What is a Savior?

      Savior.

Noun.

1.     person who saves, rescues or delivers

To me, all of these words seem dry; I’ve heard them too many times, to the point where their definitions hardly register. So the lets look into the first word...SAVE.

      Save.

            Verb.

1.     rescue from danger or possible harm;

2.     to safeguard

3.     to keep from being lost

When reading this definition, I placed myself as the object requiring salvation and this perception made the words register in quite a different way. To think that there’s a presence, a person, a Lord that is my safeguard; watching over me and my life to keep me from harm and from going astray into the lost, that’s powerful.

“She will bear a son, you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Matthew 1:21 is one of the more popular verses of the Christmas season. It’s describing the calling that Mary, Jesus’ mother received from the angel of the Lord. It’s a verse that I’ve honestly ignored for the latter part of my life, but now see with new eyes. God chose the name Jesus for Mary’s son because Jesus in the Hebrew language is Yeshua’. Yeshua’ in Hebrew translates to salvation/deliverance/state of being made free from distress. Reread the verse with that in mind. God while naming His son, named him by the description of what His life would be. "She will bear a son, you shall call his name SALVATION/SAVIOR, for he will save his people from their sins. " Boom. That's incredible. 

It’s so important that while studying what the word, savior, means that we also study the fact that Christ saved us simply because that’s how God planned to rescue us from our sin, not because we deserved it at all. This is clearly stated and shown in Titus 3:4-7.

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

How lucky are we that by simply believing, not only are we SAVED from this world and from our sins and have someone constantly watching over us, we are also brought into that same Savior’s family forever. He calls us and loves us like we are His sons and daughters, because we are! #winning

The only person in this life who is truly able to save us and provide salvation for our life is Christ. So often I have to remind myself of this truth; my talents, passions, relationships wont provide me with salvation. This is only found in the One who was named as our salvation, Jesus. 

Here are some other verses that coincide with the word Savior and who our Savior is:

“For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God who is Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” 1 Timothy 4:10

“I, I am the Lord and besides me there is no Savior.” Isaiah 43:11

“When they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a Savior and defender, and deliver them.” Isaiah 19:20

Ps. 106:21, Hos. 13:4, John 4:42, Jude 1:25

Reflection questions:

What do you first turn to when something goes wrong within your day/life? Is that the object of your salvation?

What does it mean to YOU to know that there is an almighty, all-knowing, and forever good God that is your PERSONAL, daily, SAVIOR?

Written by Meredith Poole