JESUS CHRIST
              Saviour, Redeemer, Lord

                        By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

     I was lost in sin when the Good Shepherd found me and drew me to Himself. He became my Saviour, Redeemer and Friend. He baptized me with His blessed Holy Spirit, and immediately I could understand the Holy Scriptures.

      I fell in love with His Word and over the past 60 years He has given me much wisdom and understanding of the Holy Scriptures. I had very little interest in spiritual things, but the Divine Paraclete came to my rescue and taught me the deep things of God and I am still learning day by day.

     I depend upon Him totally for everything I do, preach and write. It is by His power alone that I am able to minister His Word effectively by His Spirit! St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans is called, ‘The Roman Road to Salvation’ because the Gospel of Christ is so plainly laid out for anyone to follow!

                 BY GRACE ALONE: THROUGH

              FAITH ALONE: IN CHRIST ALONE!

     “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by His Grace, through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 3: 23, 24); “Therefore being justified by His Blood, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

      “For when we were yet without strength (helpless), in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:1,6,8); “For the wages of sin is Death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6: 23)

      “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE from the Law of sin and death.” (Rom.7:24; 8: 1,2)

     “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth is made unto Salvation.” (Rom. 10:9,10)

      It was St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans that showed Martin Luther, the way to Christ’s salvation through the precious blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God! It is by Grace alone, Faith alone and through Christ alone!

              BEFORE WORLD WAS CREATED!

     “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him: and without Him was nothing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.

     “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-4, 14)

     The Bible makes it clear that Jesus of Nazareth was God’s eternal Son whom He sent to Redeem us through His vicarious death on the Cross. As God’s sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ met the righteous demands of Divine Justice and atoned for the sins of Adam and the entire world, past. present and future.
    The Bible says: "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Rom. 8:32)
               GOD GAVE HIS SON FOR US!

   This is one of the greatest truths ever enunciated in the history of humankind. When I first read this Scripture, I was shocked and utterly overcome by sorrow when I realized that Almighty God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for a world of sinners!

     He turned His precious Son over to evil, wicked men who accused Him, blasphemed Him, scourged Him and crucified Him for my sins and the sins of the whole world.

     WHY would Jesus Christ, God’s Eternal Son, allow Himself to be subjected to the most horrible torture and death for a sinful world when He was pure, holy, righteous and good?

    Only by His unconditional love for us would He do that! The Bible says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not Perish, but have everlasting Life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.”  (John 3:16,17)

            THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS ALIVE!

     The Holy Bible says: “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Heb. 13:20, 21                     

    Our Heavenly Father promised Eternal Life to all who embrace His Son as their Lord and Saviour. This transaction was so great that Christ’s atoning blood would also provide divine healing, peace, joy and goodwill to all who receive His Son!

        The Bible says: “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). According to His promise, there is Nothing He will withhold of His blessings from we who appropriate His promise for ourselves.                    

     Christ has purchased for all believers total freedom from sin, sickness, disease, fear and infirmity! There is NO way our Heavenly Father would not give us what His Son Jesus Christ purchased for us through His sacrificial death on Calvary’s cross!

     According to His Word, it impossible for God withhold from us what we need for spirit, soul and body, when we apply His promise for ourselves! It is His Word and His Will to grant our request upon the authority of His Promise!

       Thank You Heavenly Father for Your gifts of healing and deliverance for us all today, because of what Jesus did for us on the Cross! I praise you and will do so forever and ever.  Amen.

            WHO ARE THE TRUE BELIEVERS!

    St. John said: “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

     “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

     “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in Him, and He in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

       “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out all fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4: 1-5, 15-19)

                      THIS IS THE BIBLE TEST!

     How can we know for sure that we are saved? How can we discern truth from error in religious teaching and deeds?  Use the Bible itself, which does not contradict itself.

    “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God.”  

     What does that mean?  Jesus Christ was the eternal Son of God from eternity, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. In order to redeem the world unto Himself, God sent His Son to earth as the perfect sacrifice to meet the righteous demands of Divine Justice and to atone for Adam’s sin against God.

     Through His substitutionary (vicarious) death for us on the Cross and His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ paid that debt. Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ who was True God and True man, we are saved! Through the incarnation (God in human flesh) Jesus was sinless because God is His Father and He was born of the Virgin Mary without a human father.

      Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ was God in human flesh is saved, but whoever rejects Jesus Christ’s claim of being the Son of God will be lost forever!

                   GOD’S RECORD OF HIS SON!

     Anyone who rejects God’s record of His Son is calling God a liar and thereby cannot receive His forgiveness and eternal life. The Bible states: “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son.

     “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in Himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a Liar because he believeth not the Record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record that God hath given to us Eternal Life, and this life is in His Son.

     “He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the  name of the Son of God; that ye may know that you have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:9-13)

    Here is a great promise concerning prayer to God in Jesus’ name and receiving answers to our prayers. This was the Scripture text that George Muller stood upon for many years as by grace of God he fed and housed thousands of orphans in Great Britain:

     “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He Hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the Petitions that we desired of Him.” (1 John 5: 14, 15)

                        JESUS THE GREAT PHYSICIAN!  

     We know that the healing of our bodies is very important to God because of the statements Jesus made on the subject, and His amazing healing of multitudes of sick, infirm and diseased people.

     St. Peter stated: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power who went about doing good and Healing all that were oppressed of the devil: for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38)

     Our Saviour commanded His disciples to heal the sick and cast out devils. It was the miracles of healing and deliverance of demon possessed souls that drew the large crowds. He ordered them to do the things He Himself was doing!

      “And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

      “And He said and ye go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matt.10: 1, 7,8)

      “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also and sent two and two before His face into every city and place, wither He Himself would come.

     “And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name.

    “And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10: 1,9, 17-20)

                  JESUS’ GREAT COMMISSION!

    “And He said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

     “And these signs shall follow them that believe: In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 15- 18)

     Here is the proof of Christ’s Great Commission bringing great blessings to the Church and deliverance to many people:  

     “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with Signs following.” (Mark 16: 19, 20)

                 GREATER IS JESUS CHRIST!
      "Ye are of God little children, and have overcome  them (evil spirits), because Greater is HE that is in you then he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

     Who is the ONE within us? The Blessed Holy Spirit, whom Jesus Himself sent to fill His people. He is called the ‘Promise of the Father’.

     In reality the entire Godhead is within us because Jesus promised, “…If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and WE will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23)

     Who is the ONE in the world? Satan, the EVIL one who was cast out of Heaven and is now the leader of fallen angels and demon spirits, the Enemy of God and man! He is called the Devil which means Liar! He is Beelzebub the Master of dirty, filthy flies!

      JESUS said: “All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth.” (Matt. 28:18); “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the Devil.” (1 John 3: 8); “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will FLEE from you.” (James 4:7)

     “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself took part  of the same; that through Death He might Destroy him that had the power of  death,  that is the Devil: and Deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb.2: 14,1  

     “Be sober, be vigilant;  because your adversary the Devil,  as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the Faith…” (1 Peter 5: 8,9); “The thief (devil) cometh not but for to steal,  kill and destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10: 10)

                 SATAN IS A DOOMED DESPOT!

     “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the Prince of the world (Satan) be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto Me. This He said, signifying what death He should die.” (John 12: 31-33)

     Jesus Christ’s vicarious death on the cross for us all has destroyed Satan’s power over all who trust in the finished work of our Saviour on Calvary’s Cross and His resurrection from the dead! Hallelujah!

      Our Lord said: “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10: 19)

      “But ye shall receive Power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 10: 38).

      “And there was war in Heaven: Michael and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not;  neither  was their place found any more  in Heaven.         

     “And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of the brethren is Cast Down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony: and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev. 12:7-10,11)

      JESUS said: “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and Son and the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I  have commanded you: and lo, I am with you  always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matt. 28: 19)

     “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for He said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Heb.13: 5)

            JESUS THE GREAT INTERCESSOR!

    People often ask me to pray for them and I count it a privilege to do so but someone much greater than I, is constantly praying for us all. Jesus Christ is the Great Intercessor:

     “But this man, because He continueth ever hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to Save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7: 25)

     The Book of Romans also reveals Jesus as the Great Intercessor. St. Paul writes: “Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us.

    “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."(Romans 8: 30-34)

      This Scripture lays out our position in Christ so marvelously plain that it is hard to imagine the great grace and mercy of God towards us, unworthy as we all are! He knew about us before the world was created and predestinated us for Himself, before we were born.

  Our names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. (Rev. 13: 8). 
    Then, He called us out of sin and degradation to be His children, heirs of God and joint heirs with Him. We were born again through the precious Blood of the Lamb of God and justified through His resurrection from the dead! 
    And when He comes for us, we shall glorified by His all atoning blood, and the riches of His grace! Hallelujah to the Lamb of God!

                   BECAUSE OF HIS BLOOD!

    Satan is a cagey liar and deceiver and uses everything he can to get a believer fall for his temptations. St. John warns us of ‘the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life’. (1 John 2: 15-17). Condemnation, however, is a great tool is his arsenal against believers. These Scriptures stops him cold!

     Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect. It is God that justifieth. Who is He that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is Risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8: 30-34)

    The LIAR would try to condemn a believer of sins committed earlier, but since God has justified him, he is cleared of that charge! And how can one be condemned for sins which Christ Himself has bled and died for?

    St. John writes: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that Ye Sin Not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous. And He is the Propitiation for our sins: and not for our sins only, but the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2: 1,2)

        PROPITIATION MEANS SATISFACTION!

     The goal in life is to live righteously, but we know that everyone sins in some way; thought, word or deed. If we do sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, and if we cry out for mercy, He forgives usIbecause Jesus is our Saviour and propitiation!

      The meaning of that word is satisfaction, expiation and mercy seat!  God is satisfied with the death of His Son to cleanse, forgive and wash away every stain of sin from us because His blood has atoned for our sin. When we ask for His forgiveness, automatically His blood cleanses and purges away the sin and the guilt!

      The Bible says: “There is therefore NO condemnation to them which walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE from the law of sin and death.” (Rom. 8: 1,2)

                     WE ARE GOD’S PROPERTY!

    We have nothing to fear because we are God’s children, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. He watches over His own and we are one with Him, loving, praising and worshipping our Lord for all His goodness toward us!

    The Bible says: ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

     “Nay, in all these things we are more than Conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

     “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8: 35-39). Amen.