and are lost.

Jesus Saves: Judge

When He was on earth, Christ said, “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son [Christ].” John 5:22.

Now “we [humanity] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10.

“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14.

The purpose of God’s judgment will be to determine all those among humanity who will be saved by God to eternal life and those who will be lost to eternal death (annihilation).

Jesus Saves: Called to be Judges on Earth

God says to humanity, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete [measure], it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:1, 2.

Here God means that we are not to condemn anyone as being unworthy of salvation through Christ. For just as harshly as we judge others, God will judge us.

Notwithstanding this, God says, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” Matthew 7:16, 17

“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” Matthew 7:18. “Wherefore [therefore] by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:20.

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24.

Christians, especially then, are to obey God’s commands regarding judging by inspecting the fruit which individuals bear in their life. If they fail to obey God, they are disqualified from being partakers of Christ’s right to be saved.

Jesus Saves: Judges in Heaven

A man named John whom God had given him a vision, which is supernatural imagery, wrote the following about Christians who had gone to heaven because they had been saved to eternal life by God.

“And I saw thrones, and they [the saved among humanity] sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4) before the time that God established His throne on earth.

Thus, genuine Christians can now say of themselves, “Do ye not know that the saints [true Christians] shall judge the world?” 1 Corinthians 6:2. “Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” 1 Corinthians 6:3.

For God has granted the true Christian the privilege of reviewing Christ’s and God’s judgment of angels and humanity. They will be judges just as Christ as “God is judge himself.” Psalm 50:6.

Jesus Saves: King

After His death, Christ rose again from the dead and ascended to heaven where He is now humanity’s High Priest. He will soon return to the earth as victor over sin, Satan, and the wicked among humanity.

At that time, “the Lord himself [Christ] shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump [trumpet] of God: and the dead in Christ [true Christians who have died] shall rise [to life again] first: Then we [true Christians] which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord [Christ] in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord [Christ].” 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.

Now God gave John a vision of Christ’s return and John wrote: “His [Christ’s] eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.” Revelation 19:12.

For as God says, “The LORD [God] is King for ever and ever.” Psalm 10:16.

God Executes Judgment

The wicked among humanity who are living at the time of Christ’s return will die and join the wicked dead in the grave. “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years [during which the saints judged the world, Satan, and his evil angels] were finished.” Revelation 20:5.

At the end of the thousand years, all the wicked dead among humanity are raised to life again by God. Then the wicked along with Satan and his “evil angels” (Psalm 78:49) will receive their sentence from God and be punished accordingly.

After punishment, all the wicked among humanity, as well as Satan and his evil angels, will suffer the “second death.” Revelation 20:14. This is when “they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.” Jeremiah 51:57.

Jesus Saves: Called to be Kings

The righteous who have been saved from among humanity will then say, “And [He Christ] hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:6.

For Christ says, “To him that overcometh [sin] will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame [sin], and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:21.

And so God says to the saved, “Blessed are they that do his [God’s] commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14), “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.” Hebrews 12:22.

By having access to the tree of life, the saved among humanity are made immortal, they receive eternal life from God.

God Moves His Throne

John, to whom God gave a vision, wrote: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” Revelation 21:1.

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:2.

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Revelation 21:3.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4.

So, God moves His throne from heaven to the earth and God and the saved among humanity live happily together forever. Sin and sinners are no more. The whole universe is clean and not defiled by sin. Praise the Lord!

Jesus Saves: The Legal Case – A Summary

The legal case upon which God’s everlasting covenant, the gospel, rests can be summarised as follows.

“Neither is there salvation in any other [than Jesus Christ]: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we [humanity] must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

For the sum of Christ’s prophecy was this: “For God so loved the world, that he [God] gave his only begotten Son [Christ], that whosoever [any human being who] believeth in him [Christ] should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

So, God has given the human race a second chance, a probation, during which they are to cease from all sin.

Then, at the end of this probation, God will save only those people took hold of God’s promises and, thus, were enabled by God to cease from all sin. Those people who failed to believe God’s promises and, hence, did not cease from sin, God will destroy (annihilate).

Conclusion

God has made an everlasting covenant with Christ to save humanity from eternal death (annihilation). This covenant rests upon a legal foundation whereby God makes the saved among humanity a part of Christ’s body.

How? We do not know. But as a result, the saved are treated as Christ deserves to be treated. Now Christ did, in fact, come to the earth in human flesh and Christ, as a human being and by His righteousness, earned the right to be saved. Therefore, humanity through Christ, has the right to be saved.

This then is how God could “declare…at this time his [God’s] righteousness: that he [God] might be just, and the justifier [the God who declares as righteous] of him [or her] which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:26.

Thus, God does not violate His law of love but brings those people who are saved up to the high standard of His law in that love rules in the hearts.

Now you may find that this post makes wonderful reading because of the good news of salvation through Christ. And so it should. So then, God appeals to you, saying, “Give diligence to make your calling and election [by God to your salvation through Christ] sure [secure].” 2 Peter 1:10.

Your reading this post is not by chance. God has deliberately used this post to bring home forcefully to your mind your lost condition and the necessity of your being saved by God, so that you can escape eternal death (annihilation). Don’t delay, take all necessary action now to secure your salvation!

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

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