God Is With Us For Our Salvation
Our salvation depends on the sacrifice that Jesus, our Saviour, made for us on the cross. Have you received Christ as your Saviour?
His Name is Jesus
As we are entering into this Christmas season, we have started reflecting on a passage in Matthew chapter 1 and I’ll begin reading at verse 21.
“She (Mary) will bear a son and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, “behold the Virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel. Which translated means God with us.”” Matthew 1:21-23
God with us -Emmanuel. We noted this on our last time together, that when we think of God being with us, we are referring to God’s special presence, for our special benefit, that God is with us. This passage gives us insight into one of the benefits that we have if God is with us. Notice in the context of our passage in verse 21, again, “she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus.”
Jehovah is Savior
One professor of mine defines this, it means “Jehovah is Savior.” Jehovah is Savior, and of course, this is exactly the reason that He was called Jesus, for He, Jesus, will save His people from their sins. He came to be our Savior. Now, of course, in the context of this passage, “save His people,” first and foremost, they were thinking of Jewish people. Jesus was Jewish, but also and so wonderful for those of us who are not Jewish, He came also to save the rest of us.
Notice He came to save people from their sins. You know, the Bible says, “all have sinned.” That includes all of us, it includes you and includes me. No one is exempt and sin is such a problem because it’s in rebellion against God. It is such a huge issue, such a huge problem because the wages of sin is death.
We All Need a Savior
It says in Romans 6:23 you’re a sinner, which all have sinned, we all need a Savior, and Christmas reminds us that a Savior has come. The Lord Jesus came. He came into the world, and as the Bible makes very clear, He came not just to be a cute cuddly baby. He came to be the Savior who would go to the cross and die to pay for our sins. But only those who trust in Him for salvation will be saved.
One asks in Acts, “What must I do to be saved?” and the answer was, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” You know the wages of sin is death. Well, the opposite of that is life. In John 3:36 it says,
“he who believes in the Son, trusts in the Son, has ever lasting life.” John 3:36
Responding to the Savior
You see, simply by responding to the Savior, you might put it in these words, these words are not magical, but they bring out the point, “Lord Jesus,” as if you’re talking directly to him, “I know you can save me because of your death and resurrection. You died to pay for my sin. You rose from the dead. You won over sin and death. Lord Jesus, I depend upon you right now to save me.”
Have you done that? Have you put your trust in Christ and Christ alone to save you? You see, He came to be your Savior. When we say God is with me, we could understand and know with confidence that He is with me for my salvation. He came to save us. I think of this passage in Luke 2:8, again in the Christmas story it says in verse 8;
“In the same region, there were some shepherds stayed out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.” Luke 2:8
Don’t you think it’s great that God came to the shepherds? I mean, they were kind of on the lowest end of society. God cares about everybody. In verse 9
“An Angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terribly frightened, but the Angel said to them, do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people, for today in the city of David there has been born for you, a Savior who is Christ a Lord.” Luke 2:9
He Wants to Be Your Savior
Isn’t that wonderful? He came to be our Savior. He wants to be your Savior. I think of the Christmas carol we sing, “O Little Town of Bethlehem…”
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven
No ear may hear His coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive Him
Still the dear Christ enters in.
O Holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
You know, God loves us… He loves the world. “God so loved the world; He gave His only begotten son.” He gave Him initially at Christmas to go to the cross; whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life. This season, may you receive the greatest gift.
May you receive the Savior, and may you be able to say, may all of us be able to say “God is with us,” for He has saved us. May that be true. And if it’s not true, may you receive the Lord Jesus and may you receive the greatest gift anyone could ever receive at Christmas.
Have you received Jesus as your Savior? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Don Salmans
Don and Martie live in Ontario where he preaches in various churches in the area.
Much of his time is invested in his own local church, Edmison Heights Bible Chapel, where he is currently an elder.
Don and Martie have been married 43 years and have two grown sons and seven grandchildren. One of his greatest joys in this season of his life is simply spending time with his grand kids.
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