Salvation in Christ emphasizes Jesus as the exclusive means by which sinners are saved, often illustrated by singular gates or doors symbolizing access to life (John 10:9). Christ’s power and glory as Savior are portrayed through images like the ‘Horn of Salvation,’ signifying strength and divine deliverance (Luke 1:69).
A proper foundation is necessary before building a strong and lasting structure.
An architect is a master builder. He conceives of a building in its totality. However, he realizes that his first consideration must be the ground on which it is to stand; it must have a solid foundation. Of course, no one can live in a house that consists only of its foundation. A superstructure is needed. But without a proper foundation the superstructure will not stand.
Christ is the only door to salvation, just as the ark had only one door.
Charles H. Spurgeon made a penetrating observation when he said there were many rooms in the ark but only one door. Similarly, there is only one door in the ark of our salvation, and that is Christ. The Only Victor A general may defeat all his enemies on the battlefield yet be unable to defeat his critics at home. He may be able to control the men under him and yet be unable to control himself. He may be victor in the eyes of men, yet defeated in the estimation of God. And he may congratulate himself that no one has been able to stand up against him, yet he will go down at last before man's final enemy, death. Thus, all men's victories are partial in this life. Even the victory over sin and evil that the regenerated believer has in Christ is at best incomplete. Only one Man has ever conquered sin and death completely and defeated all His enemies.
Christ as the Horn of Salvation symbolizes His power, dominion, and glory as Savior.
Salvation is the fruition of redemption. Redemption purchases salvation, salvation realizes redemption and brings it into our actual experience. Zechariah speaks not so much of salvation as of the "horn of salvation." This bold figure, perhaps, originated in primitive times when mighty hunters, like Nimrod, returning from the chase, loved to grace their tents with the splendid horns of the animals that they had slain: the antlers of the deer, the tusks of the elephant, and the horn, perhaps, of the mighty rhinoceros. And so the word "horn" came to be the figure of beauty, power, and dominion. It has passed into the imagery of inspired prophecy and song, so that we find the earthly powers described by Daniel and John as horns upon the head of the beast. And so we find the psalmist speaking of God as his Horn of Salvation and his High Tower. In speaking, therefore, of Christ as a Horn of Salvation, Zechariah meant to emphasize the glory and beauty of the Savior, His supreme and universal dominion and His infinite and divine power. It is coronation, singing, "Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all."
Even nature and idols obey the power of the infant Christ during the flight to Egypt.
Sosomenes relates, that when the holy family reached the term of their journey, and approached the city of Heliopolis, in their flight into Egypt, a tree which grew before the gates of the city, and was regarded with great veneration as the seat of a God, bowed down its branches at the approach of the infant Christ. Likewise it is related (not in legends merely, but by grave, religious authorities), that all the idols of the Egyptians fell with their faces to the earth. I have seen pictures of the flight into Egypt, in which broken idols lay by the wayside.
— Mrs. Jameson
Meditating on Christ’s blood and sufferings is the strongest motive to mortify sin.
"Five persons," says Mr. Brooks, "were studying what were the best means to mortify sin; one said, to meditate on death; the second, to meditate on judgment; the third, to meditate on the joys of heaven; the fourth, to meditate on the torments of hell; the fifth, to meditate on the blood and sufferings of Jesus Christ; and certainly the last is the choicest and strongest motive of all. If ever we would cast off our despairing thoughts, we must dwell and must much upon, and apply this precious heard of a servant who had attended a Wesleyan chapel. This offended her master and mistress, who told her that she must discontinue the practice, or leave their service. She received the information with modesty, said she was sorry, but so it must be; she could not sacrifice the convictions of her conscience to keep her place. So they gave her warning; and she was now determined, if possible to be more circumspect and exemplary than ever; determined that, if she suffered for her religion, her religion should not suffer for her. Some time after this, the master said to the mistress, "Why, this is rather a hard measure with regard to our servant; has she not a right to worship God where she pleases as well as ourselves?"
"Oh, yes," said the mistress; "and we never had so good a servant; one who rose so early, and got her work done so well, was so clean, and was so economical, never answering again."
And so they intimated that she might remain. Some time after this the wife said to her husband, "I think Mary's religion does her a great deal more good than our religion seems to do us; I should like to hear her minister." And so she went, and was impressed; and prevailed upon her husband to go, and he was impressed; and now they are all followers of God, and have the worship of God in their house.
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blood to our own souls; so shall sorrow and mourning flee away."
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