Why the Savior?
Luke answers the question, “From what did Jesus come to save us?” According to Luke: “And thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins.” Sin is the “missing of the mark” of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Sin is that which separates our hearts from God. Some types of sin are listed in Galations 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Another list of sins is in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
According to Revelation 22, the fearful and unbelieving are also sinners.
One who “practices” such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. A “practitioner” is one who confesses and practices that which he preaches. Jesus was the perfect sinless “lamb of God.” Jesus inherited the nature of his Heavenly Father. According to Romans he was the “last Adam.” He was in all things tempted like as we are and yet without sin. This is why Jesus Christ was the lamb of God without spot or blemish. Jesus did not sin… he had a keen awareness of that which is holy. Holy is the same as “sanctified.” Holy means to separate according to the purpose designed by the designer. He said, “I always do my father’s will.”
According to Isaiah, All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone unto our own way. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey on the tenth of the month of Nisan in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. This day was the day when the Passover lamb was inspected to be an acceptable sacrifice “without spot and without blemish.”
Israel thought that the Messiah would come as “king of kings and Lord of lords” according to the prophecy in Isaiah. They were not expecting him to enter Jerusalem as a humble servant riding on a donkey. They did not know that Jesus Christ himself was God’s Passover lamb without spot and without blemish.
The day that Jesus was crucified was the tipping point of history… On that date, Jesus fulfilled his holy purpose for which God ordained…for he who was without sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.
In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “If there be any way, let this cup pass from me.” The cup was the cup of wrath of sin and death, the cup of separation for sin of the world. Jesus’ will was to serve his Father. Prayer is not aligning God’s heart with our heart, but rather prayer is aligning our heart with God’s heart. The conclusion of Jesus’ prayer was “not my will but thine be done.”
What was the price that Jesus paid? He bore your sin and mine. He took upon himself the sin of the world. He shed his innocent blood in exchange for our guilty blood. All men deserve to die, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Upon the cross, he died so that we may be presented blameless before the Father. What is the value of a life? Value is counted by the price paid. God valued our life according to John 3:16. For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For what were we sanctified, for what were we made holy? We were sanctified and set apart for God’s purpose…that we may bear witness of the Cross of Christ. For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and him crucified. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I live, I live by the faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael