Emmanuel, Jesus The Saviour
Matthew 1:21-23; Acts 5:30-31.
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). No more do we look up to Moses in the Law, to David in the Psalms, to Isaiah in the Prophets, to the founder of any assembly or congregation, or to the foundation of any religion because Jesus was born to save His people from their sins. The only, unique Saviour given to all men by which we can be saved is Jesus. In the original text, Jesus is Jehoshua which means ‘Jehovah saves.’ The plan, goodness, result, and evidence of salvation come only through Jesus. There is no other name given among men in any generation whereby we could be saved other than the name of Jesus. Jesus our Lord, lived in this life a sinless, perfect life, and He died for us on the cross.
1. JESUS, THE ONLY SAVIOUR OF ALL SINNERS ACTS
Acts 4:10-12; 1 Timothy 2:3-6.
Jesus is the only Saviour of all sinners in every nation, in every place, in every generation, in every continent and country, and all sinners whether they are religious, traditional, or unrighteous everywhere. “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12). Everyone should know, understand, and apply the word of God to themselves. Christ came to make us whole in the spirit, in the soul, in the mind, and in the body; Christ came to give us completeness and to add whatever was subtracted from our lives at the time of the fall of man through faith in His name. Christ is the only One that the Father has appointed, approved, and anointed to be the Saviour of all. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:30-31). The God of the whole universe raised Jesus up to be a Prince and Saviour. He was appointed, approved, and anointed, and now we accept Him. He is the only Saviour of sinners that has been given unto us. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:3-6). The Lord wants everyone to be saved in a definite way, at a definite time, and in such a clear manner that heaven will attest to. When we are saved, we come to the knowledge of the truth. If you don’t have an assurance of salvation and you are only religious without the witness of the Spirit of God in your heart, He wants you to come to the knowledge of the truth of salvation right now. There is only one Mediator for tribes and genders, and that Mediator is Jesus Christ. Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all so that we will have the heaven-sent salvation that transforms the heart and changes lives.
- Jesus, the Sinless, Perfect Saviour of Sinners – 1 Peter 2:21-24; Hebrew 7:2526; 4:15; 1 John 3:5-9. A sinner cannot save another sinner. Jesus was spotless, sinless, perfect, and lived a consistent, holy, and righteous life, and was therefore qualified to be our Saviour. “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:59). Christ was manifested here in the world for the main reason of taking away our sins. When He is manifested to you, He will take away every sin in your heart, in your affection, in your plan, in your project, from your character, and in your life. Christ had no nature of sin, no sinful speech in utterance, no sin in His doctrine, life, and interaction with anyone on earth. When we are saved and have heaven-sent salvation, we abide in Him and sin not. Anyone who sins habitually, by character or by plan does not abide in Him. Little children can easily be deceived by things that glitter and by the toys of this world, but those who are in Christ are admonished to not be deceived. Christ was not afraid of the people; therefore, He was bold to declare the truth unto them. Christ was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, and He will be manifested in your life, in your character and all things will become new in your life in Jesus Name. As we trust Him and believe in Him, He will destroy every work of the devil in every life in Jesus Name. Heaven recognises and rejoices in our salvation, and the Holy Ghost comes to bear witness in our hearts. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14). When we become saved, God abides with us, Jesus dwells in us, and the Holy Ghost comes to witness in our hearts, to lead us, and to help us in this way of salvation. The Holy Spirit does not lead us into carnal or fleshly things, into the works of the flesh, into iniquity, into immorality, or idolatry. When we have heaven-sent salvation, we are led by the Spirit of God and those who are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” (Romans 8:16). The Spirit of God does not bear witness with your spirit when you insult others, or when you are rebellious against the word of God, when you are unrighteous, immoral, or driven by the flesh to do, say, or dress sinfully. If the Spirit of God bears witness at all in a sinner’s life, He will remind you that you are not converted yet. But when you are born again, the Spirit of God will bear witness in your heart about the way of the children of God.
- Jesus, the Spotless, Pure Sacrifice for Sin – 1 Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 9:12, 14; I Corinthians 5:7-8; Isaiah 53:4-10.
- Jesus, the Supreme Preeminent Substitute for Sinners – 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1-2; Ephesians 5:2-6.
2. JUSTIFICATION, THE OBTAINED SALVATION FROM THE SAVIOUR
Romans 4:22-25.
Christ comes to justify us. The law of Moses and our efforts could not justify us, but Jesus the Justifier came to justify us. He does not justify us in sin, but He justifies us out of sin. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:12). We must believe in what Christ has done, in the sacrifice that He has made, and that He is the only Saviour. As we believe in Him, we trust Him; we do not trust ourselves, our works, or our sacrifice. Justification comes by trusting in the atoning work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. There is no more condemnation for the justified, but condemnation remains for those who are still doing the same old things, left by the flesh, or still have a carnal mind.
- The Basis of Justification by Faith in Christ – Romans 3:20, 23-24; 5:1-2, 9; Titus 3:7-8, Hebrews 10:38-39. “And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:22-25). Abraham believed in God, but He did not remain in his old country but left them and came out. When we believe after we have obeyed the Lord in coming out of our sins, darkness, and evil, and we trust God, He will justify us. After you are forgiven and justified, the Lord looks at you as if you have never sinned because all your needs are now blotted out, forgiven, and taken away and you are justified by Him, through Him, and in Him, and He is your justifier. “For 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:” (Romans 3:23-24). All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but Christ has paid the price and we are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. After we are justified, we abide and remain in Him so that we can remain just and the same faith that saved us keeps us saved. “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:38-39). Those who are steadfast and know that the only way to get to heaven is through Christ Jesus go on and on in the Lord, saved and remaining saved in the Lord.
- The Blessing of Justification and Forgiveness Through Christ – Acts 13:3839, 1 John 1:9, Hebrews 10:26-27, Isaiah 55:6-7. “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39). All who believe in Christ and have received the heaven-sent salvation are justified. One could read all the commandments in the Old Testament and keep the commandments of sectional leaders in the church workforce perfectly and not be saved, it is believing in the Lord Jesus Christ for Him to wipe away our sins and make us live in newness of life that brings salvation and justification. As we come to Christ, we receive the grace that makes us live as a child of God ought to live; we live in the love of God.
- The Boldness in Justification with Freedom in Christ – 1 John 4:17-18, Ephesians 3:11-12; 1 John 2:28; Acts 4:13, 29-31. “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 fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:1718). Your love cannot be made perfect outside Christ; you can try to love by natural love, principled love, and personal decision, but it will only be superficial and not perfect. But when you taste the love of God and Christ who is the express manifestation of the love of God comes to dwell in your heart, you will have the evidence of salvation. If you want your wife to fear you, your love is not perfect because there is no fear in love and there is no love in fear. It takes love without fear to get to heaven. When you are saved by love, you are saved to love. Fear has torments and it torments the heart and torments the brain and the mind. But when we love, with perfect, Christlike love, we operate seamlessly. When we are justified by the Lord, He takes fear away from our hearts, and we do whatever we do by the love of God not out of fear of the consequence for not doing it. If you are contributing to fearfulness, fidgeting, and fretting in the church, you are not a good instrument in the church.
3. THE JUSTIFIED, THE OBEDIENT SOUL AFTER SALVATION
Hebrews 5:9; 1 Peter 1:3-5, 14.
After we receive the heaven-sent salvation, He gives us a life of obedience to His word. “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” (Hebrews 5:9). There is no eternal security or eternal salvation for all those that disobey Him, that rebel against Him, that contradict his word, and that live sinful lives. Anyone who draws back into disobedience and lawlessness, God’s soul will have no pleasure in them. The people who have eternal salvation are the people who obey God. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5). The people who are not saved don’t have their names in heaven or any incorruptible inheritance in heaven. But the people who know the Lord have salvation have an incorruptible inheritance waiting for them in heaven. They are kept away from sin, from the works of the flesh, from the works of the devil, and are kept in obedience and righteousness. “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16). Obedient children are the only kinds of children that God has. Disobedient children are away from home as prodigal sons and daughters. The real children of God are holy.
- The Conversion of Obstinate Sinners by the Saviour – John 3:3-5; Hebrews 2:14; James 5:19-20; Matthew 5:20. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3-5). If a person is not born again, he will be acting like those who are only born the first time—born of the flesh. When you realise that the first birth alone will not take you to the eternal presence of God, you will come to the Lord, repent for the works of the flesh and trust in the Lord to become born again, born from above. “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” (Hebrews 2:14). God does not pass by any transgression, whether it is done outside or within the assembly of the people of God. God wants us to have heaven-sent, life-transforming salvation, and salvation that goes beyond religion. “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20). The righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees is an external righteousness that took hygiene to become religion. Unless you have inward righteousness and spiritual, lifetransforming righteousness given from heaven and coming through Christ, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. God wants our lives to show the righteousness by the cross from Christ, coming from Calvary.
- The Conversation of Obedient Sons in Society – 1 Peter 1:13-16; James 3:5-10; Ephesians 4:22-25; Matthew 12:36-37. “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37). If you know that you have gone astray and you refuse to repent, you will be judged and condemned by your own words. God does not want us condemned, He wants us to take the word of salvation seriously, believe it in the heart, and allow Him to order our steps, conversation, and conduct after salvation to live a life pleasing to the Lord until the final day.
- The Constancy of Ordered Steps in the Saved – Romans 8:14-16; Psalm 119:133; Jeremiah 10:2-3; Galatians 5:16, 19-25. “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” (Psalms 119:133). Those who order their steps by their habits and order their lives by carnality are not candidates for heaven but for hell. But those who hear the word of God and realise that their steps, life, conduct, conversation, character, behaviour, lifestyle, relationship, response or reaction, and attitude should be ordered by the word of the Lord are the people who recognise why Christ came and want to have the manifestation of His coming. You must forsake the habit of rebellion, disobedience, and carnality, and come to Christ to hear the truth and pray that no iniquity will have dominion over your life.