1 Peter 1:17-21 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.  For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.  Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 

A Chinese convert to Christianity gave an account of His salvation this way:

I was in a very deep well. I was sinking deeper and deeper and couldn’t find any way out. As I looked upward, I saw a face peering down at me. A voice said, ‘My Child, I am Confucius, the father of your country. Had you obeyed my teaching, you would never have landed where you are now.’ He waved his hand and left, saying ‘If you ever manage to get out of this well, be careful to follow my teaching.’

Then came Buddha, and looking down the well he shouted, ‘My child, you have to quit the condition in which you find yourself. Rest down there where you are. Fold your arms and begin to think. You will find nirvana, the peace which all of us desire.’ I called back and said, ‘Father Buddha, if you could help me get out of here, I would be so thankful. Then I shall with great ease follow your instructions. But in this horrible place, how can I rest?’ But Buddha did not get me out of the well. He left me in despair.

But there came another Man over to the well, a Man full of goodness and interest. And on His face there were marks of great sorrow and suffering. He wasted no time in offering words of comfort from up there but came down to where I was and pulled me out of that terrible clay in which I was wallowing. He lifted me up to the surface. He didn’t forsake me, but brought me to a place of safety. He took off my dirty clothes and dressed me in clean clothes. Then He invited me to follow Him, saying, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ That man was Christ. And that is why I am a Christian. Christ was the only one who descended to the depths where I was. He saved me and has never ceased to have fellowship with me and be my companion.”

That is exactly what Christ did for you and me. To show how intimate His relationship with men would be, He entered the womb of the Virgin Mary and was born as we are. He subjected Himself to all the physical needs of humanity. He lived the life we should live but do not. And then He offered that spotless life as the only sacrifice acceptable for the sins of all men. It is through Jesus Christ and Him alone that we receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. He did not tell us to obey Him and then He would help us. He did not say that we must earn His love before He would save us. No, He came to save us, and did so freely. All of the false religions of this world make salvation contingent upon man’s actions. But Jesus tells us that He has done everything needed to make us righteous.

I wonder if we can ever fully appreciate what Jesus went through in order to accomplish our salvation?