Savior “of the World”

1 John 4:14, And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

How is Jesus the Savior of the world?  Did His payment save everyone?  Obviously NO, for passages like John 5:25-30 and Luke 13:25-28 teach us that there are masses who are not saved and will not be saved, but will spend eternity separated from God’s goodness -joy, peace, love, beauty and self-worth.  They will not be saved from the wrath of Hell!  So how is He the Savior of the world?

First, He is indeed the Redeemer Savior of the elect.  “All the Father gives Me will come to Me and I will in no wise cast out,” John 6:37-39.

Second, He is the Savior offered to all peoples for God is not willing that any should perish (II Peter 3:8), Jesus grieved for the “rich young ruler”, and Jesus groaned for those of Jerusalem who rejected Him as their Savior – He wanted their allegiance and they would not (Matthew 23:37).  God has revealed Himself clearly in creation (Romans 1:20) by such things as organization (clocks and calendars), laws (the periodic chart, gravity, sow/reap) and the trinity of many things (electricity is neutrons, protons, and electrons, and light is infrared, visible and ultra). God also reveals to all men their need of salvation – the unique features of mankind include guilt, weeping, and loneliness when relationships go bad. Man has built-ins that tell him he is both unique and that something in his world is lacking and thus he is in a need of a Savior.  Jesus is the Savior for the world, the only Savior!

Third, because of the presence of His followers there is salvation from early and gross destruction.  Just as salt influences foods, ice, and health, so do true Christians.  Those who have embraced Jesus are His love and thus stay God’s wrath on the world (for 10 righteous Sodom be spared, Paul’s shipwreck – Acts 27).  Because of Jesus’ people, the world is spared.

Fourth, the teachings of the Bible translated and carried by Jesus’ people reveal a Creator and thus a design and order in the universe.  When God’s truth is studied, teachings about the earth and life lead to research, discovery, invention, and development.  (What moved mankind from the dark ages to the industrial age? the Bible printed and held by the common man!)  Jesus is the world’s Savior as people live easier lives springing from Jesus’ revelations about God, man and creation.

Fifth, Jesus’ example of doing good (Acts 10:38) and calling His followers to do the same which they have done all over the world!  Clean water, health care, justice and improved life have been spread worldwide so that Jesus is again the Savior of the world.

Sixth, the life of Jesus set a high mark standard of living above the mess of the world, sacrificing for the world, and conquering death.  Jesus is Savior in that He gives people hope.  Jesus’ example thus saves the world from a bland and/or empty life and gives them vision and purpose.

Seventh, He is Savior of the world for Colossians 1:17 declares that “by Him all things are held together.”  So clocks, calendars, tides, the jet stream, and the tilt of the earth are all by Him.  That plastic milk jug holds together by Him.  Fire, the water cycle, plant germination are by Him.  He is the world’s Savior!

Oh, in fact, He is the Savior of the world in that there will be peoples in eternity with God from all over the world – from every nation, kindred, tribe and tongue!  (The different uses of the word “world” is another way to understand the statement, “Savior of the world.”

Jesus is the world’s Savior in a number of ways, but most importantly, He is the Savior from God’s wrath that all who have not embraced Him as their Lord will experience.  Is He your Savior?