F.E. Marsh :: 342. Saviour

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THE BIRTH OF CHRIST (LUKE 2:8-20).

THE Incarnation of Christ is one of the pillars to the temple of truth, for as the kinsman only could redeem the lost inheritance of an Israelite (Lev. 25:25; Ruth 4:10), so Christ had to become our Kinsman, to have the right to redeem us (Heb. 2:14).

I shall take the title “Saviour” and give an acrostic upon it, as illustrating the purpose for which Christ was born, and as indicating the scope of His work.

S Suitable Saviour.

AAlmighty Saviour.

VVicarious Saviour.

 IImmutable Saviour.

OOnly Saviour.

UUniversal Saviour.

RRoyal Saviour.

S Suitable Saviour (1 Tim. 1:15).

As the key fits the lock and turns the wards of it, so Christ suits the sinner, in that He can turn him from darkness to light. As the medicine which is effective in its operation overcomes the disease and banishes it from the system of the patient, so Christ is the medicine for the soul, for in His blood there is cleansing, in His life there is quickening, in His death there is reconciliation, and in Himself there is every spiritual blessing. We may say with the litttle boy who put out one of his hands and, pointing to each finger with the forefinger of the other hand, made an acrostic on the name “Jesus.”

Jesus Exactly Suits Us Sinners

A Almighty Saviour (Acts 5:31).

All authority belongs to Christ (Matt. 28:18), and all strength is His (2 Cor. 12:9). As the huge crane can lift up the heavy goods, so Christ can lift up the sinner from the horrible pit (Psalm 40:2). As the engine can draw the heavy train, so Christ makes us go along the lines of God’s truth in glad obedience to His will. As the quickening word of Christ brought Lazarus from the grave (John 11:43-44); so He can quicken those who are dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1).

V Vicarious Saviour (Matt. 27:42).

The title “vicar” means one who supplies the place of another; hence, speaking of Christ being a “vicarious Saviour” refers to the fact that He was a Substitute for those who believe in Him when He died upon the cross (2 Cor. 5:21). Think of the many times it is said, “Christ died for us.” As the ram was offered up in the stead of Isaac (Gen. 22:13), so Christ was offered instead of us (Eph. 5:2).

I Immutable Saviour (Heb. 7:24).

He is the unchanging One. The same yesterday, to-day, and for ever (Heb. 13:8). The yesterday of the Cross, the to-day at the right hand of God, and the for ever in the glory, find Him unchanging in the intensity of His love, in the preciousness of His promises, in the strength of His power, in the tenderness of His sympathy, in the sufficiency of His grace, and in the longing of His heart. His heart ever beats in love towards us. His hand is ever ready to aid us.

O Only Saviour (Acts 4:12).

There is no other than the Lord Jesus who can meet our need and satisfy the claims of God. As He alone could span over the great gulf which sin had made, by His atoning death, so He alone can bring us from the land of darkness and death into His life, light, and liberty. As the door of the house is the way by which entrance is obtained to it, so Christ is the door through which we enter into the blessing of salvation (John 10:9; 14:6).

U Universal Saviour (John 10:9).

Christ is not a universal Saviour in the sense of saving everybody whether they will or not, but He offers to save “any man”-“whosoever” will accept Him. There is a tradesman in the West-end of London who calls himself “The Universal Provider.” It does not mean that he provides for everyone, but he is willing to do so. In a like manner Christ offers Himself as a Saviour to all, but it is only those who receive Him who know Him as their Saviour.

R Royal Saviour (Luke 2:11).

The Saviour is “Christ the Lord.” He is no mere man; He is Lord of lords, King of kings-very God. He is royal in name, royal in office, royal in nature, royal in speech, royal in action, royal in death, royal in resurrection, royal in ascension, royal in His word, and royal in glory.