“Surely
there is a God who judges the earth” (Psalm 58:11). “God repaid the
wickedness … ” (Judges 9:54). The Holy God speaks to us of His judgment
upon sinners. He speaks to us His Word of warning, “It is a dreadful
thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). In
love, He is calling us to return to Him. He pleads with us, “See to it
that you do not refuse Him who speaks” (Hebrews 12:25). God’s Word of
warning comes to us as part of His call to receive His gift of salvation
through faith in Christ – “How shall we escape if we ignore so great a
salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).
Two ways are set before us – the way of “those who shrink back and are
destroyed” and the way of “those who have faith and are saved” (Hebrews
10:39). What does it mean to have faith in Christ and be saved by Him?
To gain a clearer understanding of what faith in Christ as Saviour is,
it may be helpful to note what it is not.
In John 6:14-15, we see two inadequate responses to Jesus Christ –
“After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say,
“Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus,
knowing that they intended to come and make Him king by force, withdrew
again to a mountain by Himself.”
* First, He’s described as “the Prophet.” A prophet is someone who
brings a message from God. The prophets preach God’s Word. Is Jesus just
the greatest of the prophets? – No! He’s much more than that. He
doesn’t only preach God’s Word. He is God’s Word. He doesn’t only pass
on God’s message to us. He is God’s Message. If Jesus was no more than
the greatest prophet, He would still be leaving salvation in our own
hands – “Here’s the way you should live. Do your best to follow my
teaching.” That’s not Good News for sinners who need to receive
forgiveness. That just reminds us of our failure to live up to the
message that is preached to us. Thank God – Jesus is more than the
greatest preacher who ever lived. He is God’s only Son. He’s our perfect
Saviour.
* Second, He’s described as a “king.” Throughout history, there have
been many kings. Some of them have been great kings. There have also
been some terrible kings. Is Jesus just one of the kings – even the best
king there’s ever been? If that’s all that He is, we’re again left with
a problem. A king is someone we should look up to – some deserve more
respect than others. We need more than someone to look up to. We need
Someone who has come down to our level. An old hymn asks the question,
“Who came down to earth from heaven?” It gives the Gospel answer –
“Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
There have been many prophets. There have been many kings. There’s only
one Saviour – “the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”
(Galatians 2:20). There is only one Man concerning whom God’s Word says,
‘Believe in Him and you will be saved” – it’s the Lord Jesus Christ
(Acts 16:31). If we want to be saved, we don’t go to the “prophets” and
“kings” and say, “What can you do for me?” They can do nothing for us.
Like us, they must look away from themselves to Jesus. Like us, they
must pray, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Like us,
they must come in faith to Jesus and receive salvation as God’s “free
gift” (Romans 3:23-24; 6:23).
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