JESUS:
UNIQUE SAVIOUR
INTRO. “Jesus saves” – yes, we rejoice in
that, but what does it mean? From what
are we saved? How have we been
saved? For what have we been saved?
If pressed we would probably struggle to give a very
cogent answer to the question, “What does it mean?”
1. What
would it have meant to the early Jews – those who would have heard the words (Matt.1:21; Luke 1:46-51; 1:77;
·
Rescue from
national enemies (e.g.
·
Free enjoyment
of their own land )
(e.g. Zephaniah
·
Restoration of
the
·
Renewal of the
Torah (e.g. Jer.31:31-34)
·
An end to exile
All this would be that peaceful existence expressed
in the word “Shalom” and would be accomplished through the mercy of YHWH (forgiveness of
sins & justification through God’s mercy was not a hope that came only in
the New Testament).
Salvation came to a people, not a collection of individuals. Individuals were sure of their salvation
through membership of the covenant people.
However, that membership was guaranteed by different things in different
groups.
2.
Unique Saviour
i) from the early Jewish
perspective:
·
end of exile for
Gentiles as well, through forgiveness of sins
·
all are equal;
there are no special members
·
rescue from
enemies of the soul, not the nation
·
not just the
land of promise, but the whole world (1
Cor.3:21-23)
·
no need for a
·
adherence to the
Torah now replaced by a Spirit-directed lifestyle
·
a suffering
Messiah
·
crucified (Deut.21:22.23)
ii) from our perspective:
·
it has nothing
to do with my efforts
·
it doesn’t have
to be renewed on an annual basis
·
salvation is for
a people, the church (e.g. Eph.3:10;
3. What
does it mean for us from now on?
Jesus died, rose again & sent His Holy Spirit
that we might be a people who show what it is to be truly human. Salvation is not primarily about my forgiveness & my eternal
security, but is about my part in the great movement of the people of God, the
church glorious, in space & time.