WHEN Jesus was born, an angel
announced that he was to be the
Savior. (Luke 2:11) God’s plan of
salvation for the dying race called
for the sacrifice of a perfect human
life as a substitute for the
forfeited life of the perfect man,
Adam. But every member of the adamic
race was fallen and imperfect so
that none could be a redeemer and
savior.—Rom. 3:10; Ps. 49:7
God’s abounding love for the fallen
human race prompted him to send his
own beloved Son into the world that
he might be the Savior. (John 3:16;
I John 4:14) In order to provide
salvation from death, it was
necessary for Jesus to become a man,
which was accomplished by his being
born of a human mother. (Heb.
2:9,14) Jesus willingly laid down
his life to provide salvation for
the condemned and dying race.—John
6:51
Jesus loved the world of mankind and
not only gave his life that the
people might live but also endured
much suffering and affliction. (Isa.
53:3-7) To realize what Jesus
suffered for us should bring forth
our love and devotion to him and to
his Heavenly Father, who gave him to
be our Redeemer and Savior.
The Bible uses the word “ransom” to
describe what was accomplished for
us by the death of Jesus. (I Tim.
2:5,6) The word ransom, as used in
the Bible with respect to the Divine
plan of redemption, means a
corresponding price. The perfect man
Jesus became a substitute in death
for the perfect man Adam, who
forfeited his life through
disobedience to Divine law.
The Bible declares that the penalty
for sin is death but that God has
made provision for eternal life
through the gift of his beloved Son
to be the Redeemer and Savior. (Rom.
6:23) This means that in God’s due
time every member of the adamic race
will have an opportunity to accept
the provision of God’s love and
thereby be rescued from death.—I
Cor. 15:22
God’s gift of life through Christ is
available only through belief and
obedience. However, one must be made
acquainted with this provision of
life in order to believe. (Rom.
10:14,15) The vast majority of
mankind have died without having
received the true knowledge of
Christ; but this does not mean that
they will not yet have an
opportunity to believe on him and
obtain salvation, for they are to be
“saved,” or awakened from death, for
this purpose.—I Tim. 2:3-6
The Bible tells us concerning that
future time of blessing for the
people that then the knowledge of
the Lord will fill the earth and
that all will know the Lord and
unitedly serve him.—Isa. 11:9; Zeph.
3:9
Those who now believe on Christ and
devote themselves to the doing of
God’s will are reckoned justified
upon the basis of faith. (Rom. 4:24)
These are no longer alienated from
God because of adamic condemnation
but, through faith, are at one with
him. (Rom. 5:1; 8:1) If these
consecrated footstep followers of
Jesus during this Gospel Age
continue faithful unto death, they
will be rewarded with the wonderful
prize of immortality.—II Pet. 1:4;
Rom. 2:7; I Cor. 15:53,54
STUDENTS’ HELPS
Questions
Many know that the Bible speaks of
salvation and of Jesus as being the
Savior, but what do these
expressions mean? How many of the
following questions can you answer?
How alone could salvation for the
dying race be accomplished?
Why was it necessary for Jesus to be
born into the world as a human in
order to be the Savior?
How do we know that Jesus as well as
his Heavenly Father, loved the
fallen and dying race?
What is the meaning of the word
“ransom” as used in the Bible?
How widespread will be the result of
the “ransom” provided by the death
of Jesus?
What provision has been made by God
for all of Adam’s race to have an
opportunity to benefit from the
ransom?
Do believers now receive life
through Christ?
Reference Material
“The Atonement Between God and Man,”
page 417, par. 2 to page 420
Summary of Important Thoughts
Jesus became the Savior of the world
by giving his life as a ransom for
the forfeited life of father Adam.