Understanding Salvation
Good News (Luke 4:16-44)
God sent Jesus to do a very special work: fulfill His Word from the Holy Scroll. (vv18-19) The people marveled at Jesus when he began to express that He came to fulfill these words. Yet, it also angered people to the point of wanting to kill Jesus. They chased Him to the top of a hill planning to throw Him over the edge. But, Jesus simply passed through the crowd of people and went away, for His work on earth was not yet complete. Jesus went on to free people from demons and heal others from sickness. News about His power spread throughout the land and mobs of people tried to prevent Jesus from leaving their area. However, Jesus reminded them, “I must proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose.” (Luke 4:43) Did you know that “gospel” means “good news”? It gives us the very answer we need when asking how am I saved from my sins. Jesus died of all mankind’s sins, rose from the dead three days later, and made a way for everyone who believes in Him to be forgiven, ensuring their place in heaven. Good news indeed!
Jesus Cleanses (Luke 17:11-19)
The stories of Jesus’ marvelous healings spread throughout the region. During His travels, He came upon ten men who were waiting for Jesus outside their city. They had contracted a terrible skin disease and were required to leave their homes and families. When anyone would come near them they were to cry out, “Unclean, Unclean!” However, when they saw Jesus, they cried out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:13) The only response Jesus had for them was, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” (v14) You see, the priests were the only people who were able to declare a person healed and clean. While on the way to the priests, the men were healed! Out of the ten men, only one returned to thank Jesus! He fell at Jesus’ feet with thankfulness and gave glory to God with a loud voice. This one man was a Samaritan. Samaritans and Jews did not like each other. Looking down at the Samaritan, Jesus asked, “Were not 10 cleansed? Where are the nine? Didn’t any (Jews) return to give glory to God except this foreigner?… Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well.” (vv17-19) The samaritan of this story represents you and me, Gentiles. You and I might not have a terrible skin disease, but we have a disease of the heart. Sin lingers inside of us and Jesus is the Only One who can cleanse our hearts. Jesus praised the Samaritan for his faith. Jesus waits to do the same for us. When He died on the cross, He made a way for our sins to be removed and give us a new, clean heart. All we are required to do is believe in Him!
New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2)
The Apostle Paul wrote letters to a group of people called the Corinthians. Not everyone who had read Paul’s letters were Christians, however. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul was inspired to teach about Jesus. Just like today, not everyone who reads the Bible is a Christian, but when they read and study Second Corinthians, we pray that they will become Christ-followers. So, Paul wrote about Jesus’ dying and rising again, helping his reader understand that these actions were part of God’s plan to make believers into “new creations.” He writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) He goes onto say that believers are “ambassadors for Christ.” (v20) This means that we are God’s messengers and He has given us the responsibility to speak the good news (gospel) to others. Did you know that an amazing change takes place on your inside when you believe in Jesus? You still look the same on the outside, but your inside (your heart or inner being) looks a whole lot different! Paul said the old is gone and the new has come. Every person starts out as a sinner (the old person/old heart) who does whatever he wants to do and acts however he wants to act. This is living a life full of sin. When we understand that Jesus is the Only One who can free us from that life of sin, we come before the Lord in repentance and confess our sins to Him. When you and I accept Jesus as the One who can free us from a life of sin, He forgives us and makes us alive on the inside as a “new creation” (the new person/new heart). We want to live for God in our newness because we love Jesus for giving us a new heart!
Our kids need to know that they are sinners and need Jesus, their Savior. Having discussions with your kids about the gospel can not wait. And, it’s never too late! “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)