Is there a way to get free?
Yes, through that promised child.
Hold on and you will understand how this is going to be very good news for you.
Galations 2:21 "For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die."
We just saw that the law could not save people from sin; only show them they were sinners. Scripture reveals:
"The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinfulnature but instead follow the Spirit." Romans 8:3-4
And how did he send his Son? "Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately. When he had contemplated this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will name him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord told him. He took his wife, but did not have marital relations with her until she gave birth to a son, whom he named Jesus." Matthew 1:18-25
Why did he come as a baby?
"Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil)," Hebrews 2:14
"Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22 (see all of Hebrews 9 and Why Did We Need Christ to Die for Us? )
Jesus did this for us all. Though the law was given to the nation of Israel ("the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God." Romans 3:2), it was God's righteous standard that measures all people:
"When the Gentiles (non-Jews) sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it." Romans 2:12
If you have not yet believed, you may want to know that the truth is purposefully being hidden from you. Scripture explains: "If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
You are not alone in this. We all used to live that way. To live in sin is to obey the devil. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God:
"Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)" Ephesians 2:1-5
In the world, we've been exposed to ideas through movies, teachings and stories that anesthetize us to what’s true. Evil is often being diminished or positioned as something good by comparison to more blatant evil. Or good can be depicted as something ridiculous or "cute" but a lesser pursuit than what makes us happy. We've devised our own standards. Here’s the reality:
"For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.” Galations 3:10
Most of us don’t realize; that failing to keep the law, we've been under a curse.
“When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.” Romans 2:12-16
But for those who receive him, the sacrifice of Christ rescues us from the curse pronounced by the law:
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.” Galations 3:11-14
Power of sin is the law
"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:56-57
Something the law of Moses could never do
“Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one (referring back to Jesus in vs 35) forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you." Acts 13:38-39
(translator notes from the NET Bible explain that justified here means "to be found in the right, be free of charges")
Answer to this life that is dominated by sin and death
"I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 7:22-25a
"So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God." Romans 7:4
This act of Jesus also brought salvation to the Gentiles (non-Jews), those outside the nation of Israel. So is it better to be of Jewish descent? "Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin." Romans 3:9
"After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is." Romans 3:29
"For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people." Romans 2:28-29
We all have access to the blessing:
"So you who believe in Jesus, those of faith, who are the sons of Abraham and partakers of the blessing. "Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." Galations 3:7-9
"And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you." Galations 3:27-29
"As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him (Jesus vs 9) will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:11-13
God’s law makes us aware of our sinful condition. We have to become aware that our sin brings us death.
Romans 3:19-20 "Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are."
The good message of the gospel is that Jesus provided the way to save us from the power of sin if we will receive him.
How did Christ do this?
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
2 Corinthians 5:21
"But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath."
Romans 5:8-9
"For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.
Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God,
by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit." 1 Peter 3:17-18
"No one can take
my life from me.
I sacrifice it voluntarily.
For I have the authority to lay it down when
I want to and also to take it up again."
John 10:18a-b
"He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows,
acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him
and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles
were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all."
Isaiah 53:3-6
We might discount his experience of suffering and death saying, "well, of course he could do it, he was God," but as you'll see, he laid down his divine rights to take on the form of a man and shared in human nature. This is how, as you'll see, he "has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." He actually suffered and experienced these things as a man.
"(just as many were horrified by the sight of you) he was so disfigured he no longer looked like a man; his form was so marred he no longer looked human—" Isaiah 52:14
What Jesus did matters
Here's a summary:
1
He laid down his divine rights,
put on flesh and arrived in this world as a baby
so he could die in human form
with a human nature, yet sinless; to be our sacrifice
Though he was God, he took on our form and nature
Scripture describes, "...Christ Jesus...who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death —even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:5b-8 NET
He learned and grew just as we would
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people." Luke 2:52
Has been tempted as we are, yet without sin
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15
We can see verification in this next verse that he shared in human nature, "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one." James 1:13
Do you see how?
Because God cannot be tempted. That is at least one reason why Jesus emptied himself though he existed in the form of God, so he could be tempted and yet not sin! He truly humbled himself. Yet, he retained his Godhood, because as you just read above in John 10 (by the image of a hand being nailed to a cross), he still had the authority to take his life up again.
2
He died
and rose again with
many eye witnesses
Died, buried, rose on the third day
“Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
Many eye witnesses
He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.”
1 Corinthians 15:3b-7
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He freed us from the penalty for our sins satisfying
the requirement of the law as our sacrifice
3
Freed us from penalty of sins committed under first covenant
“Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.” Hebrews 9:13-15
Canceled the record of charges against us and disarmed spiritual rulers
"He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross." Colossians 2:14-15
Sacrifice for sin and why!
"Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin." Romans 3:24-25a
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." 1 John 4:9-10
"But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
For more about why we needed Christ to die for us as a sacrifice, click here
He provided the only way to be saved; for both Jew (Israel) and Gentile (non-Jew) alike
4
There is salvation in no one else!
"For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,
‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12
Reconciled both Jews and Gentiles (all people) to God by his death
"For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near." Ephesians 2:14-17
Christ accomplished the purpose of the law; now all who believe in him are made right with God
"Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God." Romans 10:1-4
How do we accept God's way and become right with him?
Repent, turn to God, be baptized; receive Holy Spirit
“Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
Confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised him from the dead
"...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” Romans 10:9-13
Justification obtainable through faith
"They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as an atoning sacrifice by his blood, obtainable through faith" Romans 3:24-25a
(justified = rendered just or innocent based on NET translator notes)
Faith comes from hearing word of Christ
"Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ." Romans 10:17
You can triumph over sin and death
"And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:16-17
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
When we believe and accept him, he gives us the right to become children of God.
"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God." John 1:12-13
There you can see that though all human beings were created by God (Genesis 1:27, Colossians 1:16), we must BECOME his children.
Believing in him is demonstrated by our choices and what we do
"What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
"So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough." James 2:14-17a
It continues:
“Unless it produces good deeds,
it is dead and useless.”
"Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds?"
"I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
"You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?"
James 2:17b-20
The passage above teaches that faith without good deeds is useless. Demons know he is the one true God but this knowledge doesn’t save them. Matthew 8:29 tells us they know the torment that awaits them. So what is the difference between the belief of demons and faith that saves?
Repentance that demonstrates our faith by obeying God.
"Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God." Matthew 3:8
“…I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too” Luke 13:5
"‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent" Luke 24:47b
"Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away." Acts 3:19
To repent is to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider.
To have a change of mind for the better; to abhor sin
(condensed from definition of the original Greek in Strong's Concordance #3340).
Repent
If we ignore scripture and try to reduce the requirements of salvation to believing in him without that belief including repentance unto obedience (as some do), we must ask, then how would we be any different than the demons?
Can you be forgiven if you've done something especially awful? There is only one unforgivable sin.
In this passage, Jesus is speaking:
“I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.” Mark 3:28-30
Here is what had happened six verses earlier:
“But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.” Mark 3:22
Be encouraged by the Apostle Paul, who had persecuted Christ followers and cast his vote to sentence them to death before the Lord revealed himself to him and called him to minister the gospel (Acts 22:19-20, Acts 26:9-11, Acts 9:1-22):
"I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them! But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life." 1 Timothy 1:12-16
Obedience is characteristic of faith. If we believe in Jesus, would we not do what he says?
John 3:36 says, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."
The term "believes" is juxtaposed to "whoever does not obey" so we can see that those who believe do obey. As you just read, the wrath of God remains on him who does not obey.
By perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality
"But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed! He will reward each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness." Romans 2:5-8
Repentance brings refreshment from the presence of the Lord
“Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.” Acts 3:17-21
Next, precisely how what you do matters