Jesus - The World's Saviour
Jesus' role in world history was announced by the angels who proclaimed his
birth to the shepherds on the Judean hillside:
"Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a saviour which is Christ the
Lord..." (Luke 2 v 11)
Why was a saviour needed? Because it was God's plan and purpose that men and
women should be saved from sin and death that we see all around us, by the
sacrifice and the resurrection of His Son, Jesus.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not
his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him
might be saved". (John 3vv16-17)
Bible teaching is quite plain: if we believe and associate ourselves with God's
Son, by washing away all our previous sins, whatever they were, by the act of
baptism, we are identified as belonging to Christ and being part of his work of
redeeming people to God.
"Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when
the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, and he shall
send Jesus Christ,...whom the heavens must receive until the times of
restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy
prophets since the world began." (Acts 3vv19-21)
So then, when Jesus returns to this earth, he will grant to those who have
followed him, eternal life in a restored and perfected earth.
The Return of Jesus Christ is what we are now watching and waiting for, but in
general the world will be no more willing to receive him the second time than it
was the first. The Bible tells us in the Psalms...
"The kings of the earth will rise up, and the rulers take counsel against the
Lord and against his anointed". (Psalm 2 v 2)
But this time the opposition to the risen Son of God will not succeed, for God
has given him "all authority...in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28 v 18). He
will set up God's kingdom and overthrow those who oppose him and rule in
righteousness.
If we want to be ready for the Return of Jesus, we must take action now; it is
no good waiting until he arrives, for then it will be too late!
