Various terms are used to describe Jesus in Scripture. Speaking of Him more than seven hundred years before His birth, the prophet Isaiah wrote:
“And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
At the beginning of His ministry, John the Baptist called Him “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
In the book of Revelation, Jesus is referred to as “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 1:8) and “Lord of lords and King of kings” (17:14). When He described Himself, He said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
These descriptions, and hundreds of others like them, help us to better appreciate who Jesus is.
Jesus is the Savior
One special term often associated with Jesus is the word, Savior. For example, after His birth, the angel announced to the shepherds:
“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
After His physical ministry ended, the apostle Paul used the term and declared that “God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus” (Acts 13:23).
He later noted that those who anticipate His return “eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20), and Paul also pointed out that Jesus “is the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23).
We Need the Savior
The term, Savior, is appropriately applied to Jesus because He came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). This implies individuals need to be saved (cf. Romans 3:23), and it indicates Jesus has the ability to save (cf. Revelation 1:5; Ephesians 1:7).
Three other passages identifying Jesus as Savior are noteworthy:
The first describes the announcement of His birth to Joseph (Matthew 1:20-23).
The second reports the reaction of the Samaritans who came from the city and listened to His words (John 4:39-42).
The third provides a summary of God’s saving grace made possible by Jesus’s sacrificial death (Titus 2:11-14).
In each text, we see that Jesus can provide what we desperately need—salvation from our sins.
Obey Him today!
Chad Ramsey preaches for the Gloster Street Church of Christ in Tupelo, Mississippi. You can access their Bible classes and Chad’s sermons on Gloster Street’s YouTube page.
Chad was - and still is - “my preacher” from when I spent my high school and early college years at Gloster Street. I’m thankful to be able to share some of his writings with you.
I needed Him.
Thank you Jesus 🙏
“The Savior of the body.”
I love that one.
I often ask, “‘Saved’ from what? Well, whaddya got? He saves us from that too!”