Lesson for March 11, 2026

The Names and Titles of Jesus

Lesson 10

Immanuel, Messiah, Savior

Immanuel

Immanuel is one of the titles for Jesus. The prophecy of the virgin birth in Isaiah 7:14 says, “The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” This prophecy is quoted by an angel in Matthew 1:22–23: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us.'”

God with us refers to the Hypostatic Union of Jesus. (John 1:1, 14). Jesus Christ is the unique Person of the universe. He is the only Person in history to be both fully God and fully human. The term for this unique union is derived from the Greek word “hupostatis,” meaning essence. In the case of Christ, it is both divine essence and human essence in one Person. Christ was born spiritually alive, without a sin nature and without Adam’s original sin being imputed to Him, and He committed no personal sin.

Christ’s two natures are united in one Person, and they retain their separate identities. The attributes of one do not belong to the other. Deity remains deity, and humanity remains humanity. Because of this unique union, Christ is the perfect Mediator between God and mankind. He is the only Person in history qualified to go to the Cross and pay the penalty for sin. (John 14:6; I Timothy 2:5-6)

The hypostatic union of Christ is personal in that a new Person came into being at the Virgin Birth. Jesus was not merely in harmony with God nor did He merely indwell or possess the humanity of Jesus. Jesus was born physically, in the same way that we are born, except without a human father, and with no sin nature. This is why He is so unique! (John 14:18-21; Romans 8:9-10; II Corinthians 13:5; Ephesians 3:17-19; Colossians 1:27; Revelation 3:20) The hypostatic union is eternal in that Christ will never cease to be a member of the human race. Jesus is symbolically seated in the place of honor at the right hand of God the Father as a testimony to the fact that God the Father is completely satisfied with the work of Christ on the Cross. (Acts 5:31; Hebrews 1:3)

Messiah

John 1:40-42, “One of the two who heard John (the Baptist) speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which translated means Christ).'”

Christ and Messiah have the same meaning – Anointed One. The Old Testament prophesied the coming of the Messiah and Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the prophecy. (Daniel 9:25-26) There are several things that the Jewish people who anticipated the Messiah expected Him to be, based on Old Testament prophecies. The Messiah would be a Hebrew man (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 3:30), be born in Bethlehem of a virgin (Micah 5:2), be a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18), be a priest in the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4), be a king (Isaiah 11:1–4), and be the Son of David. (Matthew 22:42) The Samaritan woman at the well said to Jesus in John 4:25-26, “”I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I am He, the One speaking to you.”

Here are a few of the 333 prophecies regarding the Messiah which were fulfilled by Jesus.

Isaiah 53:1 – His own people would not believe Him – John. 12:37-38
Isaiah 53:2 – He would not grow up as royalty – Luke 2:7
Isaiah 53:2 – Appearance of an ordinary man – Philippians 2:7-8
Isaiah 53:3 – Man of great sorrow and grief – Luke 19:41-42
Isaiah 53:4 – He would bear the sins of the world – I Peter 2:24
Isaiah 53:5 – Bears penalty for mankind’s sin – Luke 23:33
Isaiah 53:5 – His sacrifice would provide spiritual healing – Colossians 1:20
Isaiah 53:5 – He would be whipped – Matthew 27:26
Isaiah 53:6 – He would bear the sin of all mankind – Galatians 1:4
Isaiah 53:7 – Oppressed and afflicted – Matthew 27:27-31
Isaiah 53:7 – Silent before His accusers – Matthew 27:12-14
Isaiah 53:7 – Sacrificial lamb – John 1:29
Isaiah 53:8 – Confined and persecuted – Mt. 26:47-27:31
Isaiah 53:8 – He would be judged – John 18:13-22
Isaiah 53:9 – Buried in a rich man’s tomb – Matthew 27:57

Savior

The word savior is the Greek word “soter,” meaning one who saves or delivers. Though Jehovah/Jesus is never called Savior in the Old Testament, the concept of deliverance or rescuing His people is stated many times. (Deuteronomy 32:15; 1 Chronicles 16:35; Psalm 18:46; 38:22)

Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ. Faith is the only system of perception which is totally devoid of any human merit. Only the object has merit, and in salvation the object of faith is Jesus Christ. How much faith does it take to be saved? Just a little bit more than no faith at all. (Luke 17:6)

The salvation work of Christ on the Cross excludes anything being added to faith. A person is saved (delivered from spiritual death and the Lake of Fire for all eternity) by putting their faith in Jesus Christ and His payment for the penalty of their sin. Salvation is entirely the work of the grace of God. It is the work of the Father in judging our sins, of the Son in being judged for our sins, and of the Holy Spirit in making the Gospel clear. This is why the way of salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ with no human works added to it.

Human works are human efforts to please or gain the approval of God for salvation or spirituality including, but not limited to, such things as church membership, water baptism, religious rituals, performing good deeds, obeying the Ten Commandments, good behavior, being sincere, keeping certain rules. (Romans 3:23; 5:12; 6:23)

The faith of an unbeliever who is spiritually dead means that they have positive volition at the point of Gospel-hearing and exercise their faith in Jesus as their Savior. Exercising their faith in Jesus is non-meritorious and compatible with God’s grace. The Holy Spirit makes faith only, effective for salvation. Human works are dead, useless works, and the Holy Spirit does not make dead, useless works effective for salvation.