As God went through the land in judgment that night, the people of Israel waited, trusting the protection of God’s promise: “When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.”
God’s word tests our character. There can be no salvation for us if we won’t humble ourselves before God, and it is in our attitude toward the commandments of God that we get some of our first feedback as to how far along the road of humility we are.
By taking upon Himself the death that was our due, Christ satisfied the law’s demand, making it possible to forgive us and treat us as if we had not sinned. In this way, God became both “just” and “the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Ask yourself how you’d feel if you lived during the Roman Empire and found out that the person described in Isaiah 52:13-53:12 had been born in Judea and was now proclaiming the gospel of God’s kingdom. How could there be a more exciting prospect?
Jacob said that Judah would be a “lion.” It is no coincidence that Jesus is described in Revelation 5:5 as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.” He is the very King prophesied by Jacob when he blessed his sons (Genesis 49:9,10).
To be a “saint” is to be “separate.” A saint has accepted God’s call to be redeemed from sin — seeking salvation, he has obeyed the gospel. But since not everyone has done that, those who have done so are “set apart” as God’s unique possession.
If we’re in Christ, the result of God’s justification is that we are “heirs.” Eventually, we will hear Christ say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).
Eternal with God the Father, Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega. The world was created through Him, and He is moving history toward its final destination. For us, salvation means this: being found “in Christ” when He returns.
Jesus spoke boldly about the kingdom of God. If we find ourselves challenged by what He taught concerning the kingdom, it’s because we need to be challenged. Whether we will allow God to rule in our hearts or not is the central concern of the gospel.
For those who have obeyed the gospel and remained faithful to the commitment they made, Christ’s return will be the time when they pass from the kingdom of God in this present world to His kingdom in eternity (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).