God has given us the priceless gift of His Son. We are in pursuit of Him and all that He is.
When examining the value of Christ, the Apostle Paul said all of the things of this world were rubbish compared to Christ.
Philippians 3:7-8 NKJV But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him…
Philippians 3:10 NKJV That I may know Him…
During this series we are going to assess many of the things that Jesus is to us. We will find that Jesus Christ is indispensable in our lives. He is our Savior and King. He is the door to every blessing and victory. He is our peace, joy, and hope. Jesus gives us access to the Father, eternal life and heaven.
Today, He is to me, Christ the Savior.
According to the Bible there is only one Savior.
Isaiah 43:11 NKJV I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior.
Let’s define the word “savior.” The word “Savior” comes from the Hebrew word yāshā’ and means, “to save, deliver, or rescue.” Often in the history of mankind, people fell into such desperate situations that they needed a savior.
Psalms 107:19-20 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and He saved them out of their distresses and sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
It is noteworthy that they cried out to the Lord. Something inside of us knows that God can help. At times, God sent them a great warrior, judge, King or prophet to save them from their distresses.
The word “savior” is a declaration that someone needs to be saved, delivered, or rescued. It also indicates that there must be someone who can save, deliver, and rescue. God clearly states that it is futile to seek salvation from any other. No one else has the power or ability to save from our distresses and destructions. God has demonstrated His saving power, mercy and grace.
Throughout the Old Testament, God revealed Himself as Savior.
We see His saving power when people found themselves in critical trauma and desperate need.
- God was Noah’s Savior from the flood. Only God was able to prepare an escape and ark of safety for Noah and his family.
- When Israel was in Egyptian bondage, God sent Moses, but only God was able to save them from their captivity. Moses was not able to do what Almighty God did. Moses could not conquer the might of Egypt’s armies. He could not part the waters of the Red Sea or feed the multitude. Throughout the exodus, Moses often reached despair and frustration along the journey. In all of their distresses, God sent His world and healed them and delivered them from their destructions. God provided a way in the wilderness, food and water. He provided shade from the sun and warmth from the cold.
Do a survey of the Old Testament. When His people found themselves in trouble, the Lord God Almighty was their Savior.
The great prophet Nehemiah spoke about a disobedient and rebellious people.
He said they worked great blasphemies against God. Their transgressions were so great that they fell into troubles.
Nehemiah 9:27 NKJV Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their enemies, who oppressed them; and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to You, You heard from heaven; And according to Your abundant mercies You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hand of their enemies.
All of the Judges of Israel found strength, success and help in God their Savior. None of them saved, delivered, or rescued God’s people without the aid of God’s power, mercy, and grace. God is very clear on this matter.
Hosea 13:4 NKJV “Yet I am the Lord your God ever since the land of Egypt, and you shall know no God but Me; For there is no Savior besides Me.”
- Who saved Israel from the hand of the Amorites, Midianites, and Philistines?
- Who saved David from the paw of the lion and bear?
- Who saved David from all of his enemies?
- Who saved Job from his troubles and blessed and prospered his latter days?
- Who saved Hezekiah from Sennacherib the king of Assyria when he came up to destroy God’s people?
- Who saved Jonah from the belly of the great fish?
- Who saved Daniel from the mouth of the lion?
- Who saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the fiery furnace?
We need to know Who is our Savior?
It is not enough to see what the Lord has done for these patriarchs of old. We need to know our Savior.
David spoke about this in Psalms.
In Psalm 3:1-2 NKJV Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah
Psalm 3:3-4 ESV But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
Psalm 3:7 NKJV Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God!
When we step over into the New Testament, we are given the announcement of the Savior.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the angel of the Lord gave the joyful pronouncement… Luke 2:11 NKJV For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
He is to me — Christ the Savior.
The woman at the well in Samaria recognized Him and told everyone, “He told me all that I ever did.”
John 4:42 NKJV Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
Jesus our Savior completely satisfied God’s plan to deliver and redeem.
2 Timothy 1:9-10 For it is God Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, He did it not because of any of our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, It is that purpose and grace which has now been fully revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, Who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.
The ultimate work of our Savior Jesus Christ is going to be realized one wonderful day. He will deliver His church from this evil world and change us into His glorious image. This has been God’s plan and pattern for everyone who puts their faith and trust in God.
Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Two words in this text tell us about God’s ultimate plan for our lives. The word transform refers to a change in appearance. The powers of sin, death and corruption will have no more power over our bodies when this mortal puts on immortality.
The second word is conformed. We will be conformed to His glorious body. Now, our bodies are susceptible to sin, sickness and death. A glorious change is going to take place and we will be like Him.
What kind of Savior is He? He is a personal Savior.
Although He came to save the world, everyone who believes in Him may be saved.
Revelation 22:17 NKJV And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Anyone who desire can come to Jesus. God has opened the door of salvation to you personally.
What kind of Savior is He? He is the only Savior.
John 14:6 NKJV Jesus told Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Proverbs 14:12 NKJV There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the only access to the Father and eternal life.
What kind of Savior is He? He is a persistent Savior.
Isaiah 65:2-3 NKJV I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts; A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face.
Many people give up on rebellious and sinful people. We need to catch this image of a loving God stretching out His hands all day long. Twenty-four hours a day, God is reaching out with loving-kindness and tender mercies. God is not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance. What does that mean? God wants to turn our lives around and give us His mercy and grace.
What kind of Savior is He? He is a loving Savior.
Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
We have seen this love manifested in God’s gift of His Son. For God so loved us that He gave.
Romans 5:8 NKJV God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Having said all of this, why is Jesus Christ Savior to me?
Consider all of the things He has done for you.
- Has He saved you from your sins and rebellious ways?
- Has He saved you from addictions and bad habits?
- Has He saved you from death and destruction?
- Has He delivered you from Satan’s evil powers that would have destroyed you?
- Has He saved you from Satan’s evil schemes to steal, kill, and destroy?
- Has He been your shelter in times of trouble?
- Has He rescued you from deep waters?
- Has He rescued you from troubled winds of adversity?
He is to me – Christ my Savior.
- He brought me through when I was too weak to stand.
- He made a way when there was no way.
- He lifted me from the pits of destructive behaviors.
- He delivered me from powers of darkness that would have consumed my soul.
- He saved my soul when I was hopelessly lost in sin.
He saved me.
- When my enemies were too numerous, the Lord saved me.
- He saved me when Satan’s powers were great and hope was almost gone.
- He saved me when I was sinking in waters that were over my head.
- He saved me when death had its cold hands on my body.
He saved me. When He saved me, He did not leave me in despair. What did He do when He saved me?
The Psalmist David gave this testimony. Psalm 34:6 NKJV This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalm 40:1-3 NKJV I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.
Do you see what a wonderful thing the Lord has done when He saved you?
He is to me – Christ my Savior.
What must you do to be saved?
The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas “what must I do to be saved?”
Acts 16:31 NKJV They said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
