Salvation through forgiveness is why Jesus came and died for our sins on the cross at Calvary. After Zechariah named his son John, his muteness was lifted, and he praised the Lord while giving prophecies about the coming Messiah and his own son, John the Baptist.
Luke 1:76And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. 77 You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. [1] God unveiled Zechariah’s son’s special and important part in a drama only God could write. Even though God has endless power, He lovingly chooses to work through delicate humans, starting from tiny, helpless babies.
Believers should never forget that God can do amazing things through those who stay faithful to Him. One day, John the Baptist would grow into a man and, during his short life, would prepare the way for Jesus’s teachings. John’s heartfelt message would be to “repent” because it’s through sincere repentance that sinners can truly find forgiveness.
The Importance of Forgiveness
In the time before Jesus, God required animal sacrifice to pay the price for sin. But with the coming of Jesus, this changed. Romans 3:21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. [2]
Our human condition is sinful, and we can’t be good enough to earn our salvation. Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.[3] Our sin separates us from God. But the blood of Jesus provides forgiveness as we confess and repent of our sins. 1 John 1: 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.[4]
Salvation is a Gift
Salvation is a beautiful gift that our own efforts can’t earn. To truly earn it, one would need to live a perfect life without ever sinning—which only Jesus, the Son of God, was able to do. The forgiveness of our sins is a gracious gift from God, available to us when we sincerely confess our sins and put our trust in Jesus as our Savior.
Remember, you don’t pay for a Christmas gift—it’s given freely because it’s a gift. The same goes for forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Heaven—Jesus has already paid the price by dying on the cross for us. When we examine God’s word, we find His love and mercy through His Son, Jesus, which is a reminder of what He has done for us.
Always keep in mind God’s incredible love for us! He sent His Son into the world to save us from our sins and restore our relationship with Him so that we can enjoy a close and personal relationship with Him. We have salvation through the forgiveness Jesus gives. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gift-of-song
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.