'Jesus Saves' - From What?

By David W Hall

The nation of the Jews had been under the iron heel of the Romans for many years. Soldiers bullied them on every corner and publicans collected crippling taxes and grew rich on their takings. They were God's people in the holy land, but they were anything but free. They yearned for the coming of their promised Saviour who, they thought, would set them free from their oppressors.

Then suddenly the promise was there! A virgin called Mary had conceived a baby by the Holy Spirit and would call his name ‘Jesus’, meaning ‘Saviour’, because He would save His people. But here was the surprise. This miracle child had come, not to save God's people from the Romans, but to save them from an even greater enemy. What was this enemy? And is it common to every nation?

Governments are constantly legislating against wrongdoing. Police forces are set up to keep us all in order. Complex systems of accounting, auditing and reporting absorb so much of our attention simply because we cannot trust one another. Legal and social programmes are constantly being formulated trying to improve, or at least regulate, an infinite array of negative situations.

But the core problem remains unchanged. Why? Because the issue rests within the heart of every man and woman, and none is exempt. The problem is the principle of sin.

Sin (as distinct from sins – plural) is not a list of wrongdoings. It is a principle. The apostle Paul calls it the ‘law of sin’, and as such it exercises a power over us. Rom 7:25; John 8:34.

Sin working in us brings its own sense of guilt and condemnation. Commonly, we rationalize our actions and defend ourselves. On the other hand, we may compare ourselves with others saying things like, 'everybody does it', or 'no-one is perfect'. But underlying all, and often hidden in the business of life, is an unconscious sense of insecurity and guilt. Sin alienates us from one another and from God.

The human race was not created this way. God designed us to live as His sons and daughters in a relationship of mutual love and care. Where God’s love is operating there is no sin because love is focused on the benefit of another. Rom 13:10.

So where did sin come from? It was our forefather, Adam, and his wife Eve, who turned away from their loving relationship with God. Rom 5:12. In its place they sought to be independent from God and to maintain their own goodness apart from God. They were soon faced with the stark reality that, without the life and love of God, they had no power over sin. Quickly they felt the pangs of guilt, shame and fear. They died to their relationship with God, being cut off from His life. Independence from God was a poisoned chalice, and we have all since drunk from it.

Deep down, fear and shame now control the human race and are the source of all sorrow, strife and trouble.

This is where the gospel of Jesus Christ is like a light in a dark place. The meaning of the name ‘Jesus’ now rings out across the nations, for ‘He shall save His people from their sins'.

Yes, any of us who come to Jesus Christ can discover in Him the power to conquer sin. Sin’s shame and record can be removed from our lives. This is why Jesus came into the world as the Son of God in flesh. He became a man and took upon Himself the entire sin principle. When He was crucified He destroyed sin, its power, its alienation and guilt. He purchased forgiveness for us so that we can lift our heads and once again look God in the face as His sons and daughters.

Because He died our death, we can reckon that we died with Him there. Then because He rose again from the dead, we know that we can now live His life in Him and for Him. 2 Cor 5:15.
All that remains for us to do is to come to Christ, to identify with Him at the point where He died. We acknowledge our sin to Him (and to those we have wronged), and open up to receive His life within us. We join a new relationship with Him and His people, one where the love of God is flowing in us and to us, and is motivating us every day. The power of sin is replaced with the power of God's life and love. This is nothing short of a miracle, and is what it means to be a genuine Christian.