Why “Salvation” through Cross is such an important decision and how lethal it can be if ignored!!

A demon possessed man encounters JESUS in the region of Gergesenes (or Gadarenes), who has been living in the tombs. He was without clothes, very violent often breaking the iron chains he was chained with and he cut himself with stones. He was very scary to look at.

As soon as the demons saw JESUS, they recognize HIM, so they fall at the feet of JESUS saying – Son of the Most High GOD, have YOU come to torture us before the appointed time? (Mathew 8:29,  Mark 5:7, Luke 8:31). When JESUS asks the person his name, he replies “Legion” because there were many demons inside him. (It's the demons who speak through the man as the man is in their influence - possessed).

For the reader's understanding, demons are the agents of 'satan', who is referred as the prince of air in the Word of GOD (Bible). He is the chief adversary of human race. He was already condemned by GOD for his sin of pride - he thought of rising above GOD - The GOD who created him. He had an evil desire to receive worship to himself. He will be judged at the end of times and will be thrown into the "Eternal Lake of Fire" prepared for him and his evil agents. He was a beautiful angel in GOD'S presence once but due to his sin, he was thrown out of heaven. He turned away some more angels from GOD who were also thrown out, and they all together  became adversaries to man. This is because GOD desired to fill their place with man (created lower than angel). The satan is full of fury and jealous towards man and is putting all his efforts to push man into sin so that he is condemned in his guilt. The righteous GOD then have to punish man too and appoint him to take part in "the Lake of Fire" along with satan. This is satan's goal. That's another story which can be known from the Bible.

They beg JESUS not to order them to go into the abyss (a bottomless pit probably prepared for the demons before judgment). There were a large herd of pigs feeding on the hill side and the demons beg JESUS to let them go into the pigs and JESUS gives them permission to go into the pigs.

The man gets delivered from the demons and returns to his normal state. The people of the town come to see the man. They find him sitting at the feet of JESUS, dressed, completely cured and in his right mind. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing and get utterly amazed.

What could be the reason the person became demon possessed in the first place?!?

There can be one or more reasons. More likely due to some of the following:

• Personal Sin
• Weakness
• Fear
• Ancestors evil or wicked practices

Satan cannot attack or take dominion over a person without GOD’S permission. Even Job was tormented by satan only after satan took GOD’S permission first. Job was referred to as a righteous person in Bible, who had to undergo a test given by GOD and satan gets permission to hurt him physically and mentally (Job 1: 6-12). Satan is granted permission when a person is in sin or has weakness in some areas or has fear of anything in life or there is sin/ evil/ wickedness which is following him/ her from ancestors/ parents. Sometimes, GOD allows satan to tempt a person to test him for his integrity as in Job's case. GOD tests a person especially when HE would like to delegate some important work to that person. If the person passes the test, blessing and protection comes from GOD. Satan cannot attack a person covered or hedged by GOD. However, he constantly looks for an opportunity to influence/ tempt every person and when the person yields, then attack him/ her.

It operates in different ways. It need not take possession of every person; it can influence a person’s thoughts without actually entering that person (on the basis of the person’s desires). It can torment a person through disease, problem, depression, etc.

Satan has no physical body. It is a spirit and it needs a body to operate – through a person’s body that has emotions, feelings, hatred, thoughts, hands and feet. Through that person, satan operates by stealing, killing and destroying. This is the nature of satan (John 10:10). Satan operates on the mind of a person, because it is here that the person is assessing or judging what is good and beneficial (OR) what is bad and not of use to him/ her. This is because of the fruit of "knowledge of good and evil" that man ate, now man is trying to act on his own judgment and will, and not of GOD.

GOD is also SPIRIT. To resist the works of satan, GOD also needs a body made of flesh and blood after the manner of men. This is why GOD sends JESUS as HIS Son, to be born in flesh and blood. JESUS was born through the HOLY SPIRIT, to a virgin, whose name was Mary betrothed to Joseph. That’s why JESUS is called the Son of the Most High GOD!! GOD gave JESUS “The Spirit” – “HOLY SPIRIT” without measure, so HE speaks only the words of GOD.

It’s written in the Bible (1 Corinthians 2:10-11) - The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

JESUS did not carry HIS glory or power or wisdom as GOD. HE kept aside HIS glory and came to operate in a body that's prepared by GOD for HIM, just like any other man. HE grew up learning and showed obedience to GOD in every aspect. JESUS is anointed by the HOLY SPIRIT without measure so HE was able to understand the mind and heart of GOD. HE had to operate in flesh and blood just as man, so HE needed the Spirit of GOD to help Him and guide HIM. HE became an example unto man how to have a continuous fellowship with GOD the FATHER, so that man can be anointed with the HOLY SPIRIT - to understand GOD’S mind and HIS heart, and also to do great things.

By pushing man into sin, satan is able to gain authority over man. To condemn the works of satan, GOD needed a man who is blemish less and without sin, who is willing to shed his righteous blood so that because of the righteous blood that was shed, man can be saved.

It’s the principle that no righteous person should ever be punished unfairly. Even though many unrighteous persons may escape punishment, no righteous person should suffer unjust punishment. When this principle gets tampered, when a righteous person receives punishment for no offense, then, sinful man can be saved through the blood of this righteous person. The injustice done to the righteous person can alter the laws. GOD did not find any righteous person on planet earth who can fit HIS plan. Hence HE HIMSELF had to come down in the form of ‘SON’, born of HIS HOLY SPIRIT to a virgin. Hence we know how JESUS CHRIST got manifested on Earth born to a virgin woman – Mary. JESUS means “HE will save HIS people from their sins” (Mathew 1: 21).

Why Virgin..?

Adam fell when he was tested. The original Adam (first man created by GOD in the Garden of Eden), was blameless when created, later became sinful by his disobedience to GOD’S commandment and eating of the forbidden fruit (from the tree of knowledge of good and evil). When he fell, he carried sin in his body – in his DNA. This is carried in the DNA of every human since then. By birth, man is born in sin. His sinful traits show up even from infancy – showing disobedience – for example – a baby shows up curiosity to do those things that her parents/ elders forbid (disobedience). JESUS, hence, cannot be born in the natural way as the sin will be inherited in this way. GOD brought Him into this world through “The HOLY SPIRIT”, born without sin, but tempted in all ways as Adam or just like any other man is tempted. However, JESUS withstood every trial and temptation, HE did not fall like every other man though HE was in nature same as any other man and was open to the same emotions, feelings and flesh.

JESUS stood strong and blameless because of the continuous fellowship HE maintained with HIS FATHER in heaven.

This is the reason GOD chose a virgin woman to carry out HIS righteous plan. JESUS is not born in the natural way where sin can be inherited. HE was born by the overshadowing of the HOLY SPIRIT upon Mary, who is still a virgin.  

For a person to take privilege of this “free gift of Salvation” that has been offered so benevolently by GOD, the person has to believe upon GOD’S benevolent act of mercy and truth, HIS great plan of escape that HE made available to mankind through the blood of HIS righteous begotten SON – JESUS CHRIST – born of The HOLY SPIRIT to a virgin woman.

By the blood that was shed by this righteous person “JESUS”, one can get saved by confessing that he/ she is a sinner and that he/ she has committed sin knowingly or unknowingly against GOD, by the sinful nature that’s prevailing in man and ask for GOD’S forgiveness. This is the simple act of confession that GOD desires from every person so that HE can save them from GOD’S wrath and judgment. It’s HIS plan to save all mankind from hell.

Upon doing this, GOD is expecting the person who is saved to also show the same forgiving nature towards others who hurt him/ her consciously or otherwise. This is because the person received great forgiveness from GOD. If the person wants himself/ herself to be forgiven by GOD, the person also should show the same mercy towards others.

Through "Salvation", GOD is also empowering man with power and authority in HIS name to defeat satan’s plans, trials and temptations. For this purpose, JESUS came into this world to make "Salvation" available to everyone freely, in HIS name, by HIS righteous blood.

The blood of JESUS sets us free from every sin and sickness and worry. Now, JESUS, after accomplishing this righteous act upon the cross of Calvary, has risen from the dead on the third day just as HE had been saying from the beginning. After spending some time with HIS disciples and empowering them to preach the good news of Salvation to the ends of the world, HE is now ascended unto HIS FATHER in heaven and sitting on HIS right hand side awaiting HIS return to earth.

Now that HE has made available such a great gift – “Salvation” to mankind, HE will return back to settle account and sit for judgment. Those who are not saved through HIS grace have to face HIS wrath because HE is righteous, so HE judges righteously. Every person's acts and thoughts will be judged. Intentions behind every act will be judged. A person may have some good works to his/ her account but the intentions behind these works are weighed. And then, who can stand in the judgment - in the balance? It’s very difficult for a man to save his/ her soul through his/ her own works, having denied such a great gift from GOD. It's almost impossible to meet the high standards of righteousness that GOD had set. If the standards are not met, the punishment would be "the Lake of Fire" after judgment, shared with satan and his agents.

Salvation through Cross is getting saved by the grace of GOD and not by one’s own works. (Ephesians 2: 8-9) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.

“Salvation through Cross” is the gift of GOD to mankind, HIS unimaginable and incomparable love He has expressed through the death and suffering of HIS righteous and only begotten SON on the Cross. This is GOD for man and not man for GOD.

The blood of goats and oxen can only cleanse a person from his bodily ailments but the conscience of a person is purged and cleansed only by the righteous blood offered by a guiltless and blameless person with a clear and un-defiled conscience before GOD (Hebrews 10:4, 9:13-14). That is JESUS CHRIST – the Messiah - the Savior of the world.

Once a person believes in JESUS CHRIST and GOD’S plan of Salvation, it is GOD’S work to cleanse and purge a person and his/ her conscience. We can see great things and amazing miracles manifest in our life when we believe in the name of JESUS and fellowship with HIM daily.

May GOD purge every one’s conscience and bless every one with wisdom to take the right decisions in life and  empower with strength to overcome difficult situations, amen