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Jesus' Care for the Birth and Plan of Salvation

Jesus Christ's birth and mission are central to the Christian understanding of salvation, with his very name, Jesus, signifying "savior" or "deliverer" [1, 6]. The angel Gabriel instructed Mary that her son would be named Jesus, "for it is he who shall save his people from their sins" [2]. This foundational understanding highlights Jesus's role as the one appointed to rescue humanity from the consequences of sin [5].

The plan of salvation, as revealed in scripture, involves God's sovereign care and provision for humanity [7]. From a Reformed perspective, God, in his mercy, determined to save a countless multitude and gave them to his Son, Jesus, as an inheritance. This plan required Jesus to assume human nature and fulfill all righteousness on their behalf [10]. The human nature of Christ was essential for his mediatorial office, as evidenced by his conception in the Virgin Mary, his birth, his partaking of flesh and blood, and his experience of human emotions and physical needs such as weeping, hungering, thirsting, and weariness [9].

The purpose of Christ's mission was definite: to obey and suffer in the place of those given to him for their salvation [10]. This aligns with the biblical teaching that Christ is represented as a sacrifice throughout scripture, from the earliest institutions of sacrifice to the New Testament's clear didactic statements [14]. The salvation accomplished by Christ is not based on anything wrought in or done by individuals, but rather on his atoning work [14]. This concept of salvation by grace emphasizes God's love for the undeserving, a perfection of God that was not fully revealed until the redemption of humanity [16].

The scope of Christ's salvation is broad, concerning "all sorts and conditions of men," as there is "neither male nor female...neither Gentile nor Jew...bond nor free" in Christ [11]. This universal aspect was foreshadowed in the manner of Christ's birth being made known to diverse individuals [11]. While some theological views suggest Christ's work makes salvation possible for all, with individual salvation depending on the use of sufficient grace [12, 18], the Augustinian (and by extension, Reformed) doctrine posits that God's design in Christ's death was specifically to save his own people [10, 15]. This perspective holds that God's election of individuals to salvation precedes and ensures their sanctification [13, 19].

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a crucial element in the plan of salvation, providing assurance that God's revelation is true and worthy of acceptance [8]. Through his resurrection, believers are given "new birth into a living hope" [4]. This hope is tied to waiting for Jesus's return from heaven, as he is the one who rescues believers from the coming wrath [3, 5]. The entire scheme of redemption, including Christ's death, is ultimately for God's glory [19]. The revelation of God's plan of salvation in Jesus as the Messiah was a pivotal moment in the unfolding of God's will for humanity [17].

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jesus Christ — "The life and character of Jesus Christ," says Dr. Schaff, "is the holy of holies in the history of the world." + NAME.--The name Jesus signifies saviour . It is the Greek form of [713]Jehoshua (Joshua). The name Christ signifies anointed. Jesus was both priest and king. Among the Jews priests were anointed, as their inauguration to their office. (1 Chronicles 16:22) In the New Testament the name Christ is used as equivalent to the Hebrew Messiah (anointed), (John 1:41) the name given to the long-promised Prophet and King whom the Jews had been taught b”
  2. Matthew “She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.” -- Matthew 1:21”
  3. I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 1:10 (YLT) — and to wait for His Son from the heavens, whom He did raise out of the dead--Jesus, who is rescuing us from the anger that is coming.”
  4. I Peter “I Peter 1:3 (BSB) — Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
  5. 1 Thessalonians “1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NASB) — and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”
  6. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jesus — savior; deliverer”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Providence of God, The — Is his care over his works -- Ps 145:9. Is exercised in Preserving his creatures. -- Ne 9:6; Ps 36:6; Mt 10:29. Providing for his creatures. -- Ps 104:27,28; 136:25; 147:9; Mt 6:26. The special preservation of saints. -- Ps 37:28; 91:11; Mt 10:30. Prospering saints. -- Ge 24:48,56. Protecting saints. -- Ps 91:4; 140:7. Delivering saints. -- Ps 91:3; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 63:12. Bringing His words to pass. -- Nu 26:65; Jos 21:45; Lu 21:32,33. Ordering the ways of men. -- Pr 16:9; 19”
  8. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Human Nature of Christ, The — Was necessary to his mediatorial office -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 2:17; Ga 4:4,5; 1Co 15:21; Ro 6:15,19. Is proved by his Conception in the Virgin's womb. -- Mt 1:18; Lu 1:31. Birth. -- Mt 1:16,25; 2:2; Lu 2:7,11. Partaking of flesh and blood. -- Joh 1:14; Heb 2:14. Having a human soul. -- Mt 26:38; Lu 23:46; Ac 2:31. Circumcision. -- Lu 2:21. Increase in wisdom and stature. -- Lu 2:52. Weeping. -- Lu 19:41; Joh 11:35. Hungering. -- Mt 4:2; 21:18. Thirsting. -- Joh 4:7; 19:28. Sleeping. -- Mt 8:24; Mr 4:38. Being subject to weariness. -- Joh 4:6. ”
  10. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 107: mercy, having determined to save a multitude whom no man could number, gave them to his Son as his inheritance, provided He would assume their nature and fulfil all righteousness in their stead. In the accomplishment of this plan Christ did come into the world, and did obey and suffer in the place of those thus given to Him, and for their salvation. This was the definite object of his mission, and therefore his death had a reference to them which it could not possibly have to those whom God determined to leave to the just recompense of t”
  11. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Manifestation of the Newly Born Christ, Art. 3: Article: Whether those to whom Christ's birth was made known were suitably chosen? I answer that, Salvation, which was to be accomplished by Christ, concerns all sorts and conditions of men: because, as it is written (Col. 3:11), in Christ "there is neither male nor female, [*These words are in reality from Gal. 3:28] neither Gentile nor Jew . . . bond nor free," and so forth. And in order that this might be foreshadowed in Christ's birth, He was made known to men of all conditions. Beca”
  12. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 70: the Spirit’s influence, and the grace of the gospel above the standard adopted by the Remonstrants. The two systems, however, are essentially the same. The work of Christ has equal reference to all men. It secures for all the promise of salvation on the condition of evangelical obedience; and it obtains for all, Jews and Gentiles, enough measures of divine grace to render such obedience practicable. The salvation of each individual man depends on the use which he makes of this sufficient grace. 4. The Lutherans also hold that God had the ”
  13. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 66: and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” ( 1 Pet. i. 2 .) Such is the clear doctrine of the Bible, men are chosen to be holy. The fact that God has predestinated them to salvation is the reason why they are brought to repentance and a holy life. “God,” says Paul to the Thessalonians ( 2 Thess. ii. 13 ), “hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through (not on account of) sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without c”
  14. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 23: from the curse of the law and of our introduction into the liberty of the sons of God, is anything wrought in us or done by us. Again, from the beginning to the end of the Bible, Christ is represented as a sacrifice. From the first institution of sacrifices in the family of Adam; during the patriarchal period; in all the varied and costly ritual of the Mosaic law; in the predictions of the prophets; in the clear didactic statements of the New Testament, it is taught with a constancy, a solemnity, and an amplitude, which proves it to be a ”
  15. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 107: same thing. Their doctrine provides for this universal offer of salvation, as well as any other scheme. It teaches that God in effecting the salvation of his own people, did whatever was necessary for the salvation of all men, and therefore to all the offer may be, and in fact is made in the gospel. If a ship containing the wife and children of a man standing on the shore is wrecked, he may seize a boat and hasten to their rescue. His motive is love to his family; his purpose is to save them. But the boat which he has provided may be lar”
  16. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 23: the wrath of God in the first instance. The inward transformation of the soul into his likeness is provided for by other means. In the sixth place and finally, the fact that we are saved by grace proves that the ground of salvation is not in ourselves. The grace of God, his love for the unlovely, for the guilty and polluted, is represented in the Bible as the most mysterious of the divine perfections. It was hidden in God. It could not be discovered by reason, neither was it revealed prior to the redemption of man. The specific object of ”
  17. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 16:17: 16:17 God revealed to Peter his plan of salvation in Jesus, the Messiah. This moment of revelation was a high point in the unfolding of God’s will for humanity (cp. Gal 1:16; 3:23; Eph 3:5).”
  18. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 107: had reference to all men. All these facts can be accounted for on the assumption, that the great design of Christ’s death was to make the salvation of all men possible, and that it had equal reference to every member of our race. But there are other facts which this theory leaves out of view, and with which it cannot be reconciled. On the other hand it is claimed that the Augustinian doctrine recognizes all the Scriptural assertions connected with the subject, and reconciles them all. If this be so, it must be the doctrine of the Bible. ”
  19. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 59: all his works of creation, providence, and redemption, which is declared to be his own glory, but we have, in many cases, the relation which one 316 part of this scheme bears to other parts expressly stated. Thus, for example, it is said, that Christ died in order that He might save his people from their sins. We are elected to holiness. Therefore election precedes sanctification. We are chosen to be made holy, and not because we are holy. These revelations concerning the relation of the subordinate parts of the scheme of redemption, of n”
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