Salvation
There’s a long list of words used in church that we’ve now deemed “Christianese.” And admittedly, even though we say them, we don’t always (fully) know what they mean. For the next several weeks, I’m gonna be using our Three Minute Study to give definition and clarity to some of these common terms used by Christians. The first word in our #WhatDoesThatEvenMean series is salvation.
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So what does it mean to be “saved”?
If you’ve ever gone to the junk yard for a car part, or found a piece of furniture at a thrift store or yard sale and restored it, or even adopted a pet from a shelter, then you have an everyday example that can help you understand what salvation truly means.
The first time we see the word “salvation” used in Scripture is in Gen. 49:18.
I have waited for your salvation, O Lord!
Jacob is on his death bed, giving final blessings to his 12 sons. This section in Scripture also includes a key prophecy of the coming Messiah in Genesis 49:10.
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes;
And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word used for salvation is יְשׁוּעָה or Yeshuah
(yesh-oo’-aw), which means something saved, deliverance, help, prosperity security, victory.
It’s a derivative of יָשַׁע or Yaw sha (yaw-shah’), which means to be free, preserved, avenged and to have victory.
In the New Testament, the word most frequently used for salvation is σωτηρία or sótéria
(so-tay-ree'-ah), which means preservation, to be saved, to rescue.
It’s a derivative of σωτήρ or sótér (so-tare'), which means Christ, God, savior.
Salvation is the act of rescuing something doomed for destruction or peril. Biblically speaking, this “something” is us, the “peril” is eternal suffering in Hell, and that “salvation” can only be gained by turning from our sins to God and confessing and believing that Jesus Christ is Lord.
As the New Testament definition shows us, salvation is about not only being rescued from destruction—you are also preserved, or brought back to your original state. What’s our original state? God created us to be in perfect communion with Him, without pain, sin or evil. This was the state of mankind explained in the book of Genesis before Adam and Eve committed the first sin. Salvation through Christ brings the promise that one day, we will return to this perfection. It’s a hope we can rely on in any situation the world brings.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].
—2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP)
When you are “saved,” you can rest on the assurance of God hearing your prayers, forgiving your sins and giving you victory over evil. Salvation gives us access to Heaven and so. much more.
Oftentimes, we think we “earn” salvation through good works, living right and going to church. But salvation is a free gift that God offers to anyone. To be saved is not dependent on tithing, serving, a pastor, a church, a perfect life, a perfect past, the amount of Christians you know, the prayers of others … the list goes on. If you confess your sin, believe in Jesus, and submit to God—you shall be saved.
This week, commit to study more about what it really means to be saved. Understanding this foundation of your faith is truly freeing.
Additional Scripture:
Romans 10:9
1 John 5:1-12
Ephesians 2:8-9
