If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
ROMANS 10:9
INTRODUCTION
The Bible calls Jesus “the Saviour of all people” (1 Timothy 4:10). But why do we actually need a Saviour? What is it we’re being saved from? And what does salvation even look like?
Scripture’s story revolves around Jesus dying on the cross for us. Here, at the centre point of history, God does everything to make us His own people. But the Bible explains this salvation with religious and legalsounding jargon like “propitiation”, “sanctification”, “atonement” and “covenant”. What do these words even mean? And what relevance do they have for our lives right now?
This handy guide to the Bible’s story of salvation offers little explanations about what Jesus has actually done for us, what all the strange words mean, and what difference it all makes to today as well as throughout eternity. These short introductions are like little launchpads into the salvation God welcomes you into with open arms.
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Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version Anglicised Copyright ©️ 1979, 1984, 2011 Biblica. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, an Hachette UK company. All rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered trademark of Biblica UK trademark number 1448790. ©️ 2024 by Our Daily Bread Ministries®. All rights reserved. Printed in Europe. For information on our resources, visit odb.org
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CREATION: HOW IT ALL BEGAN
GOD’S WORLD
God’s Perfect Purpose for His Creation
If you had unlimited power to change our world, what would you do? End poverty? Eliminate war? Banish sickness, loneliness and despair? Why do we yearn for a world without those things, when the broken world we live in is the only one we’ve ever known? Could it be that we were made to live in paradise?
When He created the world, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Very good� That’s not just humanity’s review, that’s the opinion of the most holy, awesome and perfect God. The world He made was not blighted by suffering and death. Earth was a place of blessing and fellowship between God and His creation. Eden was heaven on earth.
Into this sublime paradise, God placed His most special creation: humans. God created us “in His image”. To look at a human being was to see something of God. They bore His likeness and His heart. People were His administrators—His representatives—on the earth.
We were made to walk with God in paradise, enjoying His blessings and favour; and to spread out, extending God’s glory throughout all of creation. What a world that would have been!
In fact, that is the world for which we were created. It is the world we lost, and the one we still strive to regain. Salvation, in part, is redeeming that world and our place in it. And, most importantly, it’s about restoring our fellowship with God.
FREE TO CHOOSE
The Choice God Gave His People
Forced marriage is a serious criminal offence. But why? Isn’t marriage a wonderful thing? Of course it is, but only if both parties enter willingly. Forcing anyone into such a deep and intimate commitment violates their freedom. To be truly free, there must be an opportunity to say no. But loving commitment, freely chosen, is the greatest of blessings we can give or receive. God thought so too when He created the first humans.
Adam and Eve enjoyed paradise in loving unity with God. They were pure, but not perfect; they were like innocent children, able to grow and mature in wisdom, deepening their experience of God and His world. But maturity only comes through making choices. The freedom to choose to disobey was part of God’s design; but Adam and Eve couldn’t choose the consequences of such a choice.
The salvation that God offers us is also a choice: a choice to come back under His rule, His authority, His protection and His guidance. When we willingly choose to submit to our Creator, we discover life as it was intended to be—a continual growth in wisdom and maturity in God’s inexhaustible love.
ADAM & EVE
The People Who Messed It Up for the Rest of Us
Why should we have to suffer for Adam and Eve’s decision? Isn’t that outrageous and totally unfair? Actually, it’s always been that way. Parents decide to move house, which means we move school. A boss changes a deadline, which means we work late. Countries go to war, and the entire population is affected. That’s just how life works.
The Bible says: “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people, because all sinned.” All sinned? Really?
When we read of Adam and Eve’s decision to disobey God, we entertain the idea that we would never have done such a thing. God had given them an abundance of pleasurable food—surely we would have been satisfied! But we all break boundaries. We all eat ‘forbidden fruit’. We all sin and we all make decisions that negatively affect others.
The good news is that salvation works in the same way. The Bible continues, “The sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.”
We may suffer the consequences of Adam’s actions. But when we enter into the results of Jesus’ actions, we find eternal salvation.
THE CURSE
The Way the World Broke
Cursed. It sounds like some ancient voodoo myth, but it is the Bible’s explanation of the state of our world after sin entered it. “Cursed is the ground because of you,” God told Adam. Having chosen to leave the safety and provision of God’s authority, Adam and Eve were now going to have to face the consequences. The world, once pleasant and abundant, was now corrupt and dangerous.
There is no better symbol of the curse than the “thorns and thistles” that began to appear. They represented a wildness—a lawlessness—that had taken root. God’s commission to humankind to “subdue the earth” would now be a back-breaking uphill struggle against the forces of nature. Extreme weather, natural disasters and disease would dog our steps. Endless earthly miseries can be traced back to the fact that our world is under a curse.
It is no coincidence that as Jesus died upon the cross, He did so with a crown of thorns pressed into His head. He embodied the curse as He died for the sins that caused it. He wore it like it was His fault, not ours. As the Bible said many years earlier, “Anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse.”
Yes, our world is cursed, but Christ became a curse for us that we might, through Him, experience true and eternal blessing.
FIG LEAVES Why You Can’t Cover Yourself
Have you ever wanted to hide away? Perhaps you realised you made a terrible mistake or said the wrong thing. Suddenly you just wanted the ground to swallow you up.
When Adam and Eve chose to reject God’s authority, they “sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” They weren’t innocent and pure anymore. They realised they were naked—and they were ashamed. They tried to cover themselves and their sin from God. But it didn’t work. And they knew it—they still hid from God when He came walking in the garden. They were ashamed. The fig leaves didn’t really cover anything.
We do the same thing today. We hold on to ‘fig leaves’ that seem to cover our worst and instead display us in our best light. Perhaps we hold up our charity work, generosity, the time we saved someone’s life or the attentive way we’re raising our kids. But none of our efforts are enough to cover us before God. He still sees our sin and shame too. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.”
Thankfully, God has provided a proper covering for us; one that truly does the job. We’re told, “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” More than just brushing our sin under the rug, Jesus binds us to Himself, His perfection and His victory. “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
CAIN & ABEL The War Between Good and Evil
Cain and Abel were two brothers who faced the same reality in very different ways. Their parents had been banished from Eden and alienated from God, and now they had to decide how to live.
Abel desired to reconcile with God and faithfully brought a sacrifice from his flock; God accepted him and his offering. But Cain was different. He also brought an offering, but his heart was not in it. He didn’t love God. His offering was an empty religious observance. God did not accept Cain or his sacrifice. And that’s when his evil heart was revealed.
Sin—that active desire to reject God’s authority and live selfishly—didn’t just exist in Cain’s life, it ruled him. He gave himself over to it. Cain hated his brother, “because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous”. He saw God’s goodness in his brother, and it made him furious.
Out of his hatred for his brother, Cain killed Abel, and good and evil have been at war ever since. They cannot peacefully coexist; one must overcome the other.
When Jesus died on the cross, it looked like sin and evil had won. But the Bible tells us Abel’s death was a foreshadowing that the ultimate righteous man—the Lord Jesus—would be killed by those who love evil. But it didn’t end there. One day, when the risen Christ returns, He will wage war on evil and destroy it once and for all.
REPENTANCE Changing Your Mind About Jesus
Have you ever had that sinking realisation that you’ve been going the wrong way? Maybe you’ve followed the wrong person or misunderstood some directions. When the truth hits you, the only thing to do is turn around.
Repentance is about realising you need to turn around and follow Jesus. Perhaps you previously thought Jesus was irrelevant, false or unnecessary. But when the realisation dawned, it changed everything.
The biblical word “repentance” literally means “to change your mind”. But if we truly change our minds, a change of course will follow.
Our human nature is programmed to live to please ourselves. We decide what’s right and wrong. We do what feels right or makes sense to us. We might even believe that living by our personal convictions is pleasing to God. But when we hear and believe the story of Jesus, our eyes are opened.
To claim we follow Christ while still living only to please ourselves is like claiming we realise we’ve accidentally driven a hundred miles in the wrong direction, but never turning around. Our claim doesn’t hold any weight. Receiving Jesus’ salvation involves a deliberate turn around.
As Christians we are still going to battle with sin and get plenty of things wrong. But as repentant people, our instinct will change. Rather than wanting to run to sin, we’ll want to run to Jesus, especially when we fail.
THE TEMPTATIONS Jesus Achieved What We Couldn ’ t
If only my circumstances were different, I wouldn’t keep sinning so much. If I had more money, if I was married, if I had a different job . . . I wouldn’t keep falling for the same temptations.
It’s true that we are at our weakest when life is difficult. And when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, life was pretty grim. This makes His resistance to the temptations even more remarkable. He didn’t reject the devil with a full belly, good company and exciting opportunities on the horizon. Jesus was in the wilderness, totally alone and desperately hungry.
Contrast that with the scene in Genesis 3, when the first temptation occurred. Adam and Eve had everything: a lush, bountiful garden, the perfect hand-made soul mate, God’s company and a paradise to explore. What more could they want? Yet they chose to reject God’s kingdom and please themselves.
Jesus, in dire circumstances, was offered the same: “Forsake God and do whatever you fancy.” Yet He found strength, truth and a shield in God’s Word. He chose His Father.
Jesus’ victory over sin in the wilderness is the promise of the victory He brings into each of our lives. Sin is not appealing to Him; He sees the brokenness and destruction it causes. With His Spirit within us and His Word to guide us, we can see the truth of it too and learn to overcome temptation, even in the worst of circumstances.
JESUS’ DEATH
The Wages of Sin Are Paid
Jesus Christ died for our sins.
This is probably the most familiar summation of the gospel story; but what does it actually mean? Why did Jesus have to die? And what does His death have to do with us?
God told Adam, “When you eat from the forbidden tree, you will certainly die.” Of course, he did eat—and death has been an unwelcome feature of our lives ever since.
Adam and Eve died. Billions of others have died. But all of them combined could not repay the debt of sin against God.
The Old Testament Law allowed God’s people to place their sins on the head of a pure, spotless animal that would then be sacrificed in their place. But this too could never fill the chasm sin has created between us and God. The Bible tells us that ultimately, “Those sacrifices were an annual reminder of sin”, rather than a solution.
So much death, but no resolution. Until Jesus was announced as, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” The perfect, sinless Son of God is able to pay for our sin. His death achieves what no other death ever could. Finally, “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Once and for all� “It is finished,” Jesus cried from the cross. Sin’s debt is paid. He has freed us from death’s grip and given us life.
THE RESURRECTION
The Proof of Salvation
“Would you like your receipt?” For a pint of milk, you’d probably say no; but the more important the purchase, the more likely you are to want proof of payment.
“It is finished!” Jesus cried from the cross—literally “Paid in full.” Death is defeated; sin is paid for; my people are free. It’s a big claim. Where’s the proof?
Scripture teaches that the penalty for sin is death. Three days after He died in our place, Jesus rose again. If He had stayed dead, we would have to assume there was still more that needed to be paid. But when He walked out of that tomb, it proved that Jesus paid the full wages of sin to purchase us for Himself; His resurrection is the receipt.
Jesus follows up His resurrection with big statements. “My God is now your God. My Father is now your Father.” “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” “Peace be with you!”
We can trust these promises wholeheartedly because we’ve been given all the proof we need. The end of the story has already been written by the One who says, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
JESUS’ RETURN When Our Salvation Will Be Complete
Jesus defeated sin and death! Jesus reigns over all the earth! Satan is defeated!
We say these things as Christians, and we believe them to be true. But as we look around us, these victorious declarations seem more like wishful thinking than reality. When will we see their fulfilment?
The Bible speaks about a day when Jesus will return from heaven to bring the history of our world to a close. The curtain will be pulled back and the world will see Jesus for who He truly is. He is not coming as a humble child this time; He will come as a conquering King!
At His coming, Jesus will fully and finally defeat evil. He will destroy His enemies and bring healing and wholeness to His creation. And He will gather all His people from throughout human history and take us to heaven to be with Him for eternity. Sin will be eradicated, death will be laid to rest, darkness will be banished and every one of His promises will be fulfilled.
The imagery used in describing this “Day of the Lord” is quite dark and frightening; defeating evil is no picnic. But the end result is glorious: God and His creation in perfect harmony enjoying love and fellowship in a world free from sin, death and evil.
No wonder the Bible ends with this powerful promise, “I am coming soon.”
LOVE The Motivation Behind Our Salvation
Our understanding of love can be shaped by sentimental movies, heartbreaking songs and idealistic novels. But such love is often self-focused; “I love how you make me feel,” “I need you,” “I want you more than anything.” God’s love could not be more different.
“This is love,” the Bible says, “not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Jesus’ sacrifice is the true definition of love. Not a mere sentiment, it is definitive action for the benefit of others.
And this self-sacrificial action wasn’t for those who deserve it. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
We were not good, loveable or even likeable. There is no impish charm in our sin. Sin made us dirty and ashamed. But God chose to save us and bring us into His kingdom—at immeasurable cost to Himself. Jesus took the blame for our sin. He bore our shame. He died an utterly degrading and brutal death so that we could live.
God’s love isn’t just for the crowd, but for each of us. For you. One Bible writer marvelled, “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” If you had been the only one who needed salvation, Jesus would have died just for you. In love, He seeks even one lost sheep.
GRACE
God’s Undeserved Favour
If you were caught at your worst possible moment, how would you expect to be treated?
Jesus once told the story of a father and his foolish son. In essence, the son said to His dad, “I kind of wish you were dead. Then I could get my inheritance and live how I want.”
The dad gave his son his inheritance money. And watched as he ran off to spend it just as he wanted. Wild living, parties, recklessness. He was having a blast. Until the cash ran out. Friendless and penniless, he worked feeding pigs while his own stomach ached with hunger pains.
Half-naked, barefoot and barely recognisable, the son finally turned towards home. But he knew he deserved nothing. He was at his worst. He is a picture of the culmination of all our disastrous decisions, blatant lies, selfishness, jealousy and shame. It’s ugly to look at. Anyone would turn their face away.
Before he even reached home, his father saw him and came running down the road. The dad disregarded his dignity, pulling his dirty, foolish son into an embrace. Dismissing the “I’m sorry speech”, he prepared a feast for his boy. He was fully restored. No strings attached.
This story is a picture of grace. God’s undeserved favour. At our very worst, God doesn’t turn His face away. Instead, He stands ready to run and embrace us. We have no merit to bring; nothing to offer. All we contribute to our salvation is thankfulness.
FORGIVENESS God’s Pardon for Sin
Forgiveness is hard. Especially when the people who’ve hurt us don’t think what they’ve done is a big deal. We might think, They don’t deserve my forgiveness�
This is what makes God’s forgiveness so amazing. We really don’t deserve it. In fact, Jesus paid for our sin so we could be forgiven while we were still God’s enemies. Effectively, forgiveness and salvation were offered while we had our arms folded and were stubbornly claiming we were in the right.
So, does God’s forgiveness allow us to get away with sin, then? No. Forgiveness isn’t sweeping sin under the rug. Jesus died to take on the full penalty for our wrongs. God makes the conscious choice to no longer hold our sin against us. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
As God’s saved people, forgiveness is now a hallmark of our lives too. “Forgive as the Lord forgave you,” the Bible says. Our forgiveness is to imitate God’s. We make the active choice to not hold sin against others. We are to keep no record of wrongs.
Forgiveness is not about letting others ‘get away with it’. We’re leaving their sin between them and Jesus, who died for every wrong (even the ones committed against you). Forgiveness is a clear way we show the heart of our Saviour to others.
PROPITIATION Jesus Covers Us from Judgement
Why is there so much evil in the world? Why doesn’t God do something about it?
It is an age-old question, and there is an answer: He has, and He will again.
During the time of Noah, God took drastic action against the rampant evil that had poisoned the world. He didn’t blow up the whole planet, but He did wash away the culprits: the entire human population. In mercy, however, He provided a way of escape: the legendary “Noah’s Ark”.
The ark endured the full force of the flood; creaking and tossing over the thunderous waves. But those inside the ark were safe. The ark was their propitiation. It endured God’s judgement—the swirling waters—so they could be saved.
When the ark’s inhabitants were released into the cleansed world, evil began to take root again—and it continues to this day. But God has promised He will once again declare “time’s up” and wipe the world clean once and for all. And again, He has provided a propitiation: Jesus.
At His crucifixion, Jesus received the full judgement of God against all sin for all time. He was like the ark in Noah’s day. And just as with the flood, only those who choose to take shelter in Christ will be saved.
God will bring final judgement one day. Those who wish to be saved must take shelter in Jesus Christ before it’s too late.
SUBSTITUTION Jesus Takes Our Place
Let’s step back a few thousand years. Moses has just made the horrifying announcement. Tonight, at midnight, every firstborn male from every family is going to die. This is the final judgement of God against Egypt for refusing to release the Israelites from slavery. No home is safe. But God has made a way of escape. Judgement may be coming, but every son can be spared. God has provided a substitute.
A lamb may die instead of the firstborn. When God sees the lamb’s blood on the doorposts, that home will be safe. It was a no-brainer for the Israelites. Soon all their homes had blood smears and God peacefully passed over them.
We are in a similar position to the Israelites that night. We too are part of a kingdom in rebellion against God. We too are slaves within it, reinforcing the rebel kingdom with every selfish decision and sin. Midnight is coming and we face the ultimate penalty: death.
But just like the Israelites, God has provided a Lamb to take our place—to die for us so that we can be rescued from “the dominion of darkness” and brought into “the kingdom” of God. When John the Baptist pointed out Jesus to the crowds, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Jesus is our substitutionary Lamb; He died in our place, condemned that we might be saved.
REDEMPTION
The Price Jesus Paid for Us
There are an estimated 50 million slaves in the world today. Forced labourers, domestic slaves, exploited children, child brides . . . it is a global tragedy that stretches back to the dawn of human history.
The biblical word for buying freedom for slaves is “redemption”, and it is perfectly illustrated in the Old Testament story of the Exodus.
The Israelites were enslaved by Pharaoh in Egypt. Every back-breaking day, they worked to build a kingdom they would never enjoy. Then God came and redeemed them, purchasing them for Himself through mighty acts of judgement against Egypt. That was what it cost to buy His people’s freedom and give them a kingdom and inheritance of their own.
Jesus taught that we are enslaved to the kingdom of this world by our sinful desires and selfishness. With every action we build more of earth’s kingdom in which we have no lasting hope or inheritance.
But on the cross Jesus paid the price required to free us from slavery to sin. “It is finished,” He cried—or, as some translations put it: “Paid in full.” Redeemed. Bought from slavery into sonship. No longer at the mercy of our own selfish appetites, we belong to a Father who makes us heirs of His eternal kingdom.
RECONCILIATION
The Peace Jesus Gives Us with God
God created the heavens and the earth, and a host of spiritual beings. He also created humans and gave them authority to rule the earth on His behalf. But there was a rebellion, and Satan (one of the spiritual beings) declared war against God and His Kingdom. Through temptation and deception, Satan got the first humans on his side. From that moment, every human being has been born into a kingdom at war against God, whether we like it or not.
We can, however, change sides!
“God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” We swap kingdoms by putting our faith in Jesus!
Now we have peace with God; we are His allies. This peace isn’t merely a ‘feeling’, it’s a status. For us, the war with God is over. We accept His authority; He is the King of His kingdom and the Lord of our lives.
We were “alienated from God and were enemies”. But now “he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight.” We are allied with Jesus, not the kingdom of this world.
His victory is our victory. And, at the final battle when Jesus overthrows His enemies, we will enjoy His unrivalled reign for all eternity.
SANCTIFICATION Being Set Apart for God
Imagine it’s the first day of your new military career. Your life is no longer your own. You’re not a regular citizen anymore; you are set apart for a different purpose. Everything you do now represents your leaders and country.
In a similar way, when Jesus saves us, we are set apart or “sanctified”. Jesus said, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” Yes, we still face the same trials, make everyday decisions, and have the same highs and lows. But we belong to God’s kingdom now, not the world we see all around us. While we still do many of the same things we used to do, when we make choices that dishonour God, the Spirit within us pricks our conscience. As we grow in Christ, we become more and more sensitive to His leading. We learn to prioritise His desires over our own.
There will be days where we feel like we’ve messed it all up, but that doesn’t change what Jesus has done. We are set apart for Him, like “soldiers of Christ Jesus”. And little by little, He is making us more like Himself.
The Bible promises: “When Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” We are already set apart for God because of Jesus. Slowly we’re becoming more like Him. And in heaven, we will truly know what it means to be pure and holy in His presence.
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JUSTIFICATION Heaven’s Verdict
The judge delivers his verdict: guilty! The condemned man is led to the gallows and hanged for his crimes. Justice is satisfied, there is nothing more to pay.
In heaven’s courtroom we too are declared justified. Not because we have paid for our sin, but because Jesus has. When He gave up His Spirit on the cross, our lives were marked as justified. We are now righteous. We are now “Not Guilty” before God. Whatever guilt and shame were on our hearts before are no longer seen in heaven’s courtroom. They are done. The case is closed.
Or, as God declares in Scripture, “I remember them no more.” This is way better than God forgetting our sin (because then He could remember them too). This is a deliberate, legal and irreversible act of declaring them no longer relevant or active.
We were guilty. Heaven knew this and so did we. But Jesus became the hanged man in our place. We are called justified without having to pay the price. “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.”
Whenever we sin or feel ashamed, we can run to Christ to receive forgiveness. He has “cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness”, nailing it to the cross. All powers and authorities that might accuse us have been disarmed. We are justified before God Himself.
ATONEMENT Jesus Covers the Cost
Life is like a shopping trolley. We put into it every action and decision we make. Every desire, experience, secret thought and public action all go into our trolley as we move through the aisles of life.
But inevitably, we will reach the checkout and it will be time to pay. The times we cheated, lied and stole ring up a hefty bill—along with the lusts, jealousy and selfishness. Every secret thought and motivation will be weighed. Our purest, most selfless actions cost nothing, but cannot be used in credit against our sins; goodness is expected from creatures made in God’s image. But every sin, like every crime in a court of law, incurs a debt.
As the total is displayed, the horrifying truth becomes clear; our debt is astronomical. We cannot possibly pay. Our lives have been building to this point, and all eternity hangs in the balance. As our hearts lurch with grief, we hear the voice of the Saviour, “I will cover everything. I have already paid the entire cost, and if you choose to put your trust in me, your debt is entirely covered.”
Covered. Your debt is covered. This is the meaning of the biblical word “atonement”. It is a clearing of our account; an entirely clean slate. This is Jesus’ gift to all who put their faith in Him; He makes us fully righteous and debt-free before His Father.
COVENANT Jesus Binds Himself to Us
Freedom. It is a primary human desire. So why would we ever limit our freedom to enter into a binding covenant like marriage? The foremost reason is love.
When we make vows of love and faithfulness in front of a crowd of witnesses, we are deliberately putting boundaries on ourselves. We are no longer free to date other people. We can’t just individually make the decision to retrain as an astronaut or travel the world. Our life is bound to the person to whom we made our vows. And that’s what makes marriage so special; we are giving the best of ourselves to the one we love. Our singular, faithful love is the most precious gift we can give.
God has all power and authority in the universe and beyond; and yet He has chosen to enter into a covenant with us. The eternal, awesome, almighty God has bound Himself to us with promises He will never break. His sacred vows are the promises of Scripture; and He will never fail to keep them. The infinite God who can do all things has focused His love on us!
The night before He died, Jesus broke bread saying, “This is my body given for you.” And He passed round a cup of wine: “This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you.”
Our covenant with God is created and sealed in Jesus’ blood. “I am your God,” He says. “And you are my people.” He has bound Himself to us in faithful love for all eternity.
THE LAW
The New Heart Jesus Gives Us
Like it or not, rules and laws are a part of life. But why? And why are there so many in the Bible?
God chose the nation of Israel to be His special people; to represent Him to the rest of the world. But in their hearts the Israelites were just as sinful as everyone else. So He gave them the Law.
The Law’s foundation was the Ten Commandments, which underpinned the hundreds of more practical instructions for daily life. By obeying these laws, Israel would show the world God’s goodness. God did not give them the Law to make them His people, He gave the Law because they were His people.
The Law, ultimately, is all about God’s heart. It’s a description of how He would live on earth. He would be truly honest, caring, loving, pure and generous. He would live in perfect harmony with the Law—in His heart and His actions.
This is what we see in Jesus. The heart of God on display. He didn’t need God’s Law as a list of rules, because He shares God’s righteous standards already. When He saved us, Jesus fulfilled the Law on our behalf too, so we are not held to its detailed requirements.
Nevertheless, Christians are also God’s people, representing Him to the world. That’s why there are numerous practical instructions in the New Testament. But we do not become Christians by obeying the Bible; we obey the Bible because we are Christians.
BORN AGAIN
The New Life Jesus Gives Us
God has given the majority of human beings the ability to create more human beings! People with eternal souls and incredible potential. And, naturally speaking, we don’t need God’s help to do it.
But Jesus speaks of an even more remarkable kind of birth we all need His help with: spiritual birth. The Bible teaches that “flesh and blood” cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; humans need a different kind of life. A kind that can only come from Jesus.
The Bible explains, “to those who believed in Jesus, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God”.
As Christians, we may live in the same place and have the same job as before . . . but being “born again” means the part of us that is linked to this fallen world no longer defines us. There is a spiritual quality we never had before—we are deeply connected to God Himself.
Now Jesus is our home, our safety and our destiny. Over time we’ll experience this new life more as we learn to listen to God’s Spirit within us and walk in His ways. But becoming a new “born again” creation is not a process; it is a fully formed state of being the very moment we put our faith in Jesus.
No matter how we feel, as Christians we are brand new people. Jesus has made us children of God.
ADOPTION Jesus Gives Us His Own Status
Imagine being called into a solicitor’s office and discovering that you are the beneficiary of an entire kingdom; all the riches and benefits of the king have been passed to you. “How? Why?”, you ask. “Because he named you as his heir. You inherit everything.”
Rags to riches stories are always appealing; and the more dramatic the change in circumstances, the more exciting it is. And for Christians, we have been lifted from the abject poverty of sin and shame to the highest place of honour. We are adopted into the very family of God!
“So you are no longer a slave of sin,” Scripture says, “but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” We have an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. And there’s proof.
God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
“Abba” is the cry of a child to a father: “Papa! Daddy!” Because Christ lives in us, we approach the Father through the Son; our connection to God is Jesus’ connection to Him. His inheritance is our inheritance. His home is our home. And God is delighted to adopt us as His own children “in accordance with his pleasure and will”.
FAITH The Way Jesus Calls Us to Receive His Salvation
God has made a way for us to be saved. Saved from sin, judgement, death, hopelessness and a meaningless life.
So, how do we receive it? “Through faith”. What is that exactly?
Let’s start with what faith isn’t. It is not wishful thinking. Neither is faith simply believing certain facts. Scripture teaches that the demons believe the truth about Jesus, but they are still at war with God. Faith isn’t having an emotional response to Jesus. The demons have that too—they shudder at the thought of Jesus—but they do not put their faith in Him.
Faith is knowing the reality of the gospel of Jesus Christ to be true and choosing to entrust ourselves entirely to Him. Practically speaking, faith in Christ means choosing to believe that He is who He says He is, and that His death paid the full and final price for our sins. That means we no longer put our faith in our own goodness to save us; we trust only in the work of Christ.
It is the object of our faith that makes all the difference. Having faith that a broken-down car can get us to our destination is foolish. But we don’t need much faith in a nice new car. Similarly, we don’t need to muster up ‘strong’ faith in a loving, powerful God who has done everything to provide salvation for us. Faith the size of a tiny mustard seed is enough.
GOOD WORKS
We Are Saved by Jesus’ Works, Not Our Own
I can’t believe God wouldn’t accept her; she’s so good!
Some people seem angelically good, kind, selfless and generous. How can such people not be assured a place in heaven?
God created humans “in His image”. When He looks at us, He should see his own likeness. But, like a smudged mirror, our sinful nature has marred His reflection. Even the best humans do not accurately represent God. Our lives tell lies about Him; we fail to be like Him, even when we try. But what about our good deeds?
Perhaps shockingly, the Bible describes our best self-effort as “filthy rags”. Compared to the utter purity of the heart of God, even our good deeds are shown to be tainted by pride and self-interest.
When it comes to salvation, our attitude towards our good works is as important as our attitude towards sin. We are simply too poor to buy salvation. We cannot undo sin. We cannot pay its debt. It is only the works of Jesus—His perfect life, His death in our place and the confirmation of His resurrection—that secures our salvation.
“I am the way,” Jesus said. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” We cannot force our own way into heaven. We were created for good works, but only His works can save us. What matters is that we know Him for ourselves.
THE CHURCH Salvation’s Family
No church is perfect. People are annoying. Some practices feel a bit dated. Sermons drone on.
But the Bible describes the church in a very different way. It’s not so much about what we do, our service structure or where we meet. It’s all about who we are: the church is Christ’s bride.
That image may seem a bit touchy-feely. The point is the way Jesus feels about His people—all His people. I am not “the bride”, we are all “the one” He gave His life for.
In another image, we are called the body of Christ. He is the head; we are His hands, feet and mouth on earth. Together, we show Him to the communities around us.
The heart of these illustrations is Jesus’ love and the unity of His people. We are one body with one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father. We are bound to our brothers and sisters in Christ in peace and love, even when we feel irked by them.
And through the church—this collection of saved misfits and nobodies—“the wisdom of God is made known”.
Church is more than just a Sunday commitment. It is part of the outworking of our salvation. Our unity with people who are nothing like us shows how deep and wide and transformative God’s grace really is. Living in such unity isn’t easy, but it is powerful.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Guarantee of Our Salvation
Have you ever had to pay a down payment? You have to do this to secure big things, like buying a house. A down payment is usually a small percentage of the total amount that you will hand over. It guarantees that you’re coming back to complete the transaction.
Likewise, God has made a down payment to His children; a promise of our place in His kingdom. He “has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come”. Just as we give a percentage of the final price to secure a house, God has given us a measure of Himself; a little slice of heaven.
Jesus promised that when He left earth, “the helper”—the Holy Spirit—would come to live within everyone who puts their faith in Him. He confirms our status as God’s children, reminds us of Jesus’ promises, produces fruit—God’s character and heart—within us and proves that we now belong to the kingdom of heaven, not the kingdom of earth.
We don’t need to wonder if we are in God’s kingdom; we don’t need to guess. Jesus has achieved everything He said He would. He will bring us safely home to heaven. His Spirit in you is His guarantee.
ETERNAL SECURITY
No One Can Snatch Us from God’s Hands
Have you ever felt like giving up? Maybe you were running a race, and the finish line just wasn’t getting closer. How does this work with our salvation? What if, after we’ve put our faith in Jesus, the daily grind of life just wears our hope and joy away? The spark of new life fizzles out; the goal of heaven never seems to get any closer; the challenges of living as a citizen of heaven just get harder. How do we know we’ll make it to the finish line?
The Bible calls us to perseverance. It’s not a fun, attractive word. It suggests hard times and pain. No one perseveres through enjoyment. While perseverance in Scripture is a command, it is also a promise. Those who put their faith in Jesus will persevere to the end. They won’t turn back. They won’t give up.
And it’s not because of us or our strength. Jesus promised, “I give them eternal life; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Just as He has saved us, so too will He hold us, especially when life is hard.
Jesus alone is our Saviour, from day one to the very end. It is by His power and His grace. That is our security as His people. Our weakness, failures and enemies cannot loosen His saving grip upon us.
Share the Hope of God’s Word
I have put my hope in your word.
PSALM 119:114
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The good news of Jesus Christ is the most important story ever told. But the gospel accounts themselves contain strange conversations, cryptic stories, unusual miracles and confusing teaching. Encountering Jesus for ourselves can be hard when so many of the gospel pages baffle us.
This handy guide to the gospels offers little launchpads into their stories, characters and key moments. They’ll help you understand what’s going on and why, so you can meet Jesus in a very real and relevant way for your life today.
If you need to get in touch, please contact the office nearest to you from the list below, or go to ourdailybread.org/locations for the complete list of offices. Germany: Our Daily Bread Ministries e.V., Schulstraße 42, 79540 Lörrach deutsch@odb.org
Ireland Our Daily Bread Ministries, 29 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, D02 E726 ireland@odb.org ~ +353 (0) 87 478 1445
UK & Europe: Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 1, Millhead, Carnforth, LA5 9ES europe@odb.org ~ +44 (0) 15395 64149
Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable Our Daily Bread Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination.
The prophets and prophetesses of God’s Word were a fascinating bunch of heroes, leaders, rebels, and oddballs. They made mistakes, drew close to
and shared amazing truths about the coming Saviour. Each one of them has a story to tell; a story that can resonate with our lives today. These short introductions to the prophets in Scripture are like little launchpads into their stories. They’ll help you get to know them as real people, so you can consider their relevance and have more understanding when you read the
Our Daily Bread in Large Print
I would like to regularly receive: Our Daily Bread in
Some of them were mad, most of them were bad and a handful were good. The kings in the Bible are an interesting mix, ranging from Godfearing to God-ignoring, wise to unbelievably stupid, murderous to murdered .
These short introductions to the kings in Scripture are like little launch pads into their stories. They’ll help you know where to find them in the Bible, what to expect, what to look for and why they are so important. With this handy guide, these kings will become more than ancient monarchs—they become living, breathing life-lessons.
Please do not complete and sign this form for anyone but yourself. You do not need to complete this form if you already receive regular copies of Our Daily Bread from us.
Throughout the various ups and downs of the men and women of the Bible, we get to see how God cares for the anxious, the unloved, the doubtful, the insecure, the confused, the bullied and the suicidal. In the stories of Scripture, we meet the One described as our “ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
These short introductions to the men and women in Scripture who battled with their mental health are like little launchpads into their stories. They’ll help you know where to find them in Scripture, what to expect, what to look for and why they are so important. With this handy guide, these people will become more than names—they’ll become living, breathing life-lessons.
If you need to get in touch, please contact the office nearest to you from the list below, or go to ourdailybread.org/locations for the complete list of offices. Germany: Our Daily Bread Ministries e.V., Schulstraße 42, 79540 Lörrach deutsch@odb.org
Ireland: Our Daily Bread Ministries, 29 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, D02 E726 ireland@odb.org ~ +353 (0) 87 478 1445
UK & Europe: Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 1, Millhead, Carnforth, LA5 9ES europe@odb.org ~ +44 (0) 15395 64149
Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable Our Daily Bread Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination.
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A Daily Moment with God!
Sharing inspiring stories and insightful illustrations, the Our Daily Bread Bible reading notes offer daily encouragement from God’s Word. Go to odb.org/subscribe to see all the ways you can receive it for free!
The Bible calls Jesus “the Saviour of all people” (1 Timothy 4:10). But why do we actually need a Saviour? What is it we’re being saved from? And what does salvation even look like?
If you need to get in touch, please contact the office nearest to you from the list below, or go to ourdailybread.org/locations for the complete list of offices.
Ireland: Our Daily Bread Ministries, 29 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, D02 E726 ireland@odb.org ~ +353 (0) 87 478 1445
UK & Europe: Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 1, Millhead, Carnforth, LA5 9ES europe@odb.org ~ +44 (0) 15395 64149
Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable Our Daily Bread Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination.
This handy guide to the Bible’s story of salvation offers little explanations about what Jesus has actually done for us, what all the jargon words mean, and what difference it makes to today and throughout eternity. These short introductions are like little launchpads into the salvation God welcomes you into with open arms. ourdailybread.org