The Saviour of the World

If you missed the Christmas Eve Candlelight service from last night, you can click here to watch it now.

Today’s Passage – 1 John 3 – 3 John 1 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 121 – 125; Proverbs 25)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Ephesians 4:32

Read the “1225 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” (1 John 4:14)

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

I submit two thoughts for your consideration this morning from 1 John 4:14:

1  The Exclusiveness of Candidates for Saviour – Notice the definite article “the,” indicating that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, is the only Saviour for the world. There are not many ways to be saved, only one.

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)

The disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus once and asked Him if He was the one that they were waiting for, or “look we for another” (Luke 7:20). Jesus replied emphatically that He was the One who fulfilled all of the Biblical requirements for being the Messiah, and He also added that we should not be “offended” in Him. Jesus is “the” Saviour, and He is also “the” Lord.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

2  The Inclusiveness of Candidates for Salvation – Notice the word “world” – it is the same word that is used in 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 God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

The word, “world” (κόσμος [kosmos]), does not mean just a select few; it means everybody. God wants everybody to receive the gift of the Saviour. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pe 3:9). Unfortunately, not everybody will come to the Saviour for salvation because they reject “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), choosing instead to be the god of their own lives. What a shame.

What a gift God gave us when Jesus came to this earth 2,000 years ago to redeem us!

“13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Tit 2:13-14)

Thank You, Father for sending us Your Son, the Saviour; and thank You, Jesus, for being willing to come.

Cindy and I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!