Focus: The Titles Of Jesus (Pt.1)

Text: Lk.2:11

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOUR, which is CHRIST the LORD."

In this Lukan text we have three titles of Jesus Christ. He is the Christ, the Lord, and the Savior.

We begin with the title of Savior. Matthew writes, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall SAVE his people from their sins" (Mt.1:21). Jesus was born to save His people from their sins. His destiny or mission is to save sinners and transform them into saints. John says, "This is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world" (Jh.4:42). In his epistle he says, "The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" (1Jh.4:14). He is the world's Savior. Paul says, "We trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe" (1Tim.4:10). He is the world's Savior. He is the Savior of all men. He saves humanity from sin's power. Paul says, "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the WRATH to come" (1Thes.1:10). He saves us from our sin and also from the wrath to God. Our future is secure.

Paul describes Christ as "the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body" (Eph.5:23). He is the Savior of our body.

Paul says, "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2Tim.1:10). As our Savior, He abolished death for us and brought immortality to light through the gospel. Paul says, "Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us" (2Cor.1:10). Christ as our Savior delivers us from death - a death so great that it took Him alone to deliver us. 

He delivered us yesterday; He is delivering us today, and we are certain that He will deliver us tomorrow.

Paul says, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Col.1:13). As our Savior He saves us from the power of darkness. He brings the light of God into our lives. He lights up our individual worlds. His presence is all the light we need.

Paul talks about the "persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me" (2Tim.3:13). The Lord saves His own people from all troubles and evils. Peter tells us that God "delivered just Lot" (2Pet.2:7). God knows how to deliver the righteous. Paul testifies, "I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion" (2Tim.4:1). Stephen tells the story of Joseph in Egypt, how God was with him and "delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house" (Act.7:10). Our Savior delivers from all afflictions.

Peter testifies, "Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews" (Act.12:11). Your Savior will dash the expectations of those who seek your downfall and destruction.

Psalm 18 is tagged, "A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD," and the very first verse says that David spoke the "words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul." Verse 17 says, "He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me." Verse 19 says, "He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me." He saves His people because He loves them. He delights in them. Verse 43 says, "Thou hast delivered me from the STRIVINGS of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me." Finally, verse 48 says, "He delivereth me from mine ENEMIES: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the VIOLENT MAN."

In other psalms, we read:

"They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded… I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from ALL MY FEARS… For he hath delivered me out of ALL TROUBLE: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies… He hath delivered my soul in peace from the BATTLE that was against me: for there were many with me… For thou hast delivered my soul from DEATH… For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered MY SOUL from the LOWEST HELL… Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their DISTRESSES… He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their DESTRUCTIONS… For thou hast delivered my soul from DEATH, mine eyes from TEARS, and my feet from FALLING" (Ps.22:5; 34:4; 54:7; 55:18; 56:13; 86:13; 107:6,20; Ps.116:8).

Jesus is the Savior. He will save you from shame and reproach. He will save you from the crises of life. He will save your soul, your mind, your body, and your whole life. He will keep saving you until you arrive in His new world. Paul says, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil.3:20). Your Savior is coming back for you. Watch and pray, and be hopeful.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter