God our Saviour
Who is our Saviour, is it God the Father or the Lord Jesus Christ?
The question arises when the scriptures reveal that God is our Saviour and then in other scriptures it says that Jesus the Son is our Saviour.
Does this mean that we have two Saviours, or is this the proof that God the Father and Jesus are one and the same?
We are taught in orthodox Christian teaching that there is only one God. However the one God is a Trinity, a Triune God, three in one.
Lets begin at the beginning.
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
The word for God here is Elohim. This is the first indication of a triune God, (the Trinity).
Elohim is a single/plural noun, the “im” at the end of the word indicates, three or more. EG. Cherub / Cherubim, Seraph/ Seraphim, Heavens – Hassamyim.
We see also in this first verse that God is the Creator. The word for created is (Hebrew Ba – ra) (Baw raw).
Bara = Bet – Aleph – Resh – Aleph.
Bar = Son of. Aleph is God.
Bara = Son of God.
(In Aramaic, the prefix bar- means "son" and is used as a prefix meaning "son of". In the Bible, Peter is called Bar-Jonah in Matthew 16:17 and Nathanael is possibly called Bartholomew because he is the son of Tolmai (or son of Ptolemy, with "P" being reduced).
The creator was God, yet the creator was the Son.
We see this in John’s Gospel. “The Word” is Christ (Greek - Word/Logos)
John 1:1 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 anything made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
We see in Genesis the work of the Trinity.
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
God created, the Word was the creator and the Holy Spirit moved over the face of the waters.
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
It is true then, to say that God created the heavens and earth through Christ by the Holy Spirit.
Or, to say it another way. By Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
God was in Christ creating all things by the Holy Spirit.
So it is with our salvation.
2 Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself by the Holy Spirit.
God the Father saves through the Son by the Holy Spirit.
Old Testament scriptures reveal that God is our Saviour.
Isaiah 45:21 says,“Tell you, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I the Lord? And there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.”
Psalm 106:21 “They forgot God their Savior, which had done great things in Egypt.
I Timothy 2:3 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.”
In the New Testament also.
Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.
1 Corinthians 8:5,6.“For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom is all things and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we in Him.
All things are attributed to both Father and Son. Again, showing the equality between the Father and the Son.
Whilst God sent the Son, it was God that was manifested in the flesh.
1 John 4:14 “And have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
God became flesh and dwelt amongst us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Acts 13:23,“Of this man's seed (speaking of David) has God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus.”
Acts 5:31 “Him has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Matt 28:19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Note: One name, three persons, Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Again we see the fulfilment of the scripture.
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Notice: The Saviour did not reprove him or check him as using any improper language. If he had not been divine, it is impossible to reconcile it with his honesty that he did not rebuke the disciple. No pious man would have allowed such language to be addressed to him.
2 Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
It is interesting to note the meaning of Jesus
The name of Jesus means the salvation of Yahweh or Yahweh saves. So even the name of Jesus clearly teaches us that Almighty God the Father is the one who is our saviour who chose to manifest Himself in the flesh to be the means by which the Father redeems mankind back to himself through the Son.
Matt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Further proof from scripture, that God and Jesus Christ are the same and share equality.
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
In the original Greek text, we can see that the word translated “and” (Greek – kai) has the meaning, and, also, even, so, then, too.
Strongs Definitions:
καί kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Tit 2:13 Looking for G4327 that blessed G3107 hope, G1680 and G2532 the G3588 glorious G1391 appearing G2015 of the G3588 great G3173 God G2316 and G2532 our G2257 Saviour G4990 Jesus G2424 Christ; G5547
This could then be translated:
Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and our Saviour, Christ Jesus.
Our great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Or, it could be read: Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God even our Saviour, Christ Jesus.
Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God also our Saviour, Christ Jesus.
The blessed Hope is referring to the appearance of Jesus Christ at His Second Coming. 1 Thess 4.
Probably the best scriptures to prove the Deity and Divinity of Jesus Christ is found in the Prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah makes it quite clear that God the Father and Jesus Christ are one and the same.
Prophesying, concerning the coming of the Messiah, Jesus.
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Also in Revelation 22:13, speaking of Jesus Christ:
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last”
The Alpha and Omega, the First and Last, the Beginning and End, the A to Z.
What God the Father says of God the Son.
Matt 17:2. “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
John 3:35 “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.”
John 5:20 “The Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he himself is doing.”
Matthew 3:17 “And behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”
What the Son says of the Father.
John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things so ever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
John 10:30 "I and the Father are One".
John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
John 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
John 14: 9- 11 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
Jesus Christ is the exact image of God.
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Again, I finish with the verse:
2 Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
The answer to our question is: The Triune God is involved in our Salvation.
God the Father was in Jesus Christ by the working of the Holy Spirit.
