Who will be saved?
God saved the world from guilt and punishment for sin through the body of Jesus on the cross at Golgotha. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.” John 3:17, NET. The Son of God did not come into the world to destroy those opposed to the Jews. He came to save the Jews and those who opposed them. The Jews were not the only children of God. God’s children are reckoned through the promised Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, those who believe that the promised Son has come are righteous in God’s eyes. “The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:18, NET.
The “one and only Son of God” does not imply that God does not have other children. Abraham had other sons, but Isaac was his “one and only son” because he was the promised son. Jesus Christ is the Son God promised to the lost and helpless world. God made all human beings his children in the One and Only Son, Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, not all the children of God want him as their Father. This is a human problem, not God’s. God said, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. For God does not make the distinction between Jews and Gentiles.” Romans 10:11 – 12, NET. Also, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13, NET. Sinful humans must believe that God has accomplished everything needed for our justification and salvation through the body of Jesus Christ on the cross at Golgotha.
The “faith in” or belief in Jesus does not qualify us for righteousness. Our faith is something we do or practice. Therefore, it would be by the works of the law in the flesh. Jesus’s faithfulness justified us from guilt for sin. Our faith, or believing him, accepts the justification by his faithfulness. Some translators of the Bible employ “by the faith of Jesus.” The “faith in Jesus” is not an accurate translation.
The misunderstanding of what God has accomplished on our behalf through the body of Jesus on the cross at Golgotha leads to misconception concerning the source of human righteousness. Accordingly, Christian theologians divided the righteousness of God into two righteousness. They label them “the imparted and the imputed righteousness.” These terms serve only to confuse believers. There is one Jesus Christ; therefore, only one righteousness. Jesus Christ is our righteousness from God. God made us righteous in Jesus. He did not make us righteous like Jesus. God did not impart and impute righteousness to us. The righteousness from God is indivisible. Our righteousness could not be obtained over some time. God made us righteous on the cross at Golgotha, for all, and forever.
Continued in the next blog.
