Who Is Jesus?
Names and Descriptive Phrases of Jesus - Part 7
By Allan E. McNabb

In this series we’re talking about the names and descriptive phrases identifying Jesus.  Thus far we’ve talked about Jesus as God, Lord, Creator, the Word, the Son of God, and the Lamb of God.

In this article, we talk about Jesus as our Savior.

What is a Savior?
A savior is a deliver and preserver.

For example, if you were sleeping in a burning house, and a fireman comes in and carries you to safety, he is your savior.

God is our Savior
The first New Testament appearance of the word “Savior” is in Luke 1:47, when Mary tells Elizabeth, “And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”

God is our Savior because He delivered us from sin and eternal damnation.

  • “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness . . .” (Col. 1:13).

And He is our deliver because He protects and preserves us in Christ.
“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13-14).

  • “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:4-7).

God Saves us in Jesus
Evident from the Scriptures above, God saves us in Christ.

  • He transfers us into the kingdom of Christ, wherein we’re saved (Col. 1:13-14).
  • He makes us alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:5).
  • He seats us in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 2:6).
  • He’ll show us the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ (Eph. 2:7).

Additionally, Jude expressly tells us that God is our Savior through Christ.

  • “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ . . . ” (Jude 1:24-25).

And John tells us that “the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 Jn. 4:14).

Jesus, Savior of the World
Jesus has been our Savior from birth, as announced by angels the day He was born.

  • “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:11).

And during His earthly ministry, sincere and honest people clearly knew Jesus was the Savior of the world.

  • “So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.  Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world" (Jn. 4:40-42).

Jesus, Savior of People in His Kingdom
Jesus is our Savior.  He saves the people in His kingdom.
“Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you” (Col. 1:10-11).

God transfers us into the kingdom of Christ when we obey the gospel, resulting in forgiveness.

  • “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.  For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:12-14).

It’s interesting to note, as we study Colossians:

  • We are forgiven at the time God transfers into the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:14).
  • We are forgiven at the time we’re baptized (Col. 2:12-13).
  • Therefore, God transfers us into the kingdom of Christ when we are baptized.

Other scriptures indicate this also:

  • Jesus says we must be born of water and Spirit to enter the kingdom (Jn. 3:5).  To be born of water is to be baptized.
  • Paul states that we are baptized into Christ; hence, we’re baptized into Christ’s kingdom when we’re baptized (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27).

Jesus, Savior of People in His Church
The kingdom is the church, given to Jesus by God (Heb. 12:22, 28; Lk. 22:29-20).

  • Jesus has made us a kingdom (Rev. 1:6).
  • Paul preached, persuading people about the kingdom of God (Acts 19:8).
  • Note: Jesus’ kingdom is not limited to the church, but the church is referred to as His kingdom.

As with Christ’s kingdom, we see regarding the church:

  • We are added to the church when we are baptized (Acts 2:47).
  • We are baptized into the body, which is the church (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23).
  • Jesus is the Savior of the church (Eph. 5:23).

Conclusion
Perhaps most important, Jesus “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10).

We must heed His gospel, and live by it.  When we do, we are saved from our sins, in obedience to our Savior Jesus Christ (Heb. 5:9).

To be continued.