for this is how God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that all the ones believing in him will not perish but having eternal life. For he did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world is saved through him. (John 3:16-17)
A horn represented a figure of power and position, so God has raised up someone with the power to save, "to give his people the knowledge of salvation that in the forgiveness of their sins." (Luke 1:77) John the Baptist was "the voice calling in the wilderness, 'prepare the way of the Lord, make ready the path for him... and all flesh will see the salvation of the Lord.'" (Luke 3:4-6) The message of salvation was sent to the Jew of the fleshly covenant first, then to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. (Acts 13:26, Acts 13:47) The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16) "You also in him, hearing the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, in him also believing were marked with the promised Holy Spirit." (Ephesians 1:13) The good news of salvation is one that includes the adoption by the promised Holy Spirit. We see adoption, redemption, the forgiveness of sin in salvation. Possibly we can sum up all the reasons Christ came into the world in this one word; salvation?
And salvation is in no one else; for existing no other name under heaven given among men in whom salvation is binding. (Acts 4:12)
The one believing in him has eternal life and is saved. Saved from what? "he has raised up a horn of salvation... salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us." (Luke 1:71) At the time of Jesus, I think many Jews stumbled because they thought the Messiah would come as an earthly king to free them from the hand of the Roman empire or other enemies. Jesus did not deny being a King. (Matt 27:11) But He said his kingdom was not of this world and his servants did not fight like it was. (John 18:36) Yes, he came to set captives and the oppressed free, and so the blind could see, but his kingdom speaks of a higher plane.
and we were dead in our trespasses and sin in which we once lived according to the course of the world, according to the ruler of the realm of the air, the spirit that at present energizes the sons of disobedience, among whom you once lived in the violent desires of the flesh, doing the will and intentions of the flesh, and were by nature children of wrath..." (Ephesians 2: 1-5)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin." (John 8:34)
All had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, thus all were slaves of sin. Jesus makes clear where the battle belongs, the thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy. So does Paul, "for our struggle is not with flesh and blood, rather with the leaders, with the authorities, with world rulers of this darkness, with spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm." (Ephesians 6:12) And "in your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." (Hebrews 12:4) Thus the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but of the power of God. (2 Corinthians 10:4) We are saved from death, from the rule of darkness, the power of sin, and from wrath. "For God has not appointed us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," (1 Thessalonians 5:9)
so also Christ, after having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time to those who are eagerly awaiting him, without reference to sin but for salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)
and we were dead in our trespasses and sin... but God rich in mercy through his great love, even though we were dead in our trespasses and sin made us alive together in Christ, by grace existing saved... (Ephesians 2:4-6)
God chose you as first-fruits unto salvation, in the sanctification of Spirit and belief in the truth. And he called you to this through our gospel, that you might come to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14)
But God through his great love gave his Son. The Law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17) "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people," (Titus 2:11) Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 3:15) Therefore, "by that grace existing saved through faith..." (Ephesians 2:8) Salvation is not of ourselves, not of works lest we boast but salvation is a gift from God.
For he did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17)
The Mosaic Law was a ministry of condemnation. (2 Corinthians 3:9) But salvation means there is no condemnation in Christ. (Romans 8:1) God sent his Son not to condemn but to save. Since he also came to destroy the works of the devil, and to set us free from sin, the accuser of the brethren has no power to bring condemnation against us. We receive by faith in Christ grace and the gift of righteousness, justified by grace through redemption and his blood. We receive favor and adoption through the Spirit. This is how God so loved the world, he gave his only Son, not to condemn the world but to save it from the power of darkness and the day of wrath, of God's judgment and condemnation against sin.
The mystery in Christ is infinitely searchable, you can always find more treasure in the scriptures, which is a good thing that we continue to grow in the knowledge of Jesus. God revealing his truth in this way is the way we feed on his word which is the word of life. God chose us before he created the world, to be holy, and blameless in his presence in love, he predestined us for adoption. (Ephesians 1:4-5) And according to his purpose he is working out all for our goood, conforming us to the image of Christ. So it is said he called us unto salvation through the gospel so that we share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14) There are other things concerning salvation that we will not discuss today like there is a working out of our salvation, a salvation of our soul, that we await salvation the redemption of our body, that the champion of our salvation was perfected through suffering as are we who share in his suffering so to share in his glory.
Since he bore our sin on a cross, when he appears again for believers it is not in regard to sin, but for salvation. Sadly, for those not believing, they are condemned already. (John 3:16-18) For those believing in him who receive the blessings of adoption, redemption, the forgiveness of trespasses, he comes in regards to salvation. Hear the voices in heaven of those saved, "And they cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10) Hear "the roar of a great throng in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God," (Revelation 19:1) God so loved the world, Christ the Savior was born.