Jesus Saves!

Jesus Saves!

We get accused of being harsh and judgmental when we are street preaching, so tonight I thought I’d say: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Jesus saves! We have heard the joyful sound:  Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Praise God, this is good news. It’s worth repeating. Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Jesus saves! 

This really is good news and we do share the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ when we lift up our Savior’s name in the streets. Jesus saves! But have you ever thought about what He saves us from? If Jesus saves, what exactly is He saving us from?

When a person is drowning, the life guard dives in and saves the person. A fireman rushes into a burning building to rescue people from the flames of the fire. So when humans save someone, it’s safe to say that they are saving them from danger. Thousands of people in Houston, TX this last week were rescued from the flood waters by water rescue crews. Eight people have died so far, but thousands have been rescued.

Saving People From Danger

So in all of these examples, the life guard, fireman and water rescuers, they were all saving people from some sort of danger. So what does Jesus Christ save people from? What danger are you facing? Why do you need to be saved by Jesus? You’re going through life and you are alright, just the way you are. You don’t see any immediate danger, so why do you need a Savior? Why do you need Jesus to save you?

The problem is sin. We all have sinned against the great Creator God. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:9-20). For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

Deadly Disease

Every single human being has a sin problem and it is a deadly disease. The wages of sin is death. After your whole life of sinning, of unrepentant sinning;, your reward is death. Not just physical death, but everlasting death – also known as the second death.

You cannot save yourself. You can’t do more good than bad and expect Almighty God to say that’s close enough. God is not going to say that you barely squeaked by because you did slightly more good than bad during your life. No, it doesn’t work that way. God’s standard is perfection. It takes a perfect life to measure up to our Holy God’s standard and none of us are perfect. We cannot meet that standard on our own.

But Jesus walked this earth a little over 2,000 years ago and He did meet God’s perfect standard. He never sinned one time. He always did the perfect will of God the Father and Jesus came to save repentant sinners from their sins. 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). And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief (1 Timothy 1:15).

Jesus Saves Us From Our Sins

Jesus saves us from our sins. We have all fallen short of God’s glory, of His perfection. But Jesus measured up to it. Jesus saves and He is the only Savior. He lived a sinless life and He was perfect in all of his thoughts, words and actions. He never sinned one time. Not once. Not even a little white lie. Then He willingly bore the shame of the cross. He was obedient unto death, even death of the cross.

Jesus suffered, bled and died for a crime that He did not commit. You and I are the guilty ones! We are the ones who have sinned against God. We are the liars, thieves, blasphemers, idolaters, drunkards and sexually immoral ones. We are the ones who have broken God’s Law –the 10 Commandments. We are the guilty sinners, but Jesus who never broke a single commandment, took the punishment that we deserve.

Now that’s amazing. Now that’s love. Now that’s something to shout about. Jesus saves! Jesus suffered, bled and died on the cruel cross. He was buried and rose victoriously from the grave three days later. God offers everlasting life to each and every person who repents and puts their faith in Jesus.

Jesus Saves Us From Eternal Damnation

Jesus saves us from our sins. Not only that, but Jesus also saves us from eternal damnation. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins (John 8:24). He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36). So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:49-50).

You can only be justified before our Holy and righteous God through the Just One –Jesus Christ. He is the only Savior. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus saves and He is the only way of salvation. There is no other way.

Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation (Isaiah 51:4-8).

Only Jesus Saves

Come to Jesus tonight. Only Jesus saves. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off (Isaiah 55).

Jesus Is The Living Waters

Jesus is the living waters. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. Oh, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. His ways are not our ways. Come to Jesus tonight because Jesus saves. Surrender your life to the sinless Son of God. Come to the risen Savior. Come the Lord of all creation. Submit to His Lordship. Repent and put your trust in Jesus.

When Jesus saves you, He convicts you of your sins through the power of the Holy Spirit. God sanctifies truly born again believers. I’m not talking about sinless perfectionism, I’m talking about sanctification. When Jesus saves you, He convicts you and cleans you up. Professing Christian: have you truly been saved? Has Jesus not only saved you from eternal damnation, but has He saved you from your former self? Are you a new creature in Christ? Do not be deceived tonight, the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. If your life has not been radically changed after you came to Jesus, then you have not met the risen Lord. Repent and surrender your life to Jesus. Be saved tonight. Call upon the name of Jesus because Jesus saves!

(This message was proclaimed on the square in downtown Springfield, MO on April 22, 2016)