Tag: Savior

Showing Signs of the Virus?

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Luke 4:23).

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15).

                It’s in these times of uncertainty, where invisible viruses change our lives in tangible, physical ways, that one can become more susceptible to acknowledge one’s internal condition. 

One may look at him or herself in the mirror and appear fine, but outer appearances can be deceptive. The Pharisees of Jesus’ time appeared ‘clean’ and righteous outwardly, but their insides were defiled (Matt. 23:25, 28). The prophet Isaiah said in 64:6, “All of us have become like one who is unclean and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”

Each member of the human race has been infected with the SIN virus. It’s been passed from generation to generation ever since the first man contracted it in the Garden of Eden. No one is immune from the devastation and lethalness of it on their own (Gen. 3, Rom. 5:12, 18, 3:23, 6:23).

                God did not leave mankind helpless. He had a remedy. He sent His one and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to become the Suffering Servant and the Wounded Healer (Ex. 15:26, Isaiah 52:14, 53:5, Phil. 2:7, 3:10, Heb. 2:9, 9:14, 12:2). The panacea for the SIN virus comes in a serum of love. Jesus Christ’s precious blood was poured out on the cross to cleanse and save from sin all who believe and receive it (John 3:16, 10:9, 14:6, Rom. 5:8-9, Eph. 1:7, 2:4-5, Col. 1:14, 20, 2:14, 1 Tim. 2:3-5, Titus 3:4-7, 1 Peter 1:18-19).

                Once the transaction is complete, the believer’s eternal salvation is secure. Their citizenship is now in heaven, where their Savior is and their life is “hid in Christ with God”.  When Christ, Who is their life, shall appear, then they will appear with Him in glory— in glorious bodies that are like His—sin-free” (Eph. 1: 13-14, Phil. 3:20-21, Col. 3:3).  But in the meantime (in this fallen life), the SIN virus still lies dormant in the believer. In order to keep it inoperative and perform the good works that God wills the redeemed to fulfill, the sinful nature needs to be put to death (Col. 3:5, Rom. 13:12-14, Eph. 2:10, 2 Tim. 1:9-10, Titus 2:11-14, 3:8). Protective gear is a necessity and has been provided for the believer to wear in order to stand against all unseen attacks (Eph. 6:11-17). Experiences of pain and suffering in this world (as Jesus endured) will not be for nothing. The tribulations will work out patience and produce character that will lead to hope (Rom. 5:3-5)  One can endure being hard-pressed on every side, without being crushed; perplexed, without falling into despair; persecuted, without being forsaken; struck down, without being destroyed– all for the glory of God (2 Cor. 4:7-10).

                The prognosis is promising as one seeks the things above, where Christ is at the right hand of God, not on things on the earth. No need to get discouraged even though the outward body is perishing, because the inward self is being renewed day by day. For light afflictions, are but for a moment, and are working a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (Col. 3:1-3, 2 Cor. 4:16-18).  Endurance in this life is possible when one looks (as Moses did) to Him Who is invisible (Heb. 11:27).  Live life elevated in the risen hope He’s given us.                            Laura   

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SAVIOR*MESSIAH*IMMANUEL*KING*JESUS*

It’s the time of the year that we celebrate the anniversary of the 1st coming of our Savior’s birth. All names and titles used of the One we celebrate reflect the different relationships that are sustained by Him. Here are some of them:

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

  • SAVIOR: A savior is for the lost. Due to man’s failure back in the garden, “none is righteous”…“all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God”…”all have gone astray” (Rom. 3:10, 23; Isaiah 53:6). What’s even more wonderful is the title attached to “Savior” in the above verse—“Christ the Lord”, “Christ”, which in Hebrew means Mashiah Jehovah (Jehovah’s Anointed) and the name “LORD” with it denotes “all power and might”—therefore able to save.
  • MESSIAH: This is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew: Mashiah, meaning “Anointed”, it means “the Christ” (John 1:41).

““Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us” (Matt. 1:23; Isaiah 7:14, 8:8).

  • IMMANUEL: In Hebrew “Immanuel” means God (El) with us. Used of Christ reveals proof of His Deity.
  • KING: In the book of Matthew, the Lord is presented as Jehovah’s KING.

The lineage in the 1st chapter of Matthew is unique in the order that it’s given, linking Jesus Christ with the Son of David, heir to the throne (2 Sam. 7:12, 16). It will be more than apparent at His 2nd coming that He will be seen as the “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16).

“She (Mary) will bear a son, and you shall call his name JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21–See also Luke 1:31). All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet in Isaiah 7:13-16.  

  • JESUS: is the same as the Hebrew Jehoshua, or Joshua, and means Salvation of Jehovah, or Jehovah (the) Savior. The name “Jesus” expresses the relation of Jehovah to Him in Incarnation, by which He “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:6-8).
  •  Christmas is the wonderful season that reminds the Christian why he/she believes and what a precious gift God has given us in the form of His only begotten Son.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever BELIEVES in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift (2 Cor. 9:15)!

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