Yesterday we looked at Jesus as the Word, the Creator, and our Intercessor. Today we will focus on Jesus as our Redeemer, Savior, and Friend.
When man sinned, it caused a division between mankind and God. In Genesis 3:24 God drove Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden after they sinned. No longer would he walk with them in the cool of the day. The sweet fellowship was broken when they yielded to temptation and sinned against their creator.
Genesis 3:24 “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
Because of God’s holiness, he cannot look upon sin and will not be in its presence. This posed an eternal problem for mankind. Separation would be for all eternity unless God planned for redemption. Because of God’s love for mankind that is exactly what He did. John 3:16 makes the plan very clear.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Jesus became the sacrifice needed to redeem us back to God the Father. To redeem means to buy back. We were created by God for God, but we chose our own way and our sin separates us from Him. God’s love made a plan, but Jesus became the means of the plan. Jesus gave His life to redeem us back to God. Jesus is our Redeemer!
Titus 2:14 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
He is also our Savior. A redeemer buys back. A savior saves! A Savior is one who rescues from harm. A Redeemer pays the price necessary to buy salvation for us. He is both Redeemer and Savior at the same time. We are safe from the wrath of God, which is an eternity in Hell, if we continue to place our faith in Him. According to II Peter 2:20, if we get entangled in sin again and allow it to overcome us, to be what governs our life, we will no longer be safe. Jesus will no longer be our Savior! We will be worse off than we were before we were ever saved. Before we were saved there was still hope after we have trampled our faith there is no more hope. Jesus alone is the only one who can save us. Jesus is our Savior.
I Timothy 4:10 “For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe.”
II Peter 2:20 “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”
Jesus is our friend. A friend is someone who cares about you and what is best for you. They listen to you and do all they can to help you. Jesus goes far beyond what we require of a friend. He cared enough for us that he laid down His life for us. He knows what is best for us and provided a way for us to acquire what is best for us. His death and resurrection secured Heaven to all who will believe in Him and live in obedience to Him. He calls us His friend in John 15:15. I find it very humbling that the King of Kings calls me His friend. We are to serve Him because we love Him, but He does not classify us as servants but as a friend. We can have a very intimate relationship with Him. He listens to our prayers and He answers our prayers. John 15:13 teaches us that He exhibited the greatest show of love from one friend to another. The laying down of ones’ life is the ultimate show of friendship. John 15:14 we remain His friends if we do His commands. Wow, the old song “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” says it so well.
“What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear, What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” He is always there listening and caring. His line is never busy, and we will never be put on hold. He does not delay in listening to our messages or reading our text. He is the best friend we will ever have, and He wants us to depend on Him.
John 15:15 “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:14 “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Jesus is Redeemer, Savior, and my Friend! I am so very thankful He is all this, and so much more to me.
Excellent