12-6-20 Sermon Notes “Christ the Savior”

Each Sunday in Advent, and each Wednesday night in our Advent Bible Study, we will be exploring the “Incarnation.” Why did God come to us in Jesus? What was the purpose of the incarnation? What does all that have to do with us today? We will consider the names of Jesus to help us understand these questions. The first Sunday of Advent we looked at Jesus’ royal titles: Messiah, and King. This coming week we will focus on Christ the Savior.

When the angel came to Mary, he told her that she would have a son who would be the “Son of the Most High,” and who would receive the “throne of his ancestor, David.” “Of his kingdom there will be no end,” the angel to Mary. Christ the King!

In this week’s Scripture, the angel comes to Joseph and tells him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife.

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1: 18-21 NRSV)

His name will be Jesus…for he will save his people from their sins. Jesus…the very name means, “God saves.” Christ the Savior! What does it mean to be “saved?” Who needs “saving?” Saying that Jesus is Savior implies that there is something from which we need to be saved…that maybe we don’t have everything all worked out on our own. When I think salvation on a personal level, I remember an old D.C. Talk song. Here are some of the lyrics…

I keep trying to find a life
On my own apart from you
I am the king of excuses
I’ve got one for every selfish thing I do

What’s going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I’m still a man in need of a Savior

Why does my mind go to this song? I think it’s because I know that I’m still a man in need of a Savior. Join us Sunday for worship, and let’s all consider what it means that Christ is God’s salvation, provided for us.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Sam