JESUS IS MORE THAN A SAVIOR
By W. G. Guy
The evangelical church community preaches Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, which is a true fact. The term “savior” is used to identify the one who saves us from the penalty of sin, which is spiritual death by eternal separation from God, along with all that God intended for man to have in relationship and fellowship with Him.
However, most evangelical Christians fail to realize that Jesus is so much more than our Savior. As stated eighteen times in scripture, He is our redeemer. A redeemer pays a debt to fully restore what was lost. To restore means to return to the former or original state. What does it mean to be fully restored to the original state?
To answer this question we must recognize what was the original state of mankind when God first created him.
Genesis 1:27-28 – So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Man was God’s choice to put in charge and rule over the earth as His appointed one, having replaced Lucifer (the devil). Lucifer previously was in charge of the earth as the “anoint cherub that covered”: he lost that position after he rebelled and wanted to be god – (Isaiah 14:12-14. (I have previously written on Lucifer’s failure).
The average Christian fails to recognize what Adam was like before sin entered into the situation. God made man in His own image and likeness. That means that God put of Himself into man.
Genesis 2:27 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Adam had all the character and nature of God in him. Adam also had a close, personal and intimate fellowship with God.
Genesis 2:19-20 – And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field;
Obviously Adam had great knowledge and intelligence to do all this. All of this along with the character and nature of God in Adam was lost due to sin, and that original sin was not by the man Adam, but by the woman, who was also called Adam by God because she came from the man.
Genesis 2:20-23 – but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Adam named her Eve, but it was God that called her Adam also,
Genesis 3:20 – And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Genesis 5:2 – male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
The original sin came through the woman who, being tempted, committed and act of lust.
1 Timothy 1:13-14 – For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Eve committed and act of lust, but Adam committed and act of love. He did this by taking upon himself the responsibility for her disobedience, and purposely ate the forbidden fruit so that God could enact the plan of blood atonement for sin
that he now took upon himself. This allowed God to begin establishing the blood offering to atone for sin by making skins to cover them.
Genesis 3:21 – Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Where did the skins come from? From the sacrificial lambs or goats that God killed on their behalf. Remember, the plan of redemption by blood was established before the foundation of the world’s human system.
Ephesians 1:4-5 – according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
What Adam did for his wife mirrors what Jesus did to make atonement for for all of us sinners. Adam is therefor referred to as a shadow, or type of Christ.
Romans 5:14 – Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Consider that Adam and Jesus both came from the same source and were made in the same image and likeness. The only difference was that Adam was made a living soul, but Jesus was made a “quickening spirit”.
1 Corinthians 15:44b-46 – ….There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening (life giving) spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
Now let’s focus on Jesus and why He is more than a Savior because of what He did for us: He is our Redeemer. Jesus brings to us total redemption! What is total redemption? As stated in the beginning of this article; “A redeemer pays a debt to fully restore what was lost, back to the way it was at the beginning. To restore means to return to the former or original state. What does it mean for man to be fully restored to the original state?”
What was the original state of Adam when God fashioned him from the dust of the earth and put His Spirit within him? Adam was formed in righteousness and holiness, with the very image of God showing in him. That righteous and perfect state of being is what Jesus restores to us; but too few of us realize this fact. This restoration should be referred to as TOTAL REDEPTION!
Not only is true righteousness restored through Christ, but so is the defiled and corrupt flesh and soul of each of us. This is clearly stated by the prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 53:4-5 – surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgression, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of out peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
This passage of redemption covers the outward man where Jesus made provision for our total being – spirit, soul and body. This provides for the regeneration of our spirit by new birth, (being born of the spirit); then restoring our soul (mind) by renewing; and also the healing our corruptible bodies which can be injured, diseased and sickened. Righteousness is also restored to us; because as we receive Him we receive His righteousness.
1 Corinthians 1:30 – But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
But there is so much more that we received of Christ as we mature in the spirit and look forward to His coming and the resurrection.
This is detailed in 1 Corinthians 15 regarding our resurrected bodies: sown in corruption, but resurrected in incorruption – totally redeemed and restored to original state and righteous.
1 Corinthians 15:42-49 – So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Jesus) was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
The image of the heavenly means to be totally restored to the original as God made man! This is what Jesus has provided for us. Thus He is not only our Savior, but our REDEEMER who has made available to us TOTAL RESTORATION for what was lost in the garden due to sin.
Romans 5:1-5 – Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Knowing what the LORD our God has provided for us, let us now continue to hold fast our faith in Him; regardless of what this vile world and the devil throws at us.
1 John 3:2-3 – Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (Now here comes the reason that we must continue to live by faith and obedience to Him.) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
In addition, Jesus is also our intercessor who takes our requests to the Father for us. Then He gave us the use of His name which has all power in heaven and on earth. Thus Jesus is more than just our Savior! He is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. He is also the RESURRECTION and the LIFE. He is our Total Redeemer, and the Son of God!
JESUS IS MORE THAN A SAVIOR
By W. G. Guy
The evangelical church community preaches Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, which is a true fact. The term “savior” is used to identify the one who saves us from the penalty of sin, which is spiritual death by eternal separation from God, along with all that God intended for man to have in relationship and fellowship with Him.
However, most evangelical Christians fail to realize that Jesus is so much more than our Savior. As stated eighteen times in scripture, He is our redeemer. A redeemer pays a debt to fully restore what was lost. To restore means to return to the former or original state. What does it mean to be fully restored to the original state?
To answer this question we must recognize what was the original state of mankind when God first created him.
Genesis 1:27-28 – So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Man was God’s choice to put in charge and rule over the earth as His appointed one, having replaced Lucifer (the devil). Lucifer previously was in charge of the earth as the “anoint cherub that covered”: he lost that position after he rebelled and wanted to be god – (Isaiah 14:12-14. (I have previously written on Lucifer’s failure).
The average Christian fails to recognize what Adam was like before sin entered into the situation. God made man in His own image and likeness. That means that God put of Himself into man.
Genesis 2:27 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Adam had all the character and nature of God in him. Adam also had a close, personal and intimate fellowship with God.
Genesis 2:19-20 – And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field;
Obviously Adam had great knowledge and intelligence to do all this. All of this along with the character and nature of God in Adam was lost due to sin, and that original sin was not by the man Adam, but by the woman, who was also called Adam by God because she came from the man.
Genesis 2:20-23 – but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Adam named her Eve, but it was God that called her Adam also,
Genesis 3:20 – And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Genesis 5:2 – male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
The original sin came through the woman who, being tempted, committed and act of lust.
1 Timothy 1:13-14 – For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Eve committed and act of lust, but Adam committed and act of love. He did this by taking upon himself the responsibility for her disobedience, and purposely ate the forbidden fruit so that God could enact the plan of blood atonement for sin
that he now took upon himself. This allowed God to begin establishing the blood offering to atone for sin by making skins to cover them.
Genesis 3:21 – Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Where did the skins come from? From the sacrificial lambs or goats that God killed on their behalf. Remember, the plan of redemption by blood was established before the foundation of the world’s human system.
Ephesians 1:4-5 – according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
What Adam did for his wife mirrors what Jesus did to make atonement for for all of us sinners. Adam is therefor referred to as a shadow, or type of Christ.
Romans 5:14 – Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Consider that Adam and Jesus both came from the same source and were made in the same image and likeness. The only difference was that Adam was made a living soul, but Jesus was made a “quickening spirit”.
1 Corinthians 15:44b-46 – ….There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening (life giving) spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
Now let’s focus on Jesus and why He is more than a Savior because of what He did for us: He is our Redeemer. Jesus brings to us total redemption! What is total redemption? As stated in the beginning of this article; “A redeemer pays a debt to fully restore what was lost, back to the way it was at the beginning. To restore means to return to the former or original state. What does it mean for man to be fully restored to the original state?”
What was the original state of Adam when God fashioned him from the dust of the earth and put His Spirit within him? Adam was formed in righteousness and holiness, with the very image of God showing in him. That righteous and perfect state of being is what Jesus restores to us; but too few of us realize this fact. This restoration should be referred to as TOTAL REDEPTION!
Not only is true righteousness restored through Christ, but so is the defiled and corrupt flesh and soul of each of us. This is clearly stated by the prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 53:4-5 – surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgression, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of out peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
This passage of redemption covers the outward man where Jesus made provision for our total being – spirit, soul and body. This provides for the regeneration of our spirit by new birth, (being born of the spirit); then restoring our soul (mind) by renewing; and also the healing our corruptible bodies which can be injured, diseased and sickened. Righteousness is also restored to us; because as we receive Him we receive His righteousness.
1 Corinthians 1:30 – But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
But there is so much more that we received of Christ as we mature in the spirit and look forward to His coming and the resurrection.
This is detailed in 1 Corinthians 15 regarding our resurrected bodies: sown in corruption, but resurrected in incorruption – totally redeemed and restored to original state and righteous.
1 Corinthians 15:42-49 – So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Jesus) was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
The image of the heavenly means to be totally restored to the original as God made man! This is what Jesus has provided for us. Thus He is not only our Savior, but our REDEEMER who has made available to us TOTAL RESTORATION for what was lost in the garden due to sin.
Romans 5:1-5 – Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Knowing what the LORD our God has provided for us, let us now continue to hold fast our faith in Him; regardless of what this vile world and the devil throws at us.
1 John 3:2-3 – Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (Now here comes the reason that we must continue to live by faith and obedience to Him.) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
In addition, Jesus is also our intercessor who takes our requests to the Father for us. Then He gave us the use of His name which has all power in heaven and on earth. Thus Jesus is more than just our Savior! He is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. He is also the RESURRECTION and the LIFE. He is our Total Redeemer, and the Son of God!
