The angels who gave the word to Mary and later Joseph made it clear that Jesus was coming for a unique purpose.
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21
This is what the angel said to Joseph in a dream while he considered breaking off the marriage with Mary. Mary also received a similar angelic message.
HE WILL
These two words of affirmation state that Jesus and no one else can save us. The angel did not say Jesus was one of many. It is an emphatic "He," as in he who is the doer. It is not just an identifying he, but he, above all others. He alone is able, worthy, and qualified to bring salvation.
Jesus is the one above all the others. When John baptized him, "A voice from heaven (God) said, this is my son in whom I love; with him, I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17). Jesus stilled the storms, fed thousands with a few pieces of fish and bread, raised the dead, healed the sick, walked on water, knew the thoughts of others, cast out demons, gave sight to the blind, and spoke with love and compassion. Peter said, "You are the Christ the son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16), the guards who were sent to arrest him returned empty-handed saying, "No one ever spoke like this man," (John 7:46). Pontius Pilate declared, "I find no fault in this man" (Luke 23:4), the centurion who witnessed his death said, "Surely he was the son of God." (Matthew 27:54). His death was accompanied by an earthquake, darkness, the opening of tombs, and resurrections of righteous contemporaries. He rose from the grave on the third day by his own power having conquered sin and death.
SAVE
This is absolute. The Bible always teaches salvation is sure- either you are or you are not one of his people.
If there is salvation then logically there is something to be saved from. To be saved is to be rescued, redeemed, or ransomed. We as people need to be saved from our sin and its consequences both eternally and here in this life. Our sin, the wrongs we do against God and people, demands judgment. God must judge in a holy way or else be guilty by compliance and association, which would mean evil will triumph, but Christ was sinless and was thereby qualified to stand in our stead and take our judgment upon himself thereby he satisfied justice and God's perfect holiness.
HIS PEOPLE
You might think the angel was speaking about a savior for Israel, but his people are not only Israel they are from every family, tribe, and tongue. When you trust in Jesus and the death he died to pay for your sins then among other blessings you become one of his. You belong to Jesus and are part of his community.
FROM THEIR SINS
If there is salvation then logically there is something to be saved from. To be saved is to be rescued, redeemed, or ransomed. We all sin in some way to some degree, and all sin, big and small must be paid for, but Jesus took all sin from every human being and endured its punishment.
THAT IS JUST THE BEGINNING
When you receive the salvation he offers you become one of his people, and part of his kingdom of love and reconciliation. You become a new person in him and have a new eternity.
Salvation as a free gift paid for by his death, but the choice is ours to receive it.
If you want to learn more about how to receive eternal life see the tab above for the gospel.
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(c) Adron
