2001-4-7 09:09:00
Just as others besides Jesus belong to the body of Christ and have been anointed or christened (Christed), so are numerous men called saviors in the Bible.
Let us note the language of the angel right in the King James Version: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David A Saviour, which is Christ (anointed) the Lord." (Luke 2:11)
The reason he was called "a Saviour" is because he was not the first to be called such. Numerous men among Israel have been called saviors in the past.
The word "savior" comes from the Hebrew YASHA and in the King James version this word is translated fairly inconsistently. It is also rendered as "avenging," "defend," "deliverer," "help," "preserve," "rescue," "get victory," and "to be safe." The core meaning is either "savior" or "deliverer."
YASHA is part of the root from which the name "Jesus" was derived and often applies to God: "Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour (YASHA) beside me." (Hosea 13:4)
"There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me." (Isa 45:21)
It sounds here as if the God of the Old Testament is the only God there is and the only Saviour. We shall see that the Bible teaches that he is not the only God; neither the only saviour, but was merely saying that Israel was to look toward him for only source of leadership and deliverance.
Paul expressed it well when he said: "For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many) But TO US THERE IS BUT ONE GOD, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." (1 Cor 8:5-6)
If we substituted "Savior" for God here and it would still be accurate. It could be worded: "There are many Saviors, but to us there is only one. How else do we explain the fact that God says he is the only savior whereas the Bible goes on to mention numerous ones?
Here is one of the many examples: "And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a DELIVERER (from YASHA meaning Saviour) to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother." (Judges 3:9)
Among others who are called saviors are Tola (Judges 10:1), Shamgar (Judges 3:31), Gideon (Judges 8:22), and Samson (Judges 13:5).
An acknowledgement that there is more than one Savior is clearly spelled out in several other verses: "Thou heardest them (the Israelites) from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them SAVIOURS (from YASHA) who saved them out of the hands of their enemies." (Neh 9:27)
Another good one is: "And SAVIOURS (YASHA) shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's." (Obadiah verse 21)
We already quoted a correlating verse to this from Rev 14:1 which tells us that the number of these "saviours" on mount Zion (Sion) will be 144,000. Thus the Bible tells us that there are at least 144,000 saviors. Common sense then tells us that we should not read passages which tell us of one savior or one God as literal, but in the light of all other scriptures.
We thus solidly establish point number four: Others beside Jesus are called by the name of Savior.
Question:
Christ means "anointed" and Jesus implies one who is a savior. If we have Christ in us we also are anointed to deliver. Tell us some ways that you have either been delivered or lent a successful helping hand in delivering others.
How did it feel to use the meaning of the name of Jesus Christ?
-- End Of Part Nine --
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Copyright 2001 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved