Lessons from Scouting Days
I have many fond memories of being a boy scout. There were 10-mile hikes through beautiful forests that ended in a refreshing swim in a cool spring, nights of camping under clear, star-filled skies, the fun of learning to swim and rescue others at summer camp.
I recently looked through my old scout handbook and found this:
“A boy who doesn’t know first aid is of little use when someone is hurt. A boy who can’t swim has little chance to rescue a drowning person. As a Scout you will know what to do–and do it. “
Referring to a distinguished scout award: “This is not earned by just rescuing someone–it is given only if the deed required real heroism and was done at the risk of the Scout’s own life.”
Jesus Christ Rescued Us
God sent His Son Jesus Christ to rescue us. He did it at the cost of his own life. He has been awarded the highest honor for his selfless service.
Colossians 1:13:
Who hath delivered [rhuomai, to rescue] us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom [by the sacrifice and accomplishments] of his dear Son.
Galatians 1:13,14:
…our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.
Philippians 2:8,9:
[Jesus Christ]…humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.
God Our Savior Sent “the savior”
God the Creator is now our Father through what Jesus Christ accomplished for us. We have only one God, the Father. He is the Source of all good things. And all of those good things come to us through His Son, Jesus Christ our lord. That includes salvation.
I Corinthians 8:6:
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of [ek, out of ] whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by [dia, by means of] whom are all things, and we by [dia, by means of] him.
When Adam fell, he lost his spiritual connection with his Creator. God promised to send a “seed” of the woman (Genesis 3:15) who would crush the serpent’s head. This promised seed would be the “anointed” one (“Messiah” in Hebrew and “Christ” in Greek). He would redeem mankind and make it available for man to be born of again of God’s spirit. Man would once again through Christ have body, soul, and spirit—making him “saved” and complete.
Therefore God is our Savior. He brought our salvation by sending a redeemer. Jesus Christ is our savior. He carried out everything necessary so that people could be born again of God’s spirit. God, the Father, is the source of salvation (ek, out of Him), and Jesus Christ is the one who accomplished our salvation (dia, by means of him). Both are called “savior” in the Bible.
God as Our Savior
Luke 1:47:
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Mary rejoiced in God, her Savior. She knew that He had put life into her womb so that the promised Messiah could be born. She knew that God made her whole and complete to bear His Son.
Two of Paul’s closest fellow-laborers were Timothy and Titus. These young men supported Paul in his ministry and helped the early church grow and prosper. When writing to encourage them, Paul often reminded them that it was God Who saved them through His Son Jesus Christ.
I Timothy 1:1:
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.
I Timothy 2:3:
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.
I Timothy 4:10:
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Titus 1:3:
But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour.
Titus 2:10:
Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Titus 3:4:
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.
Jude also knew that God is our Savior. Our Father is glorious, majestic, powerful, and able to save us to the uttermost.
Jude 1:25:
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jesus Christ Our Savior
God, as a proud Father, sent angels to announce the birth of His Son.
Luke 2:11:
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
This child would be the Christ, the Messiah, and lord because God gave him the authority. Jesus Christ is the savior of the world.
John 4:42:
And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
After spending two days with Jesus, the Samaritans recognized him as the Messiah, the world’s savior.
Acts 5:31:
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince [first in position and authority] and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
God, as Savior, exalted Jesus Christ to a position of authority so that he could save mankind and bring forgiveness of sins.
Acts 13:23:
Of this man’s [David’s] seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.
Jesus Christ was of the line of David through his mother, Mary. God, his Father, raised up Jesus to be a savior.
Ephesians 5:23:
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
God raised Christ from the dead, made him alive, and seated him at His right hand. Now Christ is the head of the church—all who are born again. We each have “Christ in” us and are made whole by what he has done for us. He is the savior of the body.
Philippians 3:20:
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Not only are we saved by Jesus Christ now, we also have the hope of complete salvation in the future. When he returns, we will each have a spiritual body, like unto his glorious body.
Paul described to Timothy and Titus how God, our Savior, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our savior.
II Timothy 1:10:
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Titus 1:4:
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Titus 2:13:
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and [also] our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Titus 3:4-6:
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost [new birth by the gift of holy spirit];
Which he shed on us abundantly through [dia, by means of] Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Peter and John were two of Jesus’ closest disciples. They declared him to be the savior.
II Peter 1:1:
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
II Peter 1:11:
For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
II Peter 2:20:
…through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ….
II Peter 3:2:
That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.
II Peter 3:18:
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
I John 4:14:
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Today we boldly testify that the Father, our Savior, sent His Son to be the savior of the world! And we thank God for giving us His Son, so that we might be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth.
