viewpoint the Father , taking the faults of many on himself , and winning eternal reconciliation .
By his death , Jesus paid the price for God ’ s forgiveness , and fulfilled every aspect of the Old Testament sin sacrifice – and all the prophecies which point to substitutionary death by God ’ s Servant as the only acceptable ground by which God can satisfy himself and cleanse and justify a sinner . This is salvation from sin and God ’ s wrath so that we can have Christ ’ s righteousness and stand before God .
Revelation In and through his sacrificial death , Jesus supremely revealed the full glory of God ’ s holy nature – his goodness , mercy , grace , truth , patience , forgiveness , righteousness , peace , self-control , gentleness , selfeffacement , trustfulness , faith , justice and love .
On the cross , God revealed his perfect justice by condemning all sins and bearing his just punishment for evil , and he demonstrated his immeasurable , inexhaustible , unknowable , self-giving love . At the same time , Jesus also revealed ideal human behaviour in comforting a criminal , asking God to forgive those who tortured him , committing himself into God ’ s hands , and providing for all time an example of perfect submissive obedience . In this way , he fulfilled all the details of the Old Testament whollyburnt sacrifice . This is salvation from alienation and isolation so that we can live in fellowship with God .
New life And Jesus also died in excruciating pain to struggle and strain for the birth of a new creation . After six hellish hours of spiritual childbirth he was , like the panting deer of Psalm 42:1 – 2 , deeply spiritually thirsty . As he died ‘ in labour ’ he could cry , ‘ It ’ s finished ; it ’ s completed ; I ’ ve done it ’ because , like the Servant in Isaiah 53:10 , he had seen his offspring .
So Jesus went to the cross to travail and give birth to a new creation which would reproduce the divine nature , and to fulfil every aspect of the Old Testament communion sacrifice . This is salvation from eternal death so that we can live eternally with God ’ s new life .
Full salvation It is tragic that the whole Church has seldom embraced and proclaimed every aspect of salvation , for all are biblical and all are grace .
For example , many congregations concentrate on Jesus ’ triumph on the cross , and stress his authority over Satan . Others focus on Jesus ’ atonement , and emphasise his forgiveness of sin . Some concentrate on Jesus ’ revelation of ideal humanity ; and a few stress his manifestation of God ’ s glory .
We do need to appreciate the distinctive emphases of other Christian traditions , and to stand with them in their worship and proclamation . But it is surely better for every congregation to grasp the fullness of salvation , so that we all understand , appropriate , experience and proclaim the full world-changing glory of the cross . ❖
14 Revival Times April 2017