A Particular Savior

A Particular Savior

I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

IN WORD How personal is the Cross to you? It’s a question that shouldn’t be answered too quickly. Many of us have heard for years—decades, even—that “God so loved the world,” and that Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” We’ve sung songs about how Jesus loves all the children of the world, and we may have even told others, “Jesus loves you.” All of that is easy to accept for those who believe the gospel. But there’s a harder question we have to ask ourselves: Does Jesus love me—personally and individually? Did He die for me? Does His blood apply specifically and directly to me?

Imagine being one of the disciples speaking with Jesus after His resurrection. In your mind’s eye, envision sitting down with Him in the shade of a building or on a couple of rocks on a hillside, asking Him this question: “Why did You go to the Cross when You didn’t have to?” Listen to His answer: “It is God’s glory to redeem you, to give you life with Me forever. I did it because I love my disciples: Peter needed it; so did James and John. And so do you. I did it for you.”

It’s not a far-fetched conversation. He is alive and He still speaks to us. He says such things today. It is critical that we open our ears to hear Him. The gospel is for the whole world, but it is also deeply personal. Salvation is a gift from God to an individual.

IN DEED Many Christians have a gnawing gut feeling that while Jesus died for other people, He wouldn’t have necessarily done it for them alone. Some of us feel as though we just jumped on a bandwagon that was really meant for other sinners—more sinful, more righteous, more worthy, better able to live up to the gospel after their salvation, etc. We believe the gospel and even proclaim it. We praise God for it. But what we really want to know is this: Does this really apply to me?

It does. Let it sink in. You aren’t just worshiping the Savior of the world. You’re worshiping the Savior of you.

The essential fact of Christianity is that God thought all men worth the sacrifice of His Son.

—WILLIAM BARCLAY