The Angel told Joseph that Mary’s conception was supernatural and that she’d bear a son. The Angel told him what to name the baby: “Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Jesus means “salvation.”

We all have names, but I doubt if any of us ever live up to our names to the degree that Jesus lived up to his. My name is Charles. It means manly, courageous, and brave! There have been a few rare incidents in my life where I felt I lived up to that name, but not very often. I can recount more times when I failed. The only time my mother called me “Charles” was when she was mad at me. I knew I had been found out. I had not been brave, courageous or manly at all and I’d come with my head hung in shame.

But there are no such inconsistencies with Jesus and his name. Acts 4:12 tells us that he is the only savior. It says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” When Jesus, the only savior, saves, he saves completely. Hebrews 7:25 tells us, “He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” Further, we must not miss the fact that his complete, “to the uttermost” salvation is a personal, individual salvation that will never fail us. There will never be a time when His salvation is inconsistent. It’s always thorough and complete. Romans 10:9-10 tells us, “…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It doesn’t say “you might be” saved. Unlike me, Jesus is always consistent in living up to his name.

That passage goes on to say, “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Chuck
“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21