05/31/2026
The Fifty Most Important Teachings of the Bible –
#35 “Our Rescue from Hell Is Only Part of God’s Story” In the story of God’s dealing with mankind in the Bible, the Plan of Salvation is the central theme, telling us of God’s incredible love and His desire to rescue us from clutches of Satan and all the evil effects of sin, especially hell. But it is more than that – not just salvation but redemption, that is restoration of our relationship with Him and a return to the perfection of Eden. Redemption is not just a doctrinal idea but by grace through faith it becomes a true reality that shapes our entire Christian life. Yes, it speaks of God’s rescue plan, fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God’s loving intervention into a world of sin introduced in the Fall, not only gives us eternal salvation from the doom of hell, but also gives us the sure and certain hope of the complete restoration to all of creation.
Total redemption requires us to consider the profound significance of both the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Both these events form the heart of the Gospel and provide us with the foundation for a truly Biblical life that influences how we understand our relationship with God, ourselves, and others. As we grow in God’s grace and trust in that grace we discover more and more how the sacrifice of Christ and His victory over death impacts our lives every day.
Redemption and restoration are woven into every word of the Bible, from the promise of a Savior in Genesis to the fulfillment of that promise in the Gospels. At the heart of this story is the clear and unmistakable message that God, in His love and justice, could not leave humanity in its fallen state of sin and rebellion. We hear the beautiful story of redemption in the story of God’s love, beautifully expressed by Jesus Himself in His discussion with Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) These words have very rightly been called “the Gospel in a nutshell.” Indeed, this verse sums up the pure essence of redemption: God’s love is shown and proved through His Son’s sacrificial gift – His death on the Cross.
Truly, the crucifixion of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christian faith, telling us of the ultimate act of love and sacrifice by God Himself. On the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the full and complete weight of all of humanity’s sin, accepting for Himself the punishment that was rightfully ours. Romans 5:8 powerfully details this truth: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” The Cross is where God’s justice and His mercy meet. God’s holiness demands payment for sin, yet His love provides mercy through Christ’s sacrifice. The crucifixion is the ultimate expression of God’s redemption, and reveals His desire to restore the broken relationship between humanity and Himself.
But while the crucifixion completes the payment for all sins of all people, Christ’s Resurrection signifies total victory over sin, death, and hell. It is through the Resurrection that Jesus conquered the curse of the grave, and gives new life, both here and in eternity to all who believe. This triumph is not just an event in history but a reality that causes believers to live new lives dedicated to God and His love. St. Paul highlights the importance of the resurrection when he writes, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” (First Corinthians 15:17) Indeed, the resurrection assures us of the truthfulness of our faith and give us the absolute certainty of eternal life. It is the cornerstone of the Believer’s life, reminding us constantly that death is not the end and that through Christ, we are restored into a righteous and beautiful relationship with God.
When we understanding that we possess not only eternal redemption from sin and hell, but also restoration with God through His Son, makes us able to live out this truth in our daily lives of faith. Here are a few ways we can apply these wonderful truths to our everyday lives:
1.) Knowing we are forgiven through Christ’s sacrifice inspires us to extend forgiveness and mercy to others. This does not mean ignoring wrongs but recognizing that we live only by God’s unearned grace. We will be messengers of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation in a world full of division, hate, and revenge.
2.) The Resurrection gives our lives hope and purpose. As redeemed sinners, we are called by God to share God’s ongoing work of restoration in the world. This means carrying out acts of love, kindness, and compassion, not only to those who are easy to love, but especially to our enemies and those not so loveable!
3.) Full redemption in Christ gives us a close, personal relationship with God. Through prayer, His Word, and worship, we grow in our understanding of God’s love and purpose for our lives. This relationship is not stale and dead, but alive and living, constantly moving and making us into new people as we strive to imitate the love of Christ.
4.) A biblical view salvation and redemption compels us to engage with the world around us, not as better or superior to others, but as witnesses of God’s love and restoration. This means facing issues such as injustice, poverty, and moral decay with the truth and love of the Gospel, seeking to bring people into a closer relationship with God through Christ and thus bring about real, true, and positive change in people’s lives and thus in this world as we await Christ’s return.
Yes, we are saved from hell – thanks be to God! But our lives as Believers in Jesus is more than that single wonderful truth. We are also redeemed and restored saints of God who while we live in a world mired in sin live in joy and hope in the sinless and perfect eternity to come!
