The most fundamental sin of Israel, the people of God, was that although God had become their God, they turned away from Him and served other gods. God said to Israel:
“Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee.” (Jeremiah 2:19)
Yet the Israelites did not recognize the sin they had committed. Instead, they asked:
“Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?” (Jeremiah 16:10)
Then God clearly told them what their sin was:
“Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law.” (Jeremiah 16:11)
Israel’s worship of other gods was clear evidence that they had forsaken God. Yet they did not think that they had abandoned Him, because they believed they were still offering sacrifices to God and keeping His law. To such a people, God said:
“Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” (Isaiah 29:13)
Israel’s problem was not simply that they did not serve God. Rather, while believing that they were serving God, their hearts had departed far from Him.
The name Jesus reveals God’s purpose of salvation:
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
Jesus came into this world so that Israel, who had departed from God, might recognize their sin, return to God, and become His people who live according to His will.
But God’s salvation is not limited to Israel. Scripture says:
“Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also.” (Romans 3:29)
God is not only the God of Israel; He is also our God. Therefore, Jesus is the One who saves not only Israel but also us from our sins. Through Israel’s sin, Scripture shows us that we too were once in the same condition.
“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air… Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Ephesians 2:2–3)
Scripture also says:
“Covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5)
Just as Israel departed from God and served other gods, we too have loved other things more than God and have served idols in our hearts.
The purpose for which Jesus came into this world does not end simply with the forgiveness of our sins. He came to redeem us from the power of sin, cleanse us, and make us a people who belong to God and are zealous to do the good works that please Him. Scripture says:
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:14)
Therefore, when Jesus saves us from our sins, it does not mean merely that our sins are forgiven. Through the forgiveness of sins, we who had been separated from God are restored to fellowship with Him and become His people who serve Him.
Filled with the Holy Ghost, Zacharias prophesied:
“That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.” (Luke 1:74–75)
The purpose of Jesus’ salvation is to deliver us from slavery to sin and make us servants of God. Scripture therefore says:
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries.” (1 Peter 4:1–3)
Therefore, the words “he shall save his people from their sins” mean that those who once lived apart from God according to their own desires are forgiven of their sins, restored to God, made His own people, and brought into a new life of following His will.