Jesus Transforms Life

MEMORY SELECTION: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” —Luke 19:10

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Luke 19:1-10; Mark 8:34-36

TO REALLY appreciate the work that Jesus does in transforming life, we must understand that there are two salvations—an earthly and a heavenly. The salvation of the world of mankind will be a restoration of that which was lost here on the earth. We might well ask, “What was lost?”

The Bible states that when God created Adam in the Garden of Eden, he was perfect. He had dominion, and communion with God. The Apostle Paul in quoting from the 8th Psalm states, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him.”—Heb. 2:6-8

But the next part of verse 8 reads, “But now we see not yet all things put under him.” Here the Apostle Paul is referring to the fact that Adam willfully transgressed God’s law, and because of this he lost his dominion and was condemned to death. The Scriptures also teach that because of Adam’s transgression all of his offspring inherited Adam’s loss of dominion, perfection, and life. In Romans 5:18 we read, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation.” But we find that mankind is to be recovered from this condition as we continue our reading in Hebrews 2:9. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

This means that, because Jesus took Adam’s place in death, in God’s due time condemnation will be lifted from the human race. And all men, even those who are in their graves, will be given an opportunity to regain the perfection, life, and communion with God that was lost in the Garden of Eden. This great work will be accomplished by Christ and his church during the kingdom reign.—I Cor. 15:12-28; Acts 3:19 through 4:2; Rev. 21:1-5; Zeph. 3:9; Isa. 26:9; 33:6; 35:8-10

In Mark 8:34-36 Jesus defines the terms by which it is possible for one to attain to the heavenly calling. Verses 34 and 35 read, “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel’s, the same shall save it.”

The thought of denying one’s self involves the primary condition under which the one approaching God can be accepted. In Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” This means that to be acceptable to God the one approaching him must put God first in his heart. It means that no longer will he seek to satisfy the flesh and serve selfish interests. It means that no longer will he exert any will of his own. The Bible speaks of this figuratively as being beheaded. (Rev. 20:4)

The thought of the cross is related to death. When the individual is justified and enlightened by the Holy Spirit, he learns that the Heavenly Father’s will for him is to lay his life down as Jesus laid his down. Jesus asked his disciples, James and John, “Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” (Mark 10:38) The real baptism of Jesus was the laying down of his life daily in serving the Heavenly Father and the Gospel. This activity brought trials and persecution which tested his loyalty and developed him as a new creature.—Heb. 5:8,9; 12:3; I Pet. 2:19-25

The Apostle Paul, in Romans the 6th chapter, indicates that those seeking a heavenly salvation must follow the example of Jesus. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”—vs. 4

| Home Page | Table of Contents |