:: Transcript - "A Whole Savior"

Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Speaker: Homero Paredes (USA)
Key Text: Matthew 1:21

Beloved Brethren, delegates from the 20th GC delegation session. We stop our business to make a special meditation on the Word of God. I invite you to open your Bibles to Matthew 1:21. Here we find the announcement of the greatest gift that can be given to anyone. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

This text describes our Savior, my Savior, Jesus Christ, the greatest gift ever given to mankind. In Luke 2:10 is described the same scenario, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” The greatest news ever given—there is a Savior to mankind.

Many years before the prophets described the coming of the Messiah. They spoke about God being made flesh. For example, Zechariah 13:1 says that “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”

This is the greatest news we have ever heard—the news that we have a Savior, a complete Savior. The inspired pen through Ellen G. White, trying to describe the plan of redemption: “The Godhead was stirred with pity for the race, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit gave Themselves to the working out of the plan of redemption. In order fully to carry out this plan, it was decided that Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, should give Himself an offering for sin.” Counsels on Health, p. 222.

In this statement we find a committee which is called the Godhead, a committee made of three. It says they were full of pity for the human race. In response to that they made a resolution. It was decided Christ give Himself for an offering for sin. This is why the angel told Joseph, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

In this gift of Jesus our Savior, God gave everything to us. “With Christ He gave all the resources of heaven, that nothing might be wanting in the plan for man's uplifting” (Counsels on Health, p. 222). We have everything with us. This is why when the prophecy was given about our Savior, He was called Emmanuel, which means God with us.

John 1:14 says “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” The prophet Isaiah, trying to describe our Savior, used the following words: “And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

This is the kind of plan God has given to us. We should be the happiest people because we have a Savior.

No one can claim there is not a provison for their salvation. In fact, there is no human being that can say that he cannot be saved.

This verse gives a description of the plan: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

Jesus can save to the uttermost because He lives to make intercession for us. We should praise the Lord on a daily basis because we have a Savior that is interceding in the heavenly sanctuary on our behalf, and His blood is sufficient to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:10).

Jesus came to make us complete. In Him our life comes to a completeness. That work for salvation has been provided for us from the very beginning. Genesis says God created heaven and earth. But John the apostle also describes the beginning. “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4).

Another ingredient is that in Him was life. What kind of life is this talking about here? “Every human being, in body, soul, and spirit, is the property of God. Christ died to redeem all. Nothing can be more offensive to God than for men, through religious bigotry, to bring suffering upon those who are the purchase of the Saviour's blood” (The Desire of Ages, p. 488).

It not only refers to the life which we possess here, the temporal life, but He possesed everlasting life. He came to this world not only to possess eternal life but to make it possible for us.

This is why the most popular verse in the Christian world: “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” (John 3:16).

That life is in Jesus. This is the provision that has been made from the very beginning.

David the psalmist, in his inspiration, writes in 2 Samuel 22:1-3, “1 And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: 2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.”

This is an expression of an inspired man, who was able to understand the provision that God made for us. Everyone who comes to Christ and accepts Him as their personal savior shall receive the greatest gift, the gift of eternal life. He came to this world to bring us immortality, that we should not perish but have everlasting life.

On one occasion as Jesus was traveling from one city to another on a missionary journey, one man who was a tax collector heard about Jesus. Zacchaeus had heard the messages of John the Baptist. He heard him say what he should do to be saved. He said not to charge more than what is required. As you know Zacchaeus was a tax collector. He had provided for himself well at the expense of the people. But he was attracted to the rabbi. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he went to see Him.

You know the story as we heard the story when we were children. As Jesus was passing by Zacchaeus climbed a tree. As Jesus passed under the tree He looked up and said, “Come down, for I am going to your house.” Imagine the surprise of this man. In love to God he made a confession, saying, “If I have taken anything by fraud I will give it back in a multiplied way.” When Jesus heard this confession He said, “This day salvation has come to this house.”

Jesus is our Savior. In the same way He came to Zacchaeus he comes to you, he comes to me. The whole heaven is interested in the salvation of man.

“Angels were so interested for man's salvation that there could be found among them those who would yield their glory and give their life for perishing man, ‘But,’ said my accompanying angel, ‘that would avail nothing. The transgression was so great that an angel’s life would not pay the debt. Nothing but the death and intercessions of His Son would pay the debt and save lost man from hopeless sorrow and misery’” (The Story of Redemption, p. 45).

Angels were willing to give their life from the salvation of man. Not an angel, no one could make the sacrifice that would be sufficient to save mankind. For this reason when John the Baptist saw Jesus coming to him he said, “Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.”

This is the type of Savior we have. “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). You and I can be saved only through Christ. We cannot design our salvation. The more effort we make, the more education we get, we cannot save ourselves.

“Education, culture, the exercise of the will, human effort, all have their proper sphere, but here they are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they cannot change the heart” (Steps to Christ, p. 18).

The only person that can change your heart is Jesus Christ. In Him we are complete. It is through Jesus that we live today. He sustains mankind with His hand. He said on one occastion that "without Me ye can do nothing." Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ."

Jesus provides a complete salvation for us. He doesn’t do a half-work. He provides for you a way of escape. I like the expression in 1 Corinthians 1:29, 30: "29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

So Jesus has been made unto us wisdom. What is wisdom? The wise man said that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. He is also our righteousness. But the Bible says no one is righteous, so Christ can provide His righteousness to us if we accept Him. But there is one more step. He is also made for us sanctification and redemption.

What is sanctification? Sanctification removes from us the power of sin. Christ came to do a complete work in us. “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” (Galatians 1:4).

Christ came to delver you and me from this evil world. In fact, Jesus came to die for one purpose. That purpose is described in Ephesians 5 when he mentions the comparison of the relation between husband and wife. “5 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [For what reason?] 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Brethren, Jesus came and died, He made such a great sacrifice, for a specific purpose—to deliver us from this evil world, to sanctify you and me.

“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” (1 John 3:2).

Do you have that hope? Do you think we can be like Him? He says, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3).

Jesus came to do a complete work in our lives. He came to justify us, sanctify us, and glorify us. “Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own” (Christ’s Object Lesson, p. 69).

The plan of redemption is not yet finished. It is going on. He is still waiting for those who are going to fulfill the full purpose of Jesus. He wants to make a complete restoration, a work of reformation in our lives.

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Jesus is the only one Who can justify a sinner. Justification is given only to those who accept Jesus. Justification is when God counts one person as righteous, because He sees Christ’s righteousness in us. Justification is Christ’s right doing imputed to the sinner.

Now sanctification is another step. It is God through the Holy Spirit making one righteous. It is Christ’s right doing imparted to the Christian. Sanctification removes from us the power of sin. This is what Jesus is for you and me.

Many people come to Christ and they are very happy. They make some changes to their behavior, but this is not enough.

"The Christian’s life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether" (The Desire of Ages, p. 172).

Not just some adjustment in life but a transformation of nature. This is why Paul said if any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Christ came to this world to make a complete restoration, not a partial work.

“By beholding and imitating His life we shall become renewed in His image” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 306). What are we supposed to do? “Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,” we shall be changed. When we receive Christ in our life, our life is a constant progress.

“Having received the faith of the gospel, the next work of the believer is to add to his character virtue, and thus cleanse the heart and prepare the mind for the reception of the knowledge of God” (Acts of the Apostles, p. 530).

When we accept Christ in our life as our personal Saviorm, there is another work to be done. We must go on to perfection as it is written in Hebrews 6:1. The Lord has made provision for your transformation.

“Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” The only reason Christ has revealed to us the most solemn message is to sanctify and purify a peculiar people zealous of good works.

Salvation is being offered to us through the sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth. The truth shall make you free.

Many people receive only a theoretical knowledge of the truth. They fail to receive a transformation. “A theoretical knowledge of the truth is essential. But the knowledge of the greatest truth will not save us.... The truth must be brought into their hearts, sanctifying and cleansing them from all earthliness and sensuality in the most private life” (Review and Herald, May 24, 1887).

“Religion is not a mere theory, a sentiment; it is an earnest working out of our salvation with fear and trembling; for it is ‘God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure’” (Review and Herald, July 28, 1891).

Salvation has come to your home today. This is what Christ is offering to each one of us today. Many people are asking the question, “What shall I do to be saved?” Just believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Accept him as your personal Savior and you shall be saved and your house as well.

But what do you think will happen if we accept Christ just partially? If we only profess to be a Christian? What will happen? “1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him” (Hebrews 2:1-3).

This is Jesus Christ. This morning our brother spoke to us about “Who is Jesus Christ.” To me he is my beloved Savior. Many prophets, kings, and patriarchs in the past had their own understanding about who is Jesus.

I would like to conclude with an incident that took place about two thousand years ago when Jesus was coming into Jerusalem, and the multitude received Him with hosannas. The soldiers tried to intervene in the procession. In trying to do that they asked “Who is this Jesus that is coming?”

“The disciples, filled with the spirit of inspiration, answer this question. In eloquent strains they repeat the prophecies concerning Christ:
   "Ask Abraham, he will tell you, It is ‘Melchizedek King of Salem," King of Peace. Genesis 14:18.
   "Jacob will tell you, He is Shiloh of the tribe of Judah.
   "Isaiah will tell you, ‘Immanuel,’ ‘Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ Isaiah 7:14; 9:6.
   “Jeremiah will tell you, The Branch of David, ‘the Lord our Righteousness.’ Jeremiah 23:6.
   "Daniel will tell you, He is the Messiah.
   "Hosea will tell you, He is ‘the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is His memorial.’ Hosea 12:5.
   "John the Baptist will tell you, He is ‘the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ John 1:29.
   "The great Jehovah has proclaimed from His throne, ‘This is My beloved Son.’ Matthew 3:17.
   "We, His disciples, declare, This is Jesus, the Messiah, the Prince of life, the Redeemer of the world.
   "And the prince of the powers of darkness acknowledges Him, saying, ‘I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God.’ Mark 1:24.” (The Desire of Ages, pp. 578-579).

I would like to leave you with a question. Who is Jesus Christ for you, my beloved brethren. Is He your Savior? If Jesus is your Savior, keep in mind that He wants to save you completely. He wants to save you unto the uttermost. He wants to make you a new creature in Christ Jesus. This is my wish and prayer. A-men.