The older I get, the more I need a Savior. That is to say, as the years pass, I understand better why Paul confessed, “I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing” (Romans 7:17).
Especially since my last physical breakdown in 2018, God has kindly showed me more clearly both the extent and the enormity of my sin.
Previously, I had been aware of bad habits and repeat offenses, but now I saw patterns of perversity, worlds of wickedness, systems of sin, life-dominating addictions, and much more.
Pride, presumption, overweening ambition; ingratitude and covetousness of all sorts; idols I had not seen before; unbelief; self-preoccupation; just to mention a few.
So, who can deliver me from the penalty, the power, and the presence of my sins?
The Man!
He had to be a real man, so he can understand me and represent me and other people like me as our substitute and sin-bearer. He also had to be a sinless person, so that he would not have to offer a sacrifice for his sins, like the Old Testament priests.
When the angel spoke to Joseph, he said that Mary would “bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). John wrote, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
Furthermore, he “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Fulling the requirements for the Passover Lamb, he was our and spotless Lamb of God who takes away our sins (John1:29).
The Man Christ Jesus is our only and perfect Mediator with a holy God (1 Timothy 1:5).
Our Great God
He had to be more than a mere human being, however. Since we had offended God (Psalm 51:4), only God himself could satisfy the holy wrath of God against sin.
“They shall call His name ‘Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us,’” said Gabriel to Joseph (Matthew 1:23).
And to Mary, he explained, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be call the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).
The name “Son” does not imply that Jesus is somehow younger than God the Father. Rather, it declares that he possesses the same divine nature as the Father.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. And the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him” (John 1:1-3).
As the writer to the Hebrews reminds us, “But to the Son He says: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever” (Hebrews 1:8).
The title “Lord” (Greek Kurios) also points to the full deity of Christ, since it was the term used to translate “Yahweh,” the personal name of God, in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) that the early church used. Most English Bibles follow this tradition, rendering the Hebrew “Yahweh” as LORD in capital letters.
As the fully divine Son of God, Jesus could absorb the righteous wrath of God and pay the penalty we deserve for our transgressions.
In him, therefore ,we “have redemption, the forgiveness of our trespasses” (Ephesians 1:7).
Our Risen Lord
After his death, Jesus rose from the dead, as he had predicted, and showed himself alive to his disciples for more than a month. Then he ascended to the right hand God, sitting on the throne with the Father and reigning over all things as King (Hebrews 1:3; Ephesians 1:19-22).
From the Father Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of both the Father and the Son, upon his repentant and believing disciples (Acts 2:33, 38).
By this same Spirit, he delivers us from the power of indwelling sin (Romans 8:13), gradually producing in us the character of Christ (Galatians 5:22). And by this same power, he will raise us up from the dead, confer glorified bodies on us, and present us to God as pure and holy (Romans 8:11, 19-22, 23, 29-30; Ephesians 5:26-27; 1 John 3:1-3).
What a Savior!
What a great and gracious Savior we have! Does he not deserve our highest praise, heartfelt love, total trust, and ready obedience? And should we not declare this Good News to all the world?
You may read more about our Savior in my books Jesus: The Complete Man and Christ the King: Meditations on Mathew’s Gospel.
Not only during this Christmas season, but throughout the year, let us share with others, including our Chinese friends, the wonderful gospel of Jesus, our Immanuel, who saves his people from our sins.