Paul the apostle wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:5, "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." He has here set forth the duty, theme, and attitude of gospel preachers. Their duty: "We preach" (see #117-118). Their theme: negatively, "We do not preach ourselves" (see #119); positively, "We preach Christ Jesus the Lord." Their attitude: "We are your servants for Jesus' sake." Having already emphasized what it is to preach Christ (see #120), we here emphasize what it is to preach Him as Jesus, and afterward what it is to preach Him as the Lord.

"We preach Christ Jesus the Lord." "Christ" is His title; "Jesus" is His name. The name Jesus in the New Testament (which was first written in the Greek language) is the equivalent to the name Joshua in the Old Testament (which was first written in the Hebrew language). This name means Savior. The Son of God was given this name at His birth because of the glorious work He was born to perform (Matthew 1:21): "... you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

1) Jesus is indeed the Savior: "He will save His people from their sins." "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world" -- because they were condemned already -- "but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:17). The Jesus we preach is the Savior of sinners.

"Another Jesus" (see 2 Corinthians 11:4) is preached by those who claim He was but a moral example or political leader or social activist. And "another Jesus" is believed by those who profess to know Him as Savior but never depart "from their sins."

2) Jesus is the only Savior: "He will save ...." "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

We therefore deny that salvation can be found in any other person -- whether Baal or Allah or any other. And we furthermore deny that salvation can be found in any virtue or work other than that of Jesus alone -- whether keeping the law of Moses, observing sabbaths, being baptized, joining a church, or any other.

3) Jesus is an effectual Savior: "He will save ...." We do not say He may, or that He will try, to save His people. Rather, He most certainly will save all whom He died to redeem. He will in no way fail as Savior. Every single soul He intended to save shall most certainly be saved. Not one single soul He intended to save will lose his salvation nor suffer damnation at the final judgment.

"Another Jesus" is preached by those who aver, "Jesus is trying to save all humanity, but He will fail to do so if we do not let Him do so. And "another Jesus" is preached by those say, "Jesus has done all He can to save you; now the rest is up to you."

4) Jesus is the Savior of a particular people: "He will save His people ...." "His people" are all those sinners who were chosen in Him for salvation, and predestined to salvation through Him, by the gracious decree and act of God His Father before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-7). He died for the salvation of "His people" alone (see e.g. Isaiah 53:4-12; John 10:11; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25-27). All who are "His people" will acknowledge themselves to be His through receiving Him, trusting in Him as their Lord and Savior (John 1:11f).

"Another Jesus" is preached by those posit the doctrine of universal redemption. This heresy denies that the death of Jesus was designed to redeem and save "His people" alone. It instead teaches that He paid the price of redemption for every member of mankind, but that His saving work is worthless unless we make it effectual through faith or some other act of self-righteousness.

Do you believe the Jesus whom we preach?

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