Jesus Christ - Personal Lord and Savior

Titus 3:4-5 "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."

Introduction and review

We began yesterday to think about the title given to Jesus in the New Testament: "Savior of the world". Such a notion is rooted in God's revelation of Himself in the Old Testament. We explored how God is the eternal redeemer. Further thought included how God subsists through the Three Persons of the Trinity, with each Person full expressing this Divine reality of God as Savior. We ended yesterday reflecting upon how the New Testament demonstrates Jesus Christ as Savior in two respects: Savior of the world and Savior of His people (the church). Today we want to move onto grasping what is meant when we say Jesus Christ can be your Personal Savior.

How the Savior of the world, who came to save His people, becomes each believer's personal Lord and Savior

The idea of God being the Personal Savior of His people isn't just a New Testament idea. In 2 Samuel 22:3, David speaks of God being his "Savior and Redeemer". Such personalized language was how the Old Testament saints came to understand their personal relationship with Yahweh. Granted, Yahweh's relationship with His people was understood in more national terms than personal. Nonetheless, the personal dimension was there, not only with respect to David, but with Abraham (Genesis 18); Moses (Exodus 33); Job (38-42) and others. 

When we come into the New Testament, we find Jesus Christ engaging in personal conversations with people. The acknowledgement of Jesus as "Savior of the world" by the Samaritans in John 4:42 follows on the heels of the Samaritan's woman trust in Him as Personal Lord and Savior. Clearly the understanding of Him as "Savior of the world" was illumined by the Spirit to her, with her in turn freely associating herself with the need to trust in Him by saving faith. 

Reflecting upon such conversion experiences as the woman at the well in John 4 reminds us of what is now the Holy Spirit's mission in drawing lost sinners to Jesus Christ. The Spirit's job in coming into the world - following Jesus' ascension - was to search and rescue. Search and rescue missions are distinct in that the prospect of finding life is included. In this instance, the Spirit is the one that imparts life to sinners at the moment of saving faith (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). The sinner's genuine response of saving faith is necessary and sufficient for them to be justified or declared "righteous" by God and credited with all that Jesus did.  

The Spirit's search and rescue has the expectation of finding all kinds of people from every nation (John 16:8-12). The Bible doesn't teach universal salvation, but instead teaches the Savior offered to all in the Gospel in a legitimate offer. All who embrace Jesus do so because of grace (like Lydia the purple trader in Acts 16:14 who was the first convert to Christ on European soil).  All who reject Jesus due so because of their own accord and choice to reject such grace (see Acts 13:46-47). 

Salvation entails God opening eyes and hearts and people convinced in their free and genuine response to the Spirit's call to believe on Jesus Christ as personal Savior. Such an event is a Divinely wrought miracle in the human soul that is called by scripture "regeneration". 

The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 summarizes:  Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace.  

The result of the new birth involves the sinner embracing Jesus Christ - who being Savior of the world and Savior of His people, becomes Personal Savior and Lord (John 1:12-13; 16:8-12)

Closing thoughts

Time was taken today and yesterday to consider the meaning of Jesus as "The Savior of the world"; "Savior of His people" and "Personal Lord and Savior". In short, He always was and will ever be the Redeemer. He came into the world to save the world in one sense and to be the Savior of His people in another sense. Upon the reception of God's free offer of faith in saving grace, such a genuine response takes in Jesus Christ as one's Personal Savior. Such thoughts capture the overall scope of the Bible's revelation of Jesus as "The Savior". 

We also saw how the Son had agreed with the Father and the Spirit in eternity to come and incarnate Himself as the historic person of Jesus of Nazareth. He would, in His assumed humanity - die, rise and ascend. As God, the Son would ever remain Deity veiled in true humanity and humanity expressing forth the glory of deity. He is the God man, the One mediator, the Savior. The question is: have you trusted in Him as your own? 

Jesus is the Savior of the world and Savior of His people

1 Timothy 4:10 "For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers."

Introduction:
In yesterday's post we began to consider how God has always been the eternal Savior and Redeemer. We looked at how this proper identity is expressed with the Triune nature of God. We also got to glimpse at what the scripture teaches about the plan of salvation worked out between the Father, Son and Spirit. Then we concluded by making some remarks concerning God's revelation of this plan in history through both the Old and New Testaments. Today we narrow our focus upon the Person of the Son as He revealed Himself in His incarnation. 

Such truths are rooted in the overall doctrine of the Trinity and God's eternal identity as Savior. We will see how it is that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Savior of His people. 

How the Person of the Son has been eternally the Savior

The plan of redemption was worked out by the Triune God before time began (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2). The Father's plan of salvation is described by scripture in the language of foreknowledge, predestination and election (Ephesians 1:4-11; Romans 8:28-31; 2 Peter 1:1) or what the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 describes in its fifth article as "God's Elective Purpose of Grace". Let the reader be reminded that such a purpose of grace has no conflict with the Biblical teaching on man as a responsible moral agent who is to repent and believe on Jesus Christ as Personal Lord and Savior. 

In sharing the same full Deity with the Father and Spirit, the Son agreed with the Father's plan and chose to come into history. He after all is described as the "Lamb of God, slain before the foundation of the world" (Hebrews 10:4-5; Revelation 13:8). 

The Son would assume unto His Person full humanity by way of the virgin birth and be revealed what He had always been - namely, "the Savior of the world" (Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 10:4-5). 

As a man, the Son would die for the sins of the world in a general sense and be the Savior of His people in a specific sense (1 Timothy 2:2; 4:10; 1 John 2:2; 2 Peter 3:9-10).   

Passages such as Luke 19:10 describe the Son's coming into the world as a search and recovery mission (Luke 19:10). In any search and recovery mission, the expectation is not to find life, but corpses. Such stark imagery describes the spiritual condition of every sinner born or ever born into this world. All are spiritually dead, in need of a new birth issuing forth from the Son Himself (John 5:24-28; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). Sinners are incapable of contributing anything to their salvation apart from God's grace (Romans 3:10-21; Ephesians 2:1-4).

The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 includes this idea of God having been always the eternal Redeemer and thus Savior in its article on "God":

"There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures."

The Son as Savior of the world also came to be the Savior of His people

The Son as eternal Savior and redeemer came to save the world from swift Divine judgment. As we already noted, He came historically to save the world and thus post-pone judgment for the sake of the Gospel going forth to all nations (Matthew 24:14; Acts 17:31; 2 Peter 3:9). His achievement on the cross as Savior of the world was also focused on the target of saving His church, hence with respect to redemption being the Savior of His people (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:23). 

Such a binocular understanding of Jesus as Savior of the world and Savior of His people aids in handling all the relevant passages that speak of Him as the Savior. Tomorrow we will consider Jesus Christ as Personal Lord and Savior.

How God is the eternal Savior and Redeemer

John 4:42 "and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Introduction:

When we consider the various titles used in the Bible for Jesus Christ, some describe "who He is" and others unfold "what He does". A case in point is the title "Immanuel", which means "God with us". He is God as the Person of the Son, the second Person of the Trinity who became the man - Jesus of Nazareth. He never ceased being God nor will He ever cease being God. 

In His incarnation, the Son assumed unto His Person a second way of expressing His existence - albeit a second nature, a human nature. Henceforth from His virgin birth did the Son go forth to be God in human flesh (see John 1:14). Such titles as "Immanuel", as well as "Son of God " and "Prince of Peace" speak of the Person of Jesus Christ with respect to His identity.

Today's post focuses upon a title that describes Jesus Christ with regards to His activity - namely "Savior of the World". 

In what way was God the Savior before time began

Before God ever did anything in time, He first of all was and had always been existing. God as Redeemer and Savior was such in His eternal identity. God is the ultimate reality that subsists in, through and by the interlocking Triune Persons of the Father, Son and Spirit. Indeed the Person of the Father is described as "Savior" in the Old Testament (Exodus 14:30-31; Isaiah 45:18,21-22). 

To understand God as the eternal Savior is important, since His activity of "saving" or "redeeming" stems from the kind of God He is in and of Himself. God was not forced to provide salvation nor was it His knee jerk reaction to Adam and Eve's fall into sin in Genesis 3. Rather, redemption and salvation are as much a part of God's eternal identity as His holiness, self-sufficiency and omnipotence. 

When God begins to make Himself known to human beings following the rupture of the fall in Genesis 3, we find God desiring to set His plan of salvation into motion among human beings. Isaiah's prophecies especially highlight how Yahweh is not only the Savior of Israel (which is clear from such texts as Exodus 14:30-31), but alsoof the nations (Isaiah 19; 45). 

This strategic move in God's revelation of Himself would set the stage for the New Testament declaration of the Person of the Son being the Savior of the world (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14). Remarkably, the Person of the Son is described as Savior in Paul's quotation of Isaiah 45 in Philippians 2:5-11. In the Philippians passage, we see every knee someday bowing to Jesus at the end of all time. This amazing revelation reveals that the Father and Son share in the same Divine nature as One God who saves and redeems. 

With the inclusion of the Spirit's co-equal sharing of the one Divine essence of Deity, the point is clear - God has been and will always be the Savior. Henceforth there is none other that can save from sin other than God. After all, salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9)

More tomorrow.....

How to Alphabetically Apply the Book of Proverbs to Your Life - Conclusion

Proverbs 1:1-7 "The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Introduction:

One of the valuable reasons for studying the Book of Proverbs is to gain the skill needed to relate to others and to God for His glory. Such a reason is how we can so define wisdom itself - which is the whole point of the book. Oftentimes I find myself in situations where people may ask for advice, or where I need advice on life's pressing issues. Since Proverbs is primarily arranged in a topical form, it is fruitful to comb through the entire book and arrange the verses under topical headings. Today's post concludes the alphabetical listings of topics that can be used in advisory or counseling situations. In the last four posts we have considered topics ranging from A-T. Today we conclude out study by considering subjects beginning with letters U-W. All the verse references below derive from Proverbs.

U.
Upholding your reputation. 25:9-10

W.
1. Verses on fools. 26:1,3; 27:3,22

2. Virtuous woman/wife. 12:4; 14:1; 18:22; 19:14; 31:10-31

W.
1. Wait on God. 20:22

2. We are to feed the hungry. 6:30

3. What hatred does. 10:12,18; 15:17

4. What wisdom does. 3:19,20

5. What love does. 10:12

6. What to do if you make a pledge. 6:1-5

7. What children can do for their parents. 10:1

8. What to do when people are kind to you. 3:27,28

9. Wisdom is preferable and good 23:14-16,23; 24:3-7; 25:11-13

10. Wisdom must not be rejected. 1:24-32; 2:18-19,22,33-35; 5:12-14; 8:36; 9:12-13; 12:8; 17:12,16; 21:16; 28:26,29

11. Wisdom and the things of God. 1:23,33; 2:1-5; 6:1017,21; 3:10,13-18,21,23,33-35; 4:6-9, 11-13; 5:2; 8:35; 9:6,11-12; 10:13-14,17; 11:12; 12:8,14,22,23; 13:14-16; 14:8,15-18,35; 15:2,14,20; 16:16,21-23; 18:4,13,15; 19:11,25; 21:19; 22:17-19,20-21; 23:12; 27:14;29:3

Conclusion:
It is hoped that the reader will take these posts and begin to use them in their own lives or in ministering God's love and wisdom to others. We need wisdom in today's world. May God be glorified through whatever efforts may ripple from these posts. 

How to Alphabetically Apply the Book of Proverbs to Your Life - P,Q,R,S,T

Proverbs 1:1-7 "The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Introduction:

One of the valuable reasons for studying the Book of Proverbs is to gain the skill needed to relate to others and to God for His glory. Such a reason is how we can so define wisdom itself - which is the whole point of the book. Oftentimes I find myself in situations where people may ask for advice, or where I need advice on life's pressing issues. Since Proverbs is primarily arranged in a topical form, it is fruitful to comb through the entire book and arrange the verses under topical headings. Today's post aims to offer readers more alphabetical listings of topics that can be used in advisory or counseling situations. In the last three posts we have considered topics ranging from A-O. Today we consider subjects beginning with letters P,R,S & T. All the verse references below derive from Proverbs.

P. 
1. Parental discipline. 22:6; 23:13,14,25; 29:15,17

2. Patience. 14:29; 25:15

3. Pride. 11:2; 13:10; 16:18,19; 17:7

R.
1. Rebuking others in a loving way. 27:6; 28:28

2. Rescue from depression. 24:10-12

3. Results of temptation. 1:11-14,16,18-19; 3:33; 4:15-17,19; 5:3-6; 7:21-23,25-27; 8:10,22,23,32,33; 21:15,17; 25:26

4. Results of righteousness. 10:9-11,30; 12:5-7

5. Rewards for hard work. 27:18,23,25-27.

6. Righteousness vs. wickedness. 29:27

7. Righteousness and its rewards. 10:2,7,9,11,16-21,24,28,31,32; 11:3-4,5-8,10-11,16-23; 12:3,13-14,21,26,28; 13:5-6,9,20,25; 14:2,11,32,34; 15:6,26,28,29; 16:8,17; 20:7; 21:3-4,12,20-21; 22:6; 24:15,16; 25:4-5; 28:1,2,5,10; 29:6

S.
1. Sadness. 15:13

2. Selfishness. 11:24-26,27; 25:28

3. Sharing. 17:2; 18:16; 19:17; 20:16; 22:9

3. Sin. 7:6-9; 9:14-19; 13:21-22,25; 14:9,12,21,34; 20:9

4. Speaking up for those in trouble. 31:8-9

5. Straying from home. 27:8,13

T.
1. Thankfulness. 17:1

2. Truth in relationships. 21:14

3. The rich and poor. 22:7,16; 27:13

4. Things that God hates. 6:17-19

5. True obedience. 23:22,24; 27:11; 28:7

6. Too much of a good thing. 25:16,17

7. Trusting in God. 3:5-6; 12:2; 16:20; 18:10; 29:25

8. Truthfulness. 12:17-19

More tomorrow........

How to Alphabetically Apply the Book of Proverbs to Your Life - I,J,K,L,M,N,O

Proverbs 1:1-7 "The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Introduction:

One of the valuable reasons for studying the Book of Proverbs is to gain the skill needed to relate to others and to God for His glory. Such a reason is how we can so define wisdom itself - which is the whole point of the book. Oftentimes I find myself in situations where people may ask for advice, or where I need advice on life's pressing issues. Since Proverbs is primarily arranged in a topical form, it is fruitful to comb through the entire book and arrange the verses under topical headings. Today's post aims to offer readers more alphabetical listings of topics that can be used in advisory or counseling situations. In the last two posts we have considered topics ranging from A-H. Today we consider subjects beginning with letter I,J,K,L,M,N & O. All the verse references below derive from Proverbs

I.
1. Internal family dis-function. 11:29; 15:5,27; 19:26; 20:20; 22:15; 28:24; 30:17

J.
Justice in how we treat others. 17:26; 19:7

K.
1. Kindness to the poor. 28:8

2. Knowledge. 20:15

L. 
1. Lack of self-control. 25:28

2. Laziness. 6:7-11; 10:4-5,26; 12:10-11,24; 14:23-24; 16:26; 18:19; 19:15,24; 20:4; 20:13; 21:5,25-26; 22:29; 24:27,30-34; 26:13-16; 28:19

3. Lessons on how to make friends. 22:24-27

4. Let others pat you on the back. 27:2

5. Living a life for God. 8:18-19

6. Love. 20:28

7. Love of Money is root of all evil. 12:7-8; 18:11; 23:4-5; 27:24

8. Love your wife. 5:19,20; 6:34,35

9. Lusting is Sin
6:24-26,27-29,32,35; 7:9-13; 22:14; 23:27,28

M.
1. Making a fool out of yourself
30:32,33

2. Man's psychological and spiritual nature. 16:9,10,12-15, 27, 29-30; 17:4-5, 9-11,18,20,23-25,27-28; 18:1,19,20-21; 19:3-4,7,12,22; 20:2,5,6,8,11; 20:14,26; 20:30; 21:8,10-11,29; 22:3; 25:3; 26:18-19; 27:19,20; 28:21; 29:10; 30:10-14

3. Mouthiness. 29:20

N.
1. No forsaking of house. 27:10

2. Nosiness. 26:17

O. 
1. Obeying. 1:8,9; 4:1,4,10,11-12,20-21; 6:20; 7:1-3; 8:32; 13:1; 17:6

More tomorrow......

How to Alphabetically Apply the Book of Proverbs to your Life - E,F,G,H

Proverbs 1:1-7 "The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Introduction:

One of the valuable reasons for studying the Book of Proverbs is to gain the skill needed to relate to others and to God for His glory. Such a reason is how we can so define wisdom itself - which is the whole point of the book. Oftentimes I find myself in situations where people may ask for advice, or where I need advice on life's pressing issues. Since Proverbs is primarily arranged in a topical form, it is fruitful to comb through the entire book and arrange the verses under topical headings. We looked yesterday at topics that fell alphabetically from letters A-D. Topics such as anger, blessing, compromise and dealing with pride were among the subjects listed with appropriate verses from Proverbs. Today's post continues on our study, noting topics beginning with the letters E,F,G and H. May the reader find these studies helpful in either ministering to others or finding God's wisdom for their own lives.  All the verse references below derive from Proverbs.

E.
1. Edification. 15:31; 16:24

2. Envy. 14:30; 16:32

3. Existence and attributes of God. 16:11,25,33; 20:12; 21:30,31; 22:2,13; 25:2; 29:13,26; 30:3-6

F.
1. Fear of God. 1:7; 3:7-8; 8:13; 10:10,27; 14:26,27; 15:16,33; 16:6-7; 19:23; 22:4; 24:21; 28:14

2. Fighting. 17:14, 19; 18:18; 20:3; 22:10

3. Following after righteousness
4:18,24,25,27

G.
1. Gluttony. 23:1-3

2. Giving advice. 27:9

3. God the Son's pre-existence. 8:22-31

4. God's comforts. 8:14

5. God's discipline. 3:12; 12:1; 13:17,18

6. God hates lying. 6:17; 12:22; 20:25; 21:7,16; 26:24,27,28

7. God hates wickedness. 7:7; 8:13; 10:25,28,29,11:4,5,6,7,10-11,16,17,20-21,23,29; 12:3

8. God knows man. 5:21; 15:3; 16:1-2,3-5; 17:3; 20:24; 21:1-2

9. Godliness includes humility
9:7-8; 10:8; 11:2; 18:12

10. God our protector. 2:7,8; 3:24-26; 10:29

11. God is the authority. 8:15-16

12. God loves righteous people. 10:3,6,19,25; 14:9

13. God's love. 8:17

14. God speaks truth. 7:8,9

15. Gossip. 10:19; 11:13; 13:3-4; 14:3-4,25; 15:4,23; 18:8; 19:5,9,28; 20:19; 21:19,23,28; 26:20,22-23

16. Greediness. 22:22-23

17. Guidance from others. 20:18

18. Guidance to others. 12:26; 15:2

H.
1. Happiness. 17:22

2. Having zeal. 19:2

3. Honor God. 3:9,10

4. How sin entices. 7:9-13,15-18,19,20

5. Hunger. 27:7

More tomorrow.........