Advent Words: S is for Salvation

S is for Salvation

"The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
    in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
    the salvation of our God."  Isaiah 52:10

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1:76-79

The advent of Christ is God's plan for salvation. In fact, the whole Advent story - the promises made and fulfilled through the birth of Christ - is the story of God bringing salvation to His people.

God had long promised the people of Israel full redemption for their sins:

"Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

    for with the Lord is unfailing love

    and with him is full redemption.

He himself will redeem Israel

    from all their sins." Psalm 130:7-8

When He spoke to Mary and Joseph through His angel, He made it clear that their son was the culmination of this promise. "...And you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). In this simple message the angel provides the hope of the world. In Hebrew, Jesus' name is Yeshua, which means Yahweh saves or Yahweh brings salvation. Jesus is God's salvation! He is our savior, redeemer!

Zechariah was aware of this good news when he sang God's praise over the birth of his son, John the Baptist. John was called by God to prepare the way before Jesus, "to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins" (Luke 1:77). John would call people to repent of their sins and believe that Jesus was the One sent to redeem mankind from sin. He would point them to the One who brings God's salvation.

Advent is a season of preparing us and pointing us to see the advent of Yahweh, the one who brings salvation!

Valerie Sjodin inspired me to make the Hebrew letters,.

Share your creative response to the Advent Words challenge in our private Facebook group  Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/

If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.

Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.

Check out my Pinterest board for this challenge and see some of the wonderful and diverse creativity of Advent Words 2018 participants. https://www.pinterest.com/marynbtol/advent-words-2018-challenge/