3/13/2008 - At the recent Portland Youth Rally, in which more than 40 of our youths, SCA students, and adults participated, we learned that Jesus Christ is our "Lifeguard," and the only one who can rescue us from our sin and its consequences.

Jesus prepared Himself for this mission by dying on the cross in our place, and by rising again on the third day, defeating our greatest enemy: death. This is why the apostle Paul could write, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). One could say that Jesus’ death and resurrection served as His "rescue training," since His suffering and ultimate victory qualified Him uniquely to save each one of us who would simply "grab the life ring."

18 students at the Portland Rally chose to be rescued and upon their submission to baptism, can say what Paul affirmed in Romans 6:3-4, "Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

Jesus is indeed our Lifeguard, the one who rescued us from physical and eternal death by paying our penalty for us, and then rising again to offer the same priceless benefit to all of us who believe.