Scripture gives us a variety of titles for Jesus, but none is more to the point of His coming into the world than that of Savior.
An angel announced that coming, saying, “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). After Jesus had spent two days in Samaria, people confessed, “We know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world” (John 4:42b).
While the Bible frequently refers to Christ by the noun Savior, the verb “save” is also often used when speaking of Christ’s mission.
Saved by grace
The Apostle Paul testified, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15a). Believers today often use this verb when speaking of their Christian experience as one of being saved by grace through faith. Salvation has three distinct dimensions to it.
Through faith in Jesus as Savior, we are saved from the penalty of sin. The classic statement of this truth is Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Doctrinally, this aspect of the Savior’s work is commonly termed justification.
Christ also seeks to be our Savior from the practice of sin. This dimension of His saving work is related to our learning to obey the admonition of Galatians 5:16. “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Delivered from sin
Deliverance from sinful practices is an ongoing or gradual ministry of the Holy Spirit in believers. Doctrinally, this aspect of the Savior’s work is commonly termed sanctification.
Ultimately, Christ will be our Savior from the very presence of sin. This aspect of His Saviorhood awaits our reception into heaven about which Revelation 21:27 declares, “There shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie.” The sinless perfection of heaven awaits every genuine believer in Christ as his or her personal Savior. This aspect of the Savior’s work is commonly termed glorification.
Christ the Lord came to be our Savior in every sense of the word. In light of these truths, we can give thanks to Him this Christmas season.
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