Jesus is THE Savior: What Does This Mean?

The Savior of the World

We live in a world that boasts of freedom of religion. This world will seemingly tolerate any who do not claim exclusivity. Yet, truth cannot be ignored for tolerance. Truth, by its very nature, is exclusive. Jesus is not “a” savior. He is not one amongst many. Jesus is “THE” Savior.

What does it mean that Jesus is THE Savior? The definite article “THE” means that Jesus is the one and only Savior. He is the only one who can reconcile sinful humanity to God. After Jesus died on the cross under the wrath of God for the sin of the world, He was raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of the Father (Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 10:12-13). In the exaltation of Christ Jesus, God has made Him both Lord and Savior (Acts 2:36). He is therefore Lord and Savior, not just of Judaism and Christianity, but is the Savior of the entire created world (1 Timothy 4:10). We must note that this does not mean that all are saved automatically or apart from their faith in Christ. While Jesus is the Savior who is able to save all, only those who put their faith in this Savior will be saved on the day when God’s righteous wrath is revealed.

This truth should not be glanced over lightly. Our eternity depends on how we affirm this statement: Jesus is THE Savior. Let us spend some more time dwelling on this truth.

To understand why we need the Savior see our articles:

“THE” — The Definite Article

There are many in the world, especially in America, that will say: “truth is relative,” or “there is no such thing as absolute truth.” Those who say this don’t really believe it fully. They need absolute truth to affirm those very statements since they are absolute statements! They will also affirm:

2+2 always equals 4 and not 3, 5, 7, or 192.
when snow falls it is always white
the sun and oxygen are necessary for life
female chickens lay eggs

These are all absolute truths. They are not relative. They are truths to be affirmed. You would be considered foolish if you denied them.

The attempt to deny the existence of absolute truth relies upon the existence of absolute truth. When someone says, “there is no such thing as absolute truth,” they are making a statement that they believe is true in an absolute sense in their attempt to deny it. It’s like saying, “I do not exist.” You must exist in order to make the statement. Therefore it cannot be accurate. The statement itself is self-defeating. In the same way, for the statement “there is no absolute truth” to be accurate, there must be at least one absolute truth (the statement itself), which immediately makes the statement nonsense.

Absolute Truth

Absolute truth exists. A strong case can be made that all truth is absolute; even things that we consider relative truths are absolute, too. If I say my favorite color is orange, you may think that is a relative truth. Yet, it is true for all people, in all places, at all times, and in all contexts that my favorite color is orange. It may not be relevant or interesting to anyone but me, but that does not mean it isn’t absolute. In the same way, if you and I are sitting together in the same room and you say, “I feel warm,” while I say, “I feel cold,” these truths are not only relative, either. In an absolute sense, for all people, in all places, at all times, it is true that the room is a certain temperature and we experience that temperature differently. Our experience of the truth has elements of subjectivity, but the truth remains absolute in every case.

Somehow, when it comes to religious beliefs we throw logic out. People begin to say, “that’s your truth, not mine.” Or, with religion there’s no “absolute truth.” This is foolishness. Just as it is foolish to say that roosters lay eggs, it is foolish to say that religious truth is merely relative and not absolute.

The testimony of creation declares that there is an eternal God (Romans 1:20). This God is the God of the Bible. We can know this absolutely because God has proven it in His faithfulness. This is not just true for those who believe it. It is true for the whole world.

For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. 1 Timothy 4:10, bold added

Notice the Scripture does not say “a” Savior of all men. It says “the” Savior of all men. God has provided men, the Savior, Jesus. There are not many ways to heaven, there is only one:

Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6, bold added

Again God is crystal clear on this. Jesus is “the” way, truth, and life. He is the only Savior. No one will stand before God the Father unless they come through the Savior, Jesus.

As with all truth, you can live in denial and/or in ignorance of it. With some truths, the consequences of being unaware or uncaring toward it are minimal. An example of this is with the number of hats in Vermont. There is a fact of the matter, but it probably doesn’t make any difference to you whether you know it or not. But the truth remains truth whether we believe it and acknowledge it or not. With other truths, the consequences are more serious. Failing to understand the truths of physics can be a matter of life and death if you get too close to the edge of a cliff. Likewise, believing or not believing the truth that God has testified regarding His Son has eternal implications. Our belief or lack of belief does not change the truth but it can change us.

For More on Truth

For those who enjoy more in-depth discussion on Truth (epistemology), I recommend Dr. Norman Geisler’s work. His chapter, “Truth: The Epistemological Precondition,” in volume 1 of his Systematic Theology is excellent. I have the 4 Volume set on my shelf but if you’d like to save space (and spend a lot more money) he also has a 1 volume version. Many may not enjoy his blending of philosophy and theology but for those that appreciate that approach, I’ve not found anyone who does it better, in my opinion.

The Evidence

Anyone can make a claim that they are the Savior. What is it that sets Jesus apart? How do we know that He is “THE Savior” of the world? We know this to be true from the testimony of the Scriptures. Jesus says,

“If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true. You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.” (John 5:31-36, bold added)

The very works that Jesus did while on earth are a testimony to Him. A declaration that Jesus is who He said He was, the Lamb of God, the Savior of the world. Jesus did many miracles:

Gave sight to the blind
Gave hearing to the deaf
Cleansed the lepers
Healed the sick
Gave mobility to the lame
Raised the dead

All of these are incredible miracles. None of them could be done apart from God. Yet, the greatest of all evidences that Jesus is both Lord and Savior is in His resurrection and exaltation.

“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31, bold added)

There have been many men recorded in history that have performed miracles. All of them died. Only one of them has risen from the dead, never to die again. That one is Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus the Christ was crucified by the hands of the Romans. Died under the wrath of God for the sin of the world. Was raised from the dead on the third day. Seen by many on earth. Ascended to the right hand of the Majesty on High where He is now Lord and Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

For more on the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus, see our articles:

The Savior Of All

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36, bold added)

The resurrection of Christ Jesus from the dead is a declaration from God Himself that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ. This is not something we do. We don’t have that authority. We can either acknowledge what God has done by believing His testimony or we can reject it and continue in unbelief. Either way, the truth remains that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ. This is a truth that can be known for certain.

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11, bold added)

While some may continue in unbelief for a time, there is a day coming when all knees will bow and every tongue will confess this truth. Sadly, many will persist in their rebellion against our gracious King until they stand before Him on judgment day. Although they will see the truth plainly and clearly on that day, and although they will acknowledge that Jesus is both Lord and Christ, they will have missed the opportunity for salvation and will perish under the wrath of God because they spurned the Savior and died in their sins.

For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. (1 Timothy 4:10, bold added)

For those who have believed upon Christ, we fix our hope on the living God and the Savior that He has put forth. We trust that this Savior is able to save us and all who believe upon Him for salvation.

The Scriptures above are clear. Jesus is Lord over every man from every tribe, tongue, peoples, and nations. There is no one who will not bow to Him eventually. There are none who are outside of His domain. He is Lord over all!

Jesus, who is Lord over all, is also Savior to all. Acts 2:36 says He is both Lord and Savior. First Timothy 4:10 says He is the Savior of all men. Jesus is not Lord of all and the Savior of some. He is the Lord and the Savior of all men everywhere. What a great and glorious truth this is!

Yet, Jesus is especially the Savior of those who believe! God’s kindness, which allows sinful man to draw breath on this earth, is meant to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4). One day this kindness will run out. We will die and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a). But, “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). The free gift is received only by those who believe in Jesus and confess that He is THE Savior. Only those who repent and believe will be saved from the wrath to come on the Day of Judgment. Praise God!

For those who persist in their rebellion and disbelief there will only be wrath and condemnation. The gospel of the kingdom of God extends its hands wide for all to receive eternal life in Christ. The invitation for all sinful men is to call upon the name of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be saved!

Have you called upon the name of the Lord?

For more on this see our article, Christ Our Refuge.