“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.”He said this to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.” John 12:32
The Power to Save
The Apostle Paul understood the gospel message as the only power to save a person from eternal destruction.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16
He further stated, “It’s a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.” But he knew there was no other way for man to be saved, except through the message of the cross. The message of the cross is believing Jesus died for all mankind for the forgiveness of sin.
“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:22-23
Jesus Christ paid the price and was punished for our sins by shedding His blood on the cross.
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22
Lifting Jesus Up
Even though He was knowledgeable concerning scripture, Paul knew the only knowledge necessary for a person to receive God’s salvation was to lift Jesus up by speaking the truth about His death and resurrection.
“But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Romans 10: 8-10
Drawn to the Cross
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. John 6:44
Only God through His Holy Spirit can draw someone to have faith in Jesus Christ. So when the gospel is preached and someone believes, It is God the Father through His Holy Spirit that reveals that Jesus is the Christ, His Son.
“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 16: 15-17
The Bronze Serpent and the Cross
When the Israelites were wandering through the desert on their way to the promised land, they sinned against God and became rebellious, complaining about Moses and Him. As a result, they were bitten by venomous snakes and many died. They soon realized their sin and called out to Moses for help, asking him to pray. When Moses prayed, God instructed Moses to make a bronze snake and place it on a pole. Then, anyone who looked upon the snake lived. Those recognizing it as the only means of their salvation looked upon it and lived. (Numbers 21: 4-8)
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3: 14-16
Israel’s Salvation
Zechariah prophesized Israel will be saved when they recognize that Jesus Christ was the Messiah and see Him on the Cross.
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” Zechariah 12:10
The Ark of the Covenant and the Cross
God instructed Moses to construct the Tabernacle while they were in the desert, so He could be among them and they could enter His presence.
The first thing He told Moses to construct was the Ark of the Covenant. This chest would hold the law, the manna and the anointed rod of Aaron.
The Ark’s cover was called the Mercy Seat. Once a year the High Priest would enter the place of the Holy of Holies where the Ark was placed to make atonement for all the people’s sins. He would enter the Holy place and sprinkle the golden mercy seat with the blood of the animal sacrifice. Whenever the Israelites continued through the desert, they carried the Tabernacle with them. The Ark of the Covenant was lifted up with two poles by four priests, which metaphorically is how Jesus was lifted up on two poles on the cross. The four men or priests were at the four corners of the Ark which speaks of the atonement for all mankind from the four corners of the world.
(John 3:16).
The Ark was made of Shittim wood coming from the Acacia tree. The Acacia wood is very durable and its branches are covered with thorns. The translation of this Hebrew Word for Shittim means – scourge, pierce, sticks of wood. The Cross is also referred to as a Tree.
“But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Galatians 3:13
The Resurrection
God’s redemption does not leave us at the Cross. After Jesus died on the cross, His body was removed and laid in a rich man’s tomb. After three days He arose from the grave appearing to many people. When Mary Magdalene visited the tomb, the day of His resurrection she found the stone to its entrance, removed. She witnessed two angels sitting at both ends of where Jesus’ body was laid resembling the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant where Cherabim with outstretched wings were placed (metaphorically). Then she witnessed for herself, Jesus was no longer dead, but alive, when He spoke to her that day. (John 20: 1-18)
Jesus Points to Scripture
The disciples did not understand why Jesus had to die and on the third day be resurrected. Even though he told them many times. As two discouraged disciples left Jerusalem after Jesus’ crucifixion on resurrection day, Jesus joined them and explained everything.
It’s All in the Bible
Jesus said to some who did not believe, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life,” John 5:39-40
From Genesis to Revelation God has given us the truth concerning His Son, Jesus Christ and why He had to die on the Cross. He has given us salvation through no other one. As Jesus said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
We can not earn our way to heaven by our good works, or attending a church (Isaiah 64:6). Only through faith in Jesus Christ can we be saved.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9
How I Came to See Jesus on the Cross
When I was a child, my parents took me to Sunday School. During the time I was in this class, I had the opportunity to hear the truth concerning the death and resurrection of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, through my wonderful Sunday School teacher, Margie Reid.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
I did not know when I disobeyed God, I was separating myself from a Holy God. Knowing God’s commandments (10 commandments) led me to understand what it was to sin and how I needed God’s forgiveness. I also realized because God is a just God, He must punish sin. Then I heard the gospel message Mrs. Reid taught, concerning God’s great message of Love:
“God loves us so much, He gave His only begotten Son, to pay the penalty for our sins and whoever repents and believes in Him will never be separated from Him but will have eternal life. (John 3:16)
After hearing the gospel, we all bowed our heads and prayed, and it was then, I asked Jesus to forgive me and accepted His death on the cross for my sins, and it was then, I saw Him on the cross for myself. So I believed………………. (Ephesians 1:13)
My grandfather was in the hospital at the time with a terminal liver disease. He was an alcoholic and my mother would tell me how her family suffered as a result. I understood if my grandfather died without knowing Jesus, he would be eternally separated from God and go to hell.
Children were not allowed in the hospital in those days, so I wrote my grandfather a simple letter telling him how Jesus Christ died on the cross for his sins and how he could be forgiven and go to heaven if he repented and believed. After my mother read my letter to him, my grandfather also believed and prayed that God would forgive him. My grandfather asked to go into the bathroom to be alone. In that solitary place, he prayed and repented and God powerfully revealed Himself. After Granddad came out, he told all who were there in the hospital how God assured him, he was forgiven and told him, he was going to heaven. (Romans 10:8-9)
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in
paradise.” Luke 23: 43
Assurance of My Salvation
I can recall the day and place when I first heard the gospel message and then the news about my grandfather’s salvation, How? Because on that day, I became “born again” filled with God’s Holy Spirit (God’s love and joy) and knew then, without a doubt God loved me and I would be with Him forever (John 3: 1-21).
And so began the understanding of who “I am” in Christ Jesus and my journey of faith, many years ago.
Who assured me of my salvation? Why, God of Course,
The Great, “I AM”. That’s Who!
Who can assure you, the moment you believe, too.
(John 8: 58, Matthew 16: 16-17)
Mary Ahlborn
Doula Faith
