A Forever Savior
By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
12/15/2017
"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)
A former student of mine serves as a pastor in Eastern Europe. Together with his wife and children, he planted a church in one of the most difficult and dangerous mission fields in the world today. He sent me a story about a thirteen year old orphan named Daniel who showed up at their church services recently, alone and unannounced. Naturally, the church welcomed and embraced Daniel enthusiastically and he has been coming to church by himself ever since. He’s described as a “respectful, curious, and honest young man.”
One Sunday in the middle of my friend’s sermon, Daniel raised his hand and asked, “Who is our Savior?” My friend stopped his sermon and looked patiently at young Daniel and replied, “Jesus is our Savior, Daniel. He came to save us—to save us all.” Moments later the thirteen year old boy raised his hand again. Once again, my friend stopped his sermon and said, “Okay Daniel, one more, go ahead.” With the kind of honesty that can only come from an innocent child, Daniel asked, “Will Jesus be our Savior tomorrow too?”
What a great question! Is Jesus still the Savior of the world? A little more than 2,000 years ago, an angel from heaven made an announcement of good news and great joy to a group of Jewish shepherds in a field outside Bethlehem. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” (Luke 2:10) Then he went on to announce something very significant—something of global importance. He said, “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) That simple word “Savior” was filled with personal and national significance for these shepherds.
They didn’t need to ask, like young Daniel, “Who is our Savior?” Even the most unstudied Jew in that day was familiar with the message of the prophets regarding the Savior. They surely recalled God’s words through the great prophet Isaiah when He proclaimed, “I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior.” (Isaiah 43:11) And undoubtedly God’s words through the prophet Hosea were well known throughout the land as well, “Yet I am the Lord your God…and you shall know no God but Me; for there is no Savior besides Me.” (Hosea 13:4)
We can only imagine how these shepherds must have felt when they witnessed the glory of the Lord in the night sky, and heard this angelic announcement packed with prophetic significance. The Savior has finally come! The word “savior” means deliverer; one who rescues. For centuries, the world had been looking for the Savior to rescue mankind from the penalty of sin. Now, as promised, at last, He had come. God Himself, through the person and work of His eternal Son, Jesus Christ, had come to earth to rescue mankind. For Jesus, the road to rescue took Him from a lowly manger to a lonely cross, where He died for our sins and rose from the dead. In so doing, He purchased our forgiveness and eternal life.
Jesus offers the gift of eternal life, paid for with His own blood, to anyone and everyone who in simple, childlike faith, will receive it from Him. Like that young orphan, Daniel, many today are asking, “Who is our Savior?” The answer is Jesus. He is the only one who can forgive sin and take away sin’s penalty—which is eternal punishment in a literal place called hell.
It has been more than 2,000 years since our Savior came to earth. He is still our Savior today. And He will be our Savior tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. He is our forever Savior. His payment on our behalf covered the sins of mankind past, present, and future. And all those who put their faith in Him can be sure and secure in their salvation for all of eternity. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” (John 6:47) Have you trusted in Him for the free gift of eternal life?
12/15/2017
"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)
A former student of mine serves as a pastor in Eastern Europe. Together with his wife and children, he planted a church in one of the most difficult and dangerous mission fields in the world today. He sent me a story about a thirteen year old orphan named Daniel who showed up at their church services recently, alone and unannounced. Naturally, the church welcomed and embraced Daniel enthusiastically and he has been coming to church by himself ever since. He’s described as a “respectful, curious, and honest young man.”
One Sunday in the middle of my friend’s sermon, Daniel raised his hand and asked, “Who is our Savior?” My friend stopped his sermon and looked patiently at young Daniel and replied, “Jesus is our Savior, Daniel. He came to save us—to save us all.” Moments later the thirteen year old boy raised his hand again. Once again, my friend stopped his sermon and said, “Okay Daniel, one more, go ahead.” With the kind of honesty that can only come from an innocent child, Daniel asked, “Will Jesus be our Savior tomorrow too?”
What a great question! Is Jesus still the Savior of the world? A little more than 2,000 years ago, an angel from heaven made an announcement of good news and great joy to a group of Jewish shepherds in a field outside Bethlehem. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” (Luke 2:10) Then he went on to announce something very significant—something of global importance. He said, “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) That simple word “Savior” was filled with personal and national significance for these shepherds.
They didn’t need to ask, like young Daniel, “Who is our Savior?” Even the most unstudied Jew in that day was familiar with the message of the prophets regarding the Savior. They surely recalled God’s words through the great prophet Isaiah when He proclaimed, “I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior.” (Isaiah 43:11) And undoubtedly God’s words through the prophet Hosea were well known throughout the land as well, “Yet I am the Lord your God…and you shall know no God but Me; for there is no Savior besides Me.” (Hosea 13:4)
We can only imagine how these shepherds must have felt when they witnessed the glory of the Lord in the night sky, and heard this angelic announcement packed with prophetic significance. The Savior has finally come! The word “savior” means deliverer; one who rescues. For centuries, the world had been looking for the Savior to rescue mankind from the penalty of sin. Now, as promised, at last, He had come. God Himself, through the person and work of His eternal Son, Jesus Christ, had come to earth to rescue mankind. For Jesus, the road to rescue took Him from a lowly manger to a lonely cross, where He died for our sins and rose from the dead. In so doing, He purchased our forgiveness and eternal life.
Jesus offers the gift of eternal life, paid for with His own blood, to anyone and everyone who in simple, childlike faith, will receive it from Him. Like that young orphan, Daniel, many today are asking, “Who is our Savior?” The answer is Jesus. He is the only one who can forgive sin and take away sin’s penalty—which is eternal punishment in a literal place called hell.
It has been more than 2,000 years since our Savior came to earth. He is still our Savior today. And He will be our Savior tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. He is our forever Savior. His payment on our behalf covered the sins of mankind past, present, and future. And all those who put their faith in Him can be sure and secure in their salvation for all of eternity. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” (John 6:47) Have you trusted in Him for the free gift of eternal life?
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