Jesus: Sent to be the Savior of the World

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. (1 John 5:14)

All the sons of Adam have corrupted themselves and rendered themselves unfit for the Master's use. There is "none righteous, no not one" (Rom 3:10) says the Scriptures. Yet in order to accomplish His purpose, God needed one to intercede for this fallen race. He need a man in order to save man. But, "He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him" (Isa 59:16). In other words, "the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world."

What it means to be "the Savior of the world" is determined by at least two things: 1) the requirements of the Father and 2) the condition of the lost. The Savior will accomplish the will of the Father when no one else could, thereby delivering the lost from their certain condemnation.

The Will of the Father. God's will is loftier than any thought of man could have ever conceived. To this day the wisdom of men, abounding in philosophy and speculations about God, has not yet come to know God or what He has purposed in the earth. But God is not pleased with this ignorance. He is a revealer of secrets and He desires to make His will known. So, though His will "in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men," it has now been "revealed to His apostles and prophets in the Spirit" (Eph 3:5).

God has revealed that His will is eternal. It is called an "eternal purpose" (Eph 3:11) that was resolved before the world began and has been manifested in these last days. It is a will that has determined every action of God. He is working "all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph 1:11).

His will or purpose involves men being conformed into His image (Rom 8:29) - God is righteous and His people must be as well. His will involves delivering us from this present evil world (Gal 1:4) - this world must give way to the world to come. His will involves making us to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (Col 4:12) - there will be no unfinished projects in heaven. Christ's apostle's have declared that "this is the will of God for you, your santification" (1 Th 4:3) - all things that offend are excluded from God's presence.

Now, these are lofty tasks, to be sure, but they are quite necessary if man is going to dwell forever in the tabernacle of God. That being said, salvation involves the accomplishing of this will. No one can lay a claim to salvation if God's desires and demands are not satisfied. Men are going to need a Savior in order to fulfill this purpose of God and Jesus is equal to the task. He is "the Savior of all men" (1 Tim 4:10) and was, for this purpose, sent into the world. Thus, the culmination of God's purpose comes when all things are gathered together in Christ (Eph 1:10) resulting in "the praise of the glory of His grace" (Eph 1:6).

The Condition of Man. In order to understand why Jesus was sent to be the Savior of the world we must also consider how inadequate is the race of man. Why did we need Another to do the will of the Father for us? Why couldn't we do it ourselves? Were we really that bad? Could we not save ourselves? "And Jesus looking upon them saith, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible'" (Mt 10:27). We needed a Savior.

Salvation is not possible with men because of how far men have fallen in sin. The affect of sin can never be overstated. As a result of sin, all have "come short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). Man is "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1). He is "foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another" (Tit 3:3). He is not "good" or "righteous;" he does not understand or seek God; he is unprofitable and out of the way; his way is one of destruction and misery he does not fear God and his mouth is stopped and he is guilty before God; he is under sin (Romans 3:9-19). Man is not good and getting better; he is bad and getting worse.

Now, it is going to take Savior to correct this condition. It is going to take One who can deliver men from this present evil world that drew them away from their God (Gal 1:4). It is going to take One who is able to bring such corrupt people even up to glory (Heb 2:10); One who is able to raise them out of the dust and out of the dunghill, to set them among princes (Ps 113:7-8). It is going to take One who is able to bring those alienated from God into fellowship with Him (1 Pet 3:18). It is going to take One who would be able to present them before God as holy, blameless, without spot or wrinkle (2 Tim 1:9) AND keep them from falling before they get there (Jude 24). In short, they need One who is able to save them. Jesus is such a One.

Conclusion. Men are not free to speculate or philosophize about why Jesus came into the world. He came because the Father sent Him (Jn 5:23,30,36,37 etc). He was not sent to be an example for us, although He is. He was not sent to solve all of our problems, although He often does. He was not sent to stamp out a corrupt government, bring financial peace, or be your family counselor. Those things are too small. Jesus came because He was sent to be the Savior of the world. "...And thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins" (Mt 1:21).