Matthew 1:21,22

Jesus.

The design of our Saviour’s coming

I. Consider this as an enemy.

1. Behold sin with regard to God.

2. Behold sin in its names.

3. Behold the effects of sin.

4. That Christ derives from this work His highest title.

II. Consider in what manner he saves his people from their sins.

1. He redeems them by price.

2. He saves them by power.

3. He saves from the guilt of sin.

4. He saves from the love of sin. (W. Jay.)

In old times God was known by names of power, of nature, of majesty; but His name of mercy was reserved till now. (Bishop J. Taylor.)

The name and work of Jesus

I. His name.

II. His work.

1. Whom He saves-“His people.”

2. From what He saves-“their sins.”

3. How He saves. By His atonement He saves them virtually; by His spirit, vitally; by His grace, constantly; by His power, eternally. Remarks:

(1) Jesus as a suitable Saviour;

(2) a willing Saviour;

(3) an all-sufficient Saviour. (E. Oakes.)

Christ a Saviour

I. The work he is to accomplish is a most great, glorious, and blessed one. “He shall save.” Another Scripture says, He shall destroy. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” These characters are consistent. He demolishes the works of Satan because they stand in His way as Saviour.

1. He eaves His people from the penalty of their sins.

2. From the dominion and practice of sin.

3. In the end He saves from the very existence of sin.

4. And from the painful remembrance of their sins.

II. The name our Lord is to bear in consequence of this work of salvation. Learn from this-

1. The character in which God most delights to regard His Son.

2. It shows us that He would have us regard Him chiefly as a Saviour.

3. This name may have been given to Christ to endear Him the more to our hearts.

4. We see here beyond all dispute the real nature and design of Christ’s religion. (C. Bradley.)

The name of Jesus

I. The name of Jesus.

1. The signification of the name.

2. The appointment of the name. Not left to men’s choice.

II. The reason for the name. Some would rather that He had come to save them from poverty, pains, death; not knowing that to save from sins is to save from all these. (J. Bennet, D. D.)

I. A work of most blessed purpose.

1. Sin is itself the greatest of all miseries. It is

(1) deeper;

(2) vaster;

(3) more abiding;

(4) the source of all other miseries.

II. A work of vast magnitude. Its magnitude realized by dwelling-

1. On the multitudes of the saved.

2. On the nature of the salvation.

3. On the fact that this salvation is wrought by Jesus personally. (U. R. Thomas.)

Jesus the Saviour

I. What the gospel shall, bring-Salvation from sins.

II. Jesus is the saviour and his work constitutes our salvation.

1. This word teaches us that salvation is Divine. Because Divine it is

(1) sufficient;

(2) unchangeable;

(3) infinite. It is illimitable, as the air to the bird.

2. He who gives this salvation stands in solitary grandeur-”He.” Nowhere else can we find salvation.

3. The name gives an immutable pledge that we shall be saved.

III. The text informs us of what this salvation consists. “From their sins.” Not from the wrath of God primarily.

1. From the guilt, curse, condemnation of sin.

2. From our love, habit, practice of sin.

3. It is not salvation from an abstraction, but from selfishness and self-will.

IV. The character of the people of God. His people; peculiar, chosen, royal. Are you saved from sins? (J. Donovan.)

Jesus the Saviour

I. Jesus is an omnipotent Saviour.

1. The presumption of the fact from the infinite wisdom and goodness of God, who never provides a cause unequal to the effect.

2. The declaration of the fact, “He is able to save them to the uttermost,” etc.

II. Jesus is a willing Saviour.

III. Jesus is a living Saviour.

IV. Jesus is a present Saviour.

V. Jesus is a personal Saviour.

VI. Jesus is a sympathizing Saviour.” (G. H. Smyth.)

I. Let me call your attention to the Saviour. Jesus is Divine; He saves His people from their sins. Not the word, not the ordinances, but Jesus Himself saves.

II. Look at the salvation.

1. Jesus saves from sin by bestowing forgiveness-full forgiveness, free, immediate.

2. Jesus saves His people from the pollution of sin; not in their sins, but from their sins.

III. Let us look at the saved. “He shall save His people.” Who are His people? They must have been at one time in their sins. Therefore no one need despair. (W. M. Taylor, D. D.)

Jesus only worthy of trust as a Saviour.

A Christian Hindoo was dying, and his heathen comrades came around him and tried to comfort him by reading some of the pages of their theology; but he waved his hand, as much as to say, “I don’t want to hear it.” Then they called in a heathen priest, and he said, “If you will only recite the Numtra it will deliver you from hell.” He waved his hand, as much as to say, “I don’t want to hear that.” Then they said, “Call on Juggernaut.” He shook his head, as much as to say, “I can’t do that.” Then they thought perhaps he was too weary to speak, and they said, “Now if you can’t say ‘ Juggernaut,’ think of that god.” He shook his head again, as much as to say, “No, no, no.” Then they bent down to his pillow, and they said, “In what will you trust?” His face lighted up with the very glories of the celestial sphere as he cried out, rallying all his dying energies, “Jesus!”

The name of Jesus.-“

This name Jesus,” said St. Bernard, “it is honey in the mouth, harmony in the ear, melody in the heart.” “This name Jesus,” saith St. Anselm, “it is a name of comfort to sinners when they call upon Him; “ therefore he himself saith, “Jesus, be my Jesus.” This name is above all names: first, for that it was consecrated from everlasting; secondly, for that it was given of God; thirdly, for that it was desired of the Patriarchs; fourthly, for that it was foretold of the Prophets; fifthly, for that it was accomplished in the time of grace, magnified in the Apostles, witnessed of Martyrs, acknowledged and honoured shall it be of all believers unto the world’s end. This name Jesus, it is compared to “oil poured out; “ oil being kept close, it sendeth not forth such a savour, as it doth being poured out; and oil hath these properties, it suppleth, it cherisheth, it maketh look cheerfully; so doth this name of Jesus, it suppleth the hardness of our hearts, it cherisheth the weakness of our faith, enlighteneth the darkness of our soul, and maketh man look with a cheerful countenance towards the throne of grace. (Christopher Sutton.)

Salvation from sin

You must be saved from sin not in sin as some seem to imagine. The latter is like saving a man from drowning by keeping him under the water which is destroying him; or like recovering a man from sickness by leaving him under the malady which constitutes the complaint. (W. Jay.)