Jesus saves – What does this mean?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Jesus saves. This is the most important truth. We are sinners by nature and by choice, and our sin separates us from God and requires eternal consequence (Genesis 3; Romans 3:23). Only God Himself could restore us from the destruction that sin brings. Yet God loves us so much that He always had a plan of redemption: God Himself would die for our sins and atone for them (John 3:16). Jesus, fully God and fully man, took on flesh, lived a perfect life, willingly died, and rose again to fulfill God’s perfect plan for redemption (John 1:14; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 4:15). His one-time, sufficient sacrifice makes forgiveness and eternal life possible for all who trust in Him for the forgiveness of sins (John 3:16). Jesus saves. This means that our sins, failures, and guilt no longer have the final say over us; we can experience forgiveness, freedom, and hope that transform our eternal destiny and how we live each day. Ultimately, to say “Jesus saves” is to recognize that He not only rescues us from death and sin but also empowers us to live fully alive in relationship with God.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• In Genesis 3:15 God promised a Savior who would defeat sin and Satan, pointing to Jesus’ ultimate victory over evil.
• The blood of the Passover lamb protected Israel from death, foreshadowing Jesus as the Lamb whose blood saves from sin and eternal death (Exodus 12:13).
• God emphasizes that life is in the blood and forgiveness comes through atonement, showing the need for a sacrificial Savior (Leviticus 17:11).
• The suffering servant bears the sins of many, directly pointing to Jesus taking the punishment we deserve (Isaiah 53:4-6).
• Psalm 22 describes suffering, mockery, and deliverance, prefiguring Jesus’ death and the salvation He brings.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus identified Himself as the long-awaited Messiah by publicly reading Isaiah’s prophecy about Himself and then stating, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21; see verses 16-30 for the full account). The Messiah would fulfill the salvation promise God made after the Fall.
• Jesus saves means that He offers forgiveness, healing, and lifting up those who are failing (Mark 2:5; John 3:16-18; Mark 2:17).
• Jesus overcame sin and death, so that those who believe in Him are saved from both. He backed up His claim to be the Messiah and God (John 1:1-3; 8:58) by rising from the dead after three days in the tomb, and appearing to a crowd of witnesses and disciples (Luke 24:1-12, 36-49), many of whom would later face a violent death rather than deny that Jesus had risen from the dead.
• Jesus is God incarnate, who came to forgive the sins of men. He alone can provide salvation because He alone can save humankind from sin. He came "not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17 NIV). Since no one is truly righteous (Romans 3:10-12). Jesus saves by covering those who believe in Him in His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• We are all sinners (Romans 3:23) who have fallen short of God's standard (Romans 6:23). We all need salvation whether we admit it or not, and the only way to salvation is Jesus (John 14:6).
• When Jesus saves, He doesn't just set us free from the penalty of sin. He invites us into newness of life (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). When we trust in Jesus to save, He gives us the indwelling Holy Spirit, who works in our hearts and lives to help us know, love, and follow God (Ephesians 1:3-14). He helps us live in God's ways (John 15:1-11; Romans 8:29-30; Galatians 5:16-26).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Most people in the Western world have heard the phrase "Jesus saves." Unfortunately, that phrase has undergone some cultural hijacking which has obscured its meaning. The truth is, the words "Jesus saves" might be the most important words you ever hear.

Religion today is not much different than it was back in Jesus' time—a lot of rules to follow to appease a deity. When faced with religion, people usually either a) delude themselves into thinking they can follow all the rules, do the right thing, etc. and then judge anyone who cannot do the same, or b) turn away from religion because they realize they are not able to follow the rules. The words "Jesus saves" speak to this problem.

Every person needs Christ whether they will admit it or not. We all go against God's ways (sin), , worshiping false gods, not fully loving others, choosing our own path. And we all feel the moral burden. Religion exists to give us the illusion of control, and to assuage the nagging feeling that we are not measuring up to what God wants. "If we just follow these few rules," we think, "God will be pleased and accept me." But we can never live up to God's perfect standards by our own efforts (Romans 5—8; Ephesians 2:1-10).

Does this mean God is cruel? That He has set us up for failure? Not at all—Jesus saves! God sent Jesus for this very purpose—to put all the punishment for sin on Him, so that we would not have to bear it (Isaiah 53:5). Now that this free gift is available to us, the only way we can damn ourselves is if we actively choose NOT to take it. Jesus saves anyone and everyone who wants to be saved, but many of us say "no thanks" and cling stubbornly to religion or to the delusion that we can somehow save ourselves, or that we don't need saving, or even that God doesn't exist. Denying His existence is just another way of avoiding the big issue: Jesus saves, and we need to be saved.

Take the advice of the writer of Hebrews, who said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:15).

If you believe that Jesus is who He says He is—that He is God who came to earth as a human man, lived a sinless life, died the death we deserve to pay the penalty for our sin in our place, rose from the dead, and offers the gift of forgiveness and true life to you—you can accept His great gift today. A good way to start is to pray something like the following to God. [This is just a sample prayer. Salvation does not come from reciting specific words. It is a gift of God's grace that we receive through faith in Him. A prayer like this is a way to express your heart to God, tell Him you believe Him, and ask Him to save you.]:

"Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I can never measure up to your standards on my own. I know that my sins deserve death. But I also know that you have graciously sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life and die in my place. I believe in Him. I believe He rose again and that He offers me the gift of salvation. I want to turn away from my sins and accept salvation in Jesus. I want to follow Jesus and live for you. Thank you for saving me, Jesus!"

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UNDERSTAND

• Jesus saves by taking the penalty for our sins and giving us forgiveness, freedom, and eternal life.
• Jesus saves all who trust in His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.
• Jesus saves, which restores our relationship with God and transforms how we live.

REFLECT

• When did you recognize the glorious truth that Jesus saves, and how did that change your life?
• How have you experienced or recognized the freedom and forgiveness Jesus offers when He saves?
• How does understanding that Jesus saves change the way you view your relationship with God and others?

ENGAGE

• How do we help others grasp the impact of Jesus’ salvation both today and for eternity?
• Why do so many people struggle to accept that salvation cannot be earned through their own efforts?
• How can we live in a way that reflects the transformation Jesus brings through His saving work?