Seven Characteristics of What We Received at Salvation

Understanding the Value of Our Salvation

We must let the values we received at salvation influence our lives. When you know the value of what you received at salvation that you commit to extending it to others.

The Foundation of Christ's Work

Scripture reveals the heart of Christ's mission for humanity:

"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted." (Hebrews 2:14-18 NKJV)

Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him:

"Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." (Hebrews 5:8-9 NKJV)

Christ's Unique Priesthood

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV)

"Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:23-25 NKJV)

Jesus' ministry is not time bound and cannot be overthrown. He is not bounded by tenure. Jesus' sacrifice was once for all and once for all people. It covers for all.

The Perfect High Priest

"For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever." (Hebrews 7:26-28 NKJV)

The Superior Sacrifice

"But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:11-14 NKJV)

"For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." (Hebrews 9:24-28 NKJV)

The Final Sacrifice

"Then He said, 'Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.' He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:9-14 NKJV)

Seven Characteristics of Our Salvation

1. It Is Sufficient

What Jesus has done in salvation is sufficient. Nothing needs to be added. Jesus is sufficient for me in all things.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to rely and draw from your sufficiency at all times.

2. The Supremacy of His Work

His work is supreme. Four factors that made His work supreme:

a. The place where He did the work: The greatest deal with respect to humanity was done by Jesus in a place where no one else has access to be. The quality of the priest that did the work: The only holy priest who does not have to atone for his own sins first c. The material for the offering itself: The very blood of Himself. Jesus is the only high priest who was both the high priest and also the offering d. The activity: He appeared before God Himself

3. Salvation Is Exclusive to Jesus

He is the author of eternal life:

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NKJV)

4. Though Exclusive to Jesus, It Is Inclusive to All Men

It is universally available to all men. Jesus' sacrifice was once FOR ALL. All men can come to Him to receive it:

"For 'whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'" (Romans 10:13 NKJV)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV)

5. Salvation Is the Intimate Involvement of Christ

Jesus was not just personally involved in the rescue mission that became our salvation; He was singularly involved:

"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14 NKJV)

6. It Is Permanent

It is not transient, nor time bounded:

"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36 NKJV)

"Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25 NKJV)

What it takes you to be saved is in no way comparable to what it took Jesus to get you saved.

7. The Conditions Attached to the Work That He Did

[Note: This characteristic was mentioned but not elaborated upon in the source material]

Conclusion

Understanding these seven characteristics of salvation reveals the immense value of what we received through Christ's work. His sufficient, supreme, exclusive yet inclusive, intimately personal, and permanent sacrifice provides eternal security for all who believe. This understanding should motivate us to share this precious gift with others and live lives that reflect the magnitude of what we have freely received through Jesus Christ.