[Twenty-Fifth in a series of posts on church words] Encore Post: One of the most used words in the church’s vocabulary is salvation. We sing about it; we preach about it. It is the goal that every Christian aims for. You can ask even a child what it means. It means that we go to heaven when we die. Right?
Not really. Salvation is not about what we are saved for. It is about what we are saved from. The Hebrew word ישׁע (yasa) and the Greek word σῴζω (sozo) mean “to help, to make whole, to save, to deliver” and similar things. The Hebrew word is behind the names Joshua, Jesus and Isaiah, and many others. It is used for saving people from disaster, sickness, enemies, and oppression. God saved his people from slavery in Egypt. He saved and preserved his people countless times, not because they deserved it, but because he loved them.
It is also used by the prophets for the ultimate rescue — from sin, death and power of the devil. These begin with the promise to Adam and Eve that their Seed would crush the head of the serpent, Satan, and he would bruise the heal of the Seed. (Genesis 3:15) The promised Messiah would bear our sins, atone for them and intercede for them. (Isaiah 53) Finally, he would be born of a virgin at just the right time. (Galatians 4:4-5) The Angel announced to Joseph that he would name the Messiah “God saves” (Jesus) because he would save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21) Jesus was the Lamb of God, who bore the sins of the world to the cross. (John 1:29) His death destroyed death and his resurrection won the victory for us, opening the grave for us on the last day. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
Ultimately, then, what Jesus saves us from is sin. Sin threatened to destroy us and separate us from God forever. Therefore, we do not return to sin, now that we are baptized. It would be like having a firefighter carry us out of our burning home, only to try to go back to get our favorite pictures. There is no point in being saved when you are going to put yourself in danger. When we were baptized, we died with him. When he rose, we rose to new life.
So, what are you saved from? From sin, death, and the power of the devil. Why? So that you can live as his child, redeemed, forgiven and be with him forever.
Originally posted at What does this Mean? Blog: https://whatdoesthismean.blog
The posts in the blog What does this Mean? are now available at What does this Mean? | Rev. Robert E. Smith | Substack
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Pastor Emeritus
Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Well, this was certainly interesting. It does make sense though. It should also teach us that knowing the meanings of words Will help us use them correctly and understand. Thank you.
You’re welcome!
Thanks, Robert. Our Eastern Orthodox friends would emphasize that with Easter Jesus Christ saves us from death. Sin, Death, and the Power of the Devil.
We go at that in other posts. Blog entries have to be relatively short.
Salvation must include the whole meaning. What we are saved FOR. Eternal life.
Salvation is not a fire insurance policy from hell. It is about being saved by Christ from sin. We have other words for where we go after death (paradise) and life forever with God. (resurrection, eternity, everlasting life, the Marriage Feast of the lamb). Especially in America, we are over focused on what’s in it for me.