Jesus as Saviour

​Jesus as the Saviour is a concept that people who have followed Jesus become familiar with. But did you know that Jesus as Saviour is not his primary role, it is in fact a function that occurs because of his true role. Let’s look at it together.

Saviour vs. Christ

The title Christ (Greek: Christos, meaning "Anointed One") refers to Jesus’ role as the Messiah. This encompasses his kingship, his role as prophet and priest. To call Jesus the Christ is to acknowledge his divine authority, his fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, and his kingship over all creation.

Saviour, on the other hand, is a description of what Jesus does. He saves humanity from sin, death, and separation from God through his sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection. While "Christ" is about who he is, "Saviour" is about what he accomplishes as part of his role as the Christ.

Understanding the difference is crucial. If we emphasize Jesus as Saviour without recognizing his identity as Christ, we risk reducing his mission to a transactional rescue operation rather than seeing the full scope of his reign and purpose.
 
When Function Replaces Role

Confusing Jesus’ function with his role can lead to a distorted view of faith. If we see Jesus solely as Saviour, we might focus only on what he can do for us—saving us from our problems, forgiving our sins, or rescuing us from difficult circumstances. This perspective can become dangerously me-centered. It’s as if Jesus exists only to serve us, rather than recognizing that we exist to serve and glorify him as King.
Seeing Jesus as King, however, shifts our perspective. It reminds us that Jesus doesn’t just save us to leave us where we are; he saves us to bring us into his kingdom. As King, Jesus calls us to live under his rule, to align our lives with his purposes, and to participate in his mission to redeem the world.
When we understand Jesus as both Saviour and Christ, we see that salvation is not just about what we get from him but about entering a relationship where he reigns over every aspect of our lives.
 
Other Insights

1. The Broader Purpose of Salvation: Salvation is not an end in itself but a means to something greater: reconciliation with God and participation in his kingdom. Jesus’ saving work restores us so that we can live under his kingship and reflect his glory to the world.
2. The Danger of a Limited View: A narrow view of Jesus as Saviour can lead to disillusionment when life remains challenging. Recognizing him as King helps us trust his sovereign plan, even when we don’t understand it.
3. Worship and Submission: When we see Jesus as Christ, we are drawn to worship him for who he is—not just for what he does. This worship leads to joyful submission, where we gladly yield our lives to his authority, knowing that his reign is good and just.

 
Closing Thought

Seeing Jesus as both Christ and Saviour transforms our relationship with him. It shifts our focus from ourselves to him, reminding us that salvation is not just about what we receive but about the King we serve. Let’s not settle for a limited view of Jesus. Instead, let’s embrace the fullness of who he is: the Anointed King who saves and reigns over all creation.

Author (This article has been written with the help of Chat-GPT for research and editing)

​Josh has been on staff at Lesmurdie Baptist Church since 2018. He is married to Marnel and they have 4 children together - Azaliah, Ezra, Zoelle, and Zion. What drives Josh is seeing people put their faith into action so Jesus can change lives in the here and now.