Who is Jesus? Peter tells us in Acts 5:30-31, as he explains to the Jewish leaders: “The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” What does this mean?
Peter is talking about the God of our fathers. He is God from the beginning, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was not a new god on the scene, but the original and one and only God, and it was this God who raised Jesus up. He appointed His one and only begotten Son to the task of redeeming lost mankind. The birth of Christ was not a random event but a work of God’s will, purpose, and plan. God appointed Him to be the Savior and Messiah. He is His beloved Son and is well-pleased with Him (Mark 1:11). He was appointed by Him who said to Him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you (Hebrews 5:5).”
The Jews and Romans did not receive Jesus as the Savior and Messiah. “Crucify, crucify!” they cried and conspired. But it was God’s will that He should die, and Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree (Gal 3:13).” God established sacrifice and said in Leviticus 17:11, “The life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.” Your sin needs to be paid for, and Jesus is the perfect sacrifice, the lamb of God who takes away your sin, and only by His blood can you be saved from punishment. We were ransomed from sin and futile ways, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot (1 Peter 1:18-19).
And Jesus did not stay dead! He is risen! He rose from the tomb, and Thomas put his fingers in his wounds. He ate breakfast with the disciples on the beach. He was seen by more than 500 people at one time, and He went up to heaven in the clouds. God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior. He is at the right hand of God today and is interceding for us (Romans 8:34). One day He will return to gather His people to Him; are you one of His people? Will you be found with Him on that Day to come?
Who is Jesus? Jesus is the Savior who gives repentance to His people and forgiveness of sins. Your greatest need in this life and the next is to have your sins forgiven; nothing in this world will satisfy your need to be forgiven and accepted by God. God does not accept you in your sin, but there is good news: the way to forgiveness is through repentance. Repent and turn from your sins to Christ today. Only He can rescue you from the punishment that awaits. And you will find love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and gentleness. You will be born again.