February 14, 2004

THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD

"We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world" (1 John 4:14, NIV).

The people of Samaria were so deeply impressed by Christ's message to the woman of Sychar that they publicly confessed their saving faith in Him as the Saviour of the world. When Christ initiated His conversation with the woman at the well, she first saw Him merely as a Jew (see John 4:9); then she saw Him in a radically different light. He was no longer only a Jew, but Christ the Saviour of the world. To the people of this Samaritan village, the Messiah was no longer either Jewish or Samaritan; He belonged to the whole world. Their new message was unequivocal: "We know that this man really is the Savior of the world" (John 4:42, NIV).

This is the good news of the gospel, Salvation is available for all because "all have sinned" (Romans 3:23). The message of Scripture is that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15, NIV). Since sin is universal, God in His master plan provided a universal Saviour. All who come to Him in faith are assured of everlasting life (see John 3:16). Moreover, He is able to "save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him" (Hebrews 7:25).

As Saviour of the world, Christ is universal as well as personal. He saves to the uttermost. Jesus was born as the Saviour (see Luke 2:11); He died as the Saviour of the world; He intercedes as our able Saviour (see Hebrews 7:25); and He is coming back as a Saviour to those who look for Him (see Hebrews 9:28). May we make the Saviour of the world our personal Saviour today. "As a personal Saviour He [Jesus] intercedes in the heavenly courts."--Education, p. 132.

My Prayer Today: Lord, I reaffirm my faith in Christ, the Saviour of the world. May He ever be my personal Saviour. Amen.