Jesus Saves

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

Jesus Saves

She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew name Joshua or Jehoshua, which means “Jehovah will save.” In this verse, the angel tells Joseph that Mary’s baby will be the very incarnation of God's salvation, and He is to be named Jesus. The tiny baby laying in the manger is God Himself, and He is the One who will save His people from their sins.

Isn't it interesting how Christmas is celebrated throughout the entire world? Christmas is such a "magical" time that other religions and even athiests come together to celebrate it! As Christians, we've been given the immense privilege to know the true reason for the season, and that's Jesus. Let's get together to celebrate Him! Jesus saves. He's saved us from our sins and given us eternal life!

Only One Way

After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter talks about the importance of Jesus' name. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Only in Jesus do we have life and salvation. Tragically, the masses believe the lie that many roads lead to Heaven. As Christians, we know the Truth. There is only One Way, and that’s Jesus Christ, Lord over everyone and Savior to everyone who believes. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). The stunning fact that God provided even one way for us to live forever shows just how gracious He is.

Faith in What?

From the moment we first believe in Jesus, God energizes our faith and continues to preserve it until He brings us home to Heaven. The work God begins in a person's heart, He always finishes. (Phil 1:6). It’s not faith that saves us, but it’s the object of our faith that saves us, and that’s Jesus. Even if I have a weak faith; I know that I am saved by a strong Savior who won’t ever let me go (John 10:27-28). My Christian faith isn't in faith itself but in Christ alone.

"It is not great faith, but true faith that saves; and the salvation lies not in the faith, but in the Christ in whom faith trusts." Charles Spurgeon

The believer’s continued faith in Jesus is evidence of God’s keeping power (1 Pet 1:5), not our own. I am not saying we don't have human responsibility. There are two truths that run parallel: God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. How those two truths operate together, we don’t know on this side of eternity. But we do know that both are true. We know both the person and the Holy Spirit live the Christian life. We know we rely on God's grace, not our own strength to live the Christian life.

True saving faith in Jesus may waver or fail at times, but it’s permanent in that it never dies. It's a true faith. A true believer could never stop believing nor could he ever completely turn away from the faith that was once handed to him. Because God is the One who keeps us, not ourselves. We can never lose our salvation because it’s His grace that saves us, helps us walk in His ways, and keeps us forever. What a reason to celebrate, not just around Christmas but every single day! And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at His birth, (Luke 1:14).

"It's not your hold of Christ that saves you but His hold of you." Charles Spurgeon

Dear Heavenly Father,

It's Christmas, and I praise You for the greatest gift ever: Jesus is my Savior. Jesus lived the perfect life for me, suffered and died on the cross for me, and three days later He rose from the grave. Jesus saved me from my sins and gave me eternal life, by grace through faith in Him. Even my repentance and faith in Jesus is a gift from You (Eph 2:8-9).

Lord, help me to talk about Jesus and not shy away when the opportunity arises. Help me to not just say “I have faith.” Help me to communicate clearly what and more importantly WHO my faith is IN. Help me to boldly and gently say Jesus’ name when talking about my faith, my hope, and my joy. Help me to point everyone to the real reason we celebrate Christmas. And that's Jesus, the tiny baby lying in the manger who created Heaven and Earth, the Savior of the world, and the reason for the Christmas season, every season, and life itself.

Praise the Lord! Jesus saves!

All glory belongs to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In His name, I pray amen!

---

 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

I am the light of the world and whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but have the light of life. John 8:12