Save His People From Their Sins (Matt 1:18-21)

“And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall saves his people from their sins (vs21).”

Salvation is by the Son of God’s blood and power alone. He saves, not because we help Him, but according to His love. Everything in salvation honors the Son for His love, rather than men.

His genealogy says, “He saves sinners”, for out of bad stock came the Son of God to redeem people who could only be saved by grace miraculous (Matt 1:1-17).

He saves by His Spirit revealing salvation to us, even as the Spirit instructed Joseph, the just. He justifies us, makes us holy, and gives us love. He made Joseph just, which is merciful and willing to help, even as He helped us by taking away our sins, so He could marry us in love. He did it without help, and now He gives the inheritance to us.

First, the Spirit produces Christianity in full, even as He brought the miracle of Jesus into the world – “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 1:18). He declares who God is and forms God in us by power unknown. He creates what was not before, and He helps us all the way through, guiding and protecting us, even as He cared for Mary, marrying her to Joseph. He has His glory, which includes our good. But, our life is not our own. We are His to dwell in and rule in love, and we, by revelation, delight in His will, which is salvation.

Secondly, just men are merciful – “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily (Matt 1:19).” We honor God by being like Him who is Just and the Justifier of believers, whose sins are washed in blood. God is holy and plots grace, and so do we. We ask Him for grace to love, grow, and transform into His character. Forgiving is a joy, kindness is no burden, and love is peace to us.

Thirdly, God reveals His Son to us, or we’d never know the glory of His love, “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:20).” Just as Joseph could not believe, by revelation, he will.

All instruction comes to us from God who assures that we learn, so all knowledge redounds to glorify the Lord who gave. Our debt is love (Rom 1:14).