The name Jesus means “Saviour,” that is, One who saves us from our sins. Surely no one will deny that our greatest need in this world is Someone who can save us from our sins, because we are all sinners by birth; we are born sinners. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalms 51:5). Not only are we sinners by birth, but also we are sinners by thought, for the Bible says so, “From within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts” (Mark 7:21). Also, we are sinners by practice, that is to say, we are sinners because we actually commit sin. We have not only the ROOT of sin within us, but the FRUIT of sin is shown in our evil doings. This is true not only of a few people, but of people all over the world. “All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6). “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It follows therefore, that all are equally in need of salvation, whether the least sinful or the most sinful. The strongest swimmer as well as the beginner in swimming are both helpless to swim across the Atlantic Ocean. Compared to God’s standard of holiness, the gradations of natural goodness are like the varying elevations of the hills and mountains as against the distance from the earth to the stars measured in thousands of light years. Man is absolutely helpless to save himself from sin; his religion cannot save him. That is why he needs a Saviour who can save him from his sins. The Lord Jesus is the only Saviour Who can save him.
FIRST, we need a Saviour Who can save us from the PENALTY OF SIN.
Sin incurs penalty, and the penalty, or the wages of sin, is death (Romans 6:23). Because we are all sinners, we are all guilty before God, and if the penalty of sin is not paid, we must remain condemned, not by man, but by God Who is Holy and Just, and One Who hates sin. There is absolutely nothing we can do for ourselves or by ourselves to remove the penalty of sin. So we need a Saviour Who can save us from the penalty of our sins by bearing it upon the cruel cross. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6).
SECONDLY, we need to be saved from the POLLUTION OF SIN.
Sin causes stains; our hearts are unclean and defiled because of sin. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; all these evil things come from within and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23).
Only the Blood of Lord Jesus Christ, which He shed upon the cross, has the power to cleanse us from the defilement and the pollution of our sins. In pouring out His blood upon the cross of Calvary, He poured out His life on our behalf. “And without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). “And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
THIRDLY, we need a Saviour to save us from the POWER OF SIN.
Sin is too strong for us; we have absolutely no power or strength of our own to meet and overcome the damaging power of sin within us, that is, sins of the flesh and of the mind. We need a Saviour Who is greater than ourselves and apart from ourselves, can and will come and save us, not only from the PENALTY and POLLUTION, but also from the POWER OF SIN. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). We must then willingly receive Him by faith into our hearts. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12). Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him…” (Revelation 3:20). Yes, wonder of wonders, He comes into us and makes our bodies His dwelling place. He gives us power to overcome every sin through His Holy Spirit who dwells in us. “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8).
FINALLY, we shall be saved from the very PRESENCE OF SIN.
At this moment our Lord Jesus Christ is alive and is sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and “He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). He is coming again according to His promise in John 14:3. “I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also,” and “when we shall see Him, we shall also be like Him” (1 John 3:2). Yes, praise the Lord, then we shall, by His grace, be changed into His very image and likeness.
Dear Reader, can you truthfully and honestly say that you have been saved from the PENALTY, the POLLUTION, and the POWER OF SIN? If not, let this day be the day of your decision to first repent of your sins, receive the Lord Jesus into your heart, and obey Him. He will then fill your heart with His joy and peace that passeth all understanding, and you will be with Him forevermore when He comes again very soon, that we all may be with Him where He is forever and ever. AMEN.