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JESUS THE ONLY WAY OF SALVATION (PART THREE)
JESUS THE ONLY GOOD SHEPHERD, THE GREAT SHEPHERD AND THE CHIEF SHEPHERD
Indeed Jesus is the only Good Shepherd. He is the one who laid down His life for the entire human race through which sacrifice the world was reconciled to God to receive joy in and joy of the Lord, peace with and peace of God and rest. In II Cor. 5:18-19 Paul said “Now all things, are of God who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them and has committed to us the WORD OF RECONCILIATION” (emphasis mine). Only through Christ did God have us reconciled to Himself, No other.
Indeed it is only Jesus who qualified as the Great Shepherd through His death, burial and resurrection which releases divine life to man to live righteously free from unfettered bondage of sin and Satan: when He presented the blood of His sacrifice to God, resurrection life was released for man to appropriate by believing in Jesus and accepting Him as the son of God and personal Lord and saviour. Only His blood could pay the price of our sins to pacify a just God who has already decreed that the soul that sins shall die. He died for us as the Good shepherded, resurrected and presented that blood in heaven as the Great shepherd obtaining from the Father the promise – The Holy Spirit that lives in the believer to mark him out as a child of God and empower him to live accordingly.
Besides, it is Jesus – The Chief Shepherd who will return to reward mankind for good acts done while on earth and effectuate the complete redemption of man. Who living or dead ever claimed righteously or could be qualified by the Almighty God to play any of these roles. Meditate on this.
Appreciate the great sacrifice Jesus made for us.
Pray for Him to come into your life this moment. He is ready and willing.