In Luke 2:10-11, the angel said to the shepherds who were watching their flocks, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." In Matthew 1, the Bible tells us that an angel appeared to Joseph to explain to him that the young lady he had planned to make his wife had committed no sin, even though she was expecting a child. "That which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Spirit." The angel then said, "Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins." In John 4:42, those who believed in Jesus because of the Samaritan woman said, "Now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." The New Testament uses the word Savior 24 times. That Jesus is called "the Savior of the world" is not without significance.

A number of Old Testament characters who lived on earth before Jesus wore the name Savior, but these came to save God's people from enemies and local or national upheavals. In Nehemiah 9:27, the prophet said, "Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them Saviors who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries." However, Jesus did not come to deliver the Jews from Rome, to eliminate disease, or give lectures on how to protect the environment. His stated mission is plainly revealed in Luke 19:10, "For the Son of man came to seek and save that which was lost." In Paul's own humble way, he said, "Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1:15)

Jesus offered Himself to take away the sins of the world. Moses' Law, which had been in effect for 1500 years, demanded perfection (cf. Galatians 3:10-11). The penalty for failure was spiritual death, separation from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). God still imposes death upon those who do not avail themselves of the Savior's blessings. The only remedy available to those who lived under the law was the offering of animal blood. However, sacrificing animal blood did not take away the world's sins (Hebrews 10:1-4). The Hebrews writer said, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and (sacrifices) for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law), then hath He said, 'Lo, I am come to do thy will.' He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second. By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:8-10). The sacrifice of Jesus accomplished two things.

1. Removed the first law, which condemned the transgressor, and established a new law.
2. Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice for sins, satisfying the justice the law demanded (Romans 6:26). John wrote, "... the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)

Why then is the world still lost? Drugs, drunkenness, all forms of fornication, violence, and destruction exist on every hand. John himself said, "The whole world lieth in the evil one." (1 John 5:19) Did Jesus fail as our Savior? God forbid!

• A short time after the Lord's death, burial, resurrection, and ascension back to heaven, the apostles preached the gospel for the first time (Acts 2), and 3,000 people were saved.
• In Acts 8, Philip baptized the eunuch from Ethiopia, and "he went on his way rejoicing."
• In Acts 9, in order to wash away Saul's sins, Ananias baptized the man who had, perhaps, been the most avid enemy the Lord's church had in the first century (22:16).
• Acts 10 contains the record of the first Gentiles becoming Christians.
• Acts 16 relates the stories of Lydia and the Philippian jailer being saved.

The fact that the world is in a lost condition does not reflect on Jesus' mission; rather, it reflects on mankind's lack of concern about his salvation. Peter preached "save yourselves" (Acts 2:40), but that is what the majority of people refuse to do. Though Jesus' blood can save us from our sins, we must be concerned enough to avail ourselves of the remedy.

People often teach false doctrine about how Christ saves us. Some teach that, in order for us to be saved, the Lord requires only that we have faith.

• "Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort" (Doctrines and Discipline of The Methodist Church, 1944, page 73).
• Others have taught, "We believe the Scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace," (The Standard Manual for Baptist Churches, Edward Hiscox, 1890, page 61). The page that follows teaches that justification by the imputed righteous life of Christ is "solely through faith." So much error. Christ does not save us by virtue of his perfect life being imputed to sinners, but by his shed blood. We are not saved by only one thing; our obedience is also necessary (Hebrews 5:8-9).
• Others erroneously teach that one who is seeking salvation must "Pray and ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior, and claim His promise of eternal life" (Lancaster Baptist handouts). That is a strange teaching in view of Saul's (Paul's) experience in Damascus. Although he saw Jesus on the road and became a believer, he was still lost. So he asked Jesus what he must do (Acts 9:6). The Lord told him to go into the city, and he would be told what he must do. Saul went to Damascus, refused to eat or drink, and was on his knees praying (verse 11). God sent a preacher to instruct him, and Paul himself told what Ananias taught him (Acts 22:12-16). Paul was told, "Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins."

Many are lost because the saved have failed to go into all the world and preach the powerful, saving gospel. The gospel is the "power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16). No wonder the Lord gave the command to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." We need men who are willing to "go and preach." And we need more Christians who are willing to "send once and again" to their necessities. The church in the early part of the first century had the awesome responsibility of preaching the Savior to the lost. In Colossians 1:6, Paul said that the gospel had "come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing," and in verse 23, he said it had been "preached to every creature." Without doubt, they possessed, first of all, unshakeable faith in their Savior. He said "go," and so they went. Second, they had vision. They "looked on the fields" and saw that they were "white unto harvest." Third, they believed in the gospel's power.

Indeed, Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. As Savior, He plays a perfect part in the saving process. Failures come in the part that falls to us. May each of us obey from the heart and thus come into contact with His saving blood. And may each one make a determined effort to see that as many people as possible within the scope of his influence, learn the truth and have opportunity to obey. May God help us to be impressed with our responsibility to see that every creature under heaven has the opportunity to reach the cleansing blood of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Yes, the Bible emphasizes that Jesus is our Savior. This is what sinful men needed and God promised way back in Genesis 3:15, following man's fall. Thanks to God for this wonderful Savior who was willing to pay the ultimate price to provide the remedy for the world's sins. By sending our Savior to earth, God poured out His grace on all mankind! Amen!!! (KMG)