The Names of Jesus - Elmer Towns

never again exposed to sale (Galatians 3:13). When Christ took man out from under the Law, He
placed him in a different relationship with God by providing for him the opportunity to become
an adopted son of God (Galatians 4:5). Ekagorazo emphasizes the removal of the curse of the
Law (Galatians 3:13; 4:5).
The third word which refers to redemption is lutrao. This word means “to pay the price
for the slave and then release him” (Galatians 4:5). It emphasizes the freedom that Christ brings
to those whom He redeemed. This verb suggests that Christ works to separate us completely
from all sin (Titus 2:14).
A consideration of each of these terms and the contexts in which they appear in the New
Testament indicates Christ has provided redemption for all people by the shedding of His own
blood (Hebrews 9:12). That redemption includes the price of redemption (agorazo), removal
from the marketplace of sin (ekagorazo), and the provision of liberty to the redeemed (lutrao).
This is the work of the Redeemer. But the sinner is not prepared to go to Heaven until he
responds by faith to the Redeemer.
SAVIOUR
It is interesting that Scripture rarely uses the name “Saviour” of Jesus, especially in view
of the fact that “Saviour” is fundamental to all Jesus is and did. At His birth the angel announced,
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke
2:11). Early in His ministry, a group of Samaritans concluded the same truth and told the woman
who met Jesus at Sychar's well, “Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard
him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:42). But
these are the only two instances in the Gospels of this title being applied to Jesus. He is seldom
called “Saviour” in the Epistles although both Peter (Acts 5:3 1) and Paul (Acts 13:23) used this
title of Christ in their preaching.
Men have wondered why this name that embodies the very essence of the work of Christ
should be almost neglected by the apostles. Two reasons suggest themselves. First, the apostles
may have been trying to avoid a major confrontation with Roman authorities. One of the titles of
Caesar was “Saviour of the World.” A second reason for its infrequent use may have been that
all Christ is and does in His saving work led the New Testament writers to take the title for
granted. Both Peter and Paul used this title in an evangelistic appeal where they were trying to
explain the fundamentals of the gospel. If this were characteristic of the evangelical preaching of
the early church, we would not expect a special emphasis in epistles, which were written largely
to correct problems in the church. The emphasis on Jesus as Saviour may be absent because early
believers widely understood and accepted it.
The Greek word soter means “a saviour,” “deliverer” or “preserver.” It is a title used of
the Father as well as the Son. It shares a common root with the verb sozo, which is the most
commonly used expression of conversion in the Scriptures. This verb is used in three tenses in
the New Testament to describe complete and full salvation. First, the believer has been saved
from the guilt and penalty of sin. Secondly, he is being saved from the habit and dominion of sin.