The Nature Of Christ And How We Are Saved
By DavidTBattler
"The suffering and humiliation was also a part of the mission of Jesus. It is not alone by the cross we are saved." MS#77, 1899.
Christ had to die, and bear all of these punishments, and more, that we might live the life that He deserved...(DA 25). "Christ bore all of these punishments for every man, woman, and child; and for this reason, He can ransome every soul." (Ms.#77, 1899).
1) Isa.52:14 “his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the
sons of men:”
2) Isa.53:2 “he [had] no form nor comeliness;”
3) Isa.53:2 “and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”
4) Isa.53:3 “He [was] despised and rejected of men;”
5) Isa.53:3 He was “a man of sorrows,”
6) Isa.53:3 He was “acquainted with grief:”
7) Isa.53:3 “and we hid as it were our faces from him;”
8) Isa.53:3 “he was despised,”
9) Isa.53:3 “and we esteemed him not.”
10) Isa.53:4 “Surely he hath borne our griefs,”
11) Isa.53:4 “and carried our sorrows:”
12) Isa.53:4 “yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”
13) Isa53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions,”
14) Isa.53:5 “he was bruised for our iniquities:”
15) Isa.53:5 “the chastisement of our peace was upon him;”
16) Isa.53:5 “and with his stripes we are healed.”
17) Isa.53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;”
18) Isa.53:6 “and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
19) Isa.53:7 “He was oppressed,”
20) Isa.53:7 “and He was afflicted,”
21) Isa.53:7 “yet He opened not His mouth:”
22) Isa.53:7 “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,”
23) Isa.53:7 “and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth”
24) Isa.53:8 “He was taken from prison and from judgement:”
25) Isa.53:8 “and who shall declare His generation?”
26) Isa.53:8 “for He was cut off out of the land of the living,”
27) Isa.53:8 “for the transgression of My people was He stricken.”
28) Isa.53:9 “And He made His grave with the wicked,”
29) Isa.53:9 “and with the rich, in His death;”
30) Isa.53:9 “because he had done no violence;”
31) Isa.53:9 “neither was any deceit in His mouth.”
32) Isa.53:10 “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;”
33) Isa.53:10 “He hath put Him to grief,”
Christ had to die, and bear all of these punishments, and more, that we might live the life that He deserved...(DA 25). "Christ bore all of these punishments for every man, woman, and child; and for this reason, He can ransome every soul." (Ms.#77, 1899).
With these opening thoughts, let us begin to explore the age old question about “How We Are Saved? By first looking at the stated SDA fundamental belief about how we are saved, and then also, an in depth look into the book of Isaiah, and other pertinent Scripture passages.
Fundamental Belief #9. The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ: In Christ's life of perfect obedience to God's will, His suffering, death, and resurrection, God provided the only means of atonement for human sin, so that those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal life, and the whole creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of the Creator. This perfect atonement vindicates the righteousness of God's law and the graciousness of His character; for it both condemns our sin and provides for our forgiveness. The death of Christ is substitutionary and expiatory, reconciling and transforming. The resurrection of Christ proclaims God's triumph over the forces of evil, and for those who accept the atonement assures their final victory over sin and death. It declares the Lordship of Jesus 15; Phil. 2:6-11.)
Is the above true when it says "It is not by the cross alone that we are saved?"
DA.756.002
Suddenly the gloom lifted from the cross, and in clear, trumpetlike tones, that seemed to resound throughout creation, Jesus cried, "It is finished." "Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit." A light encircled the cross, and the face of the Saviour shone with a glory like the sun. He then bowed His head upon His breast, and died.”
When Jesus said "it is finished," He was still alive.
Therefore, are we saved alone by His death?
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
It appears at first glance from above, that we are not saved only by the cross of Jesus Christ. It appears to be a case where we have been taught for years “only believe and you are saved by what Christ did on the cross,” and now we are confronted with Biblical information that may be saying something different than any other Christian denomination:
“We are not saved only by the cross of Christ. There are other things involved in our salvation.”
Is this possible? Are we Christians, if that is the case?
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"...you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Jude 3
DavidTBattler
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