“”She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” ” (Matthew 1:21, NASB95) What does it mean to be saved? Is salvation only something to worry about after death? Why is salvation important?
The word “save” is sozo. In the Greek, this word spoke of saving, delivering, benefitting, keeping and preserving. It is used to speak of the purpose for which Jesus came. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ” (John 3:17, NIV84) This world includes all people, “who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ” (1 Timothy 2:4, NIV84) This salvation must be personal. “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. ” (1 Timothy 4:16, NIV84)
Sozo speaks to coming out of sin and death and into life. Sozo brings us into an experience and a knowledge of truth.
Sozo changes our lives. We receive purpose because we are saved. “who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ” (2 Timothy 1:9, NIV84) Sozo comes into our lives to affect our entire being. There is nothing in us that cannot be touched by the sozo of God. “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. ” (Hebrews 7:25, NIV84)
Sozo saves our souls. “But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. ” (Hebrews 10:39, NASB95) Sozo saves and restores our bodies. We are saved to be healed. “and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. ” (James 5:15, NASB95)
Salvation delivers. “O Lord my God, in You I have taken refuge; Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me, ” (Psalm 7:1, NASB95)
Salvation brings strength and blessing and inheritance from God. “The Lord is their strength, And He is a saving defense to His anointed. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever. ” (Psalm 28:8–9, NASB95)
These benefits are here and they are now. Today we can be saved. Our lives can be turned around. Today we are healed and restored. Today we are delivered.
God has never been against you. He is for you. “for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they went on to another village. ” (Luke 9:56, NASB95) He made a way for you to walk with Him and that way is Jesus. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. ” (John 14:6, NASB95)
This is the good news. You can walk with God again. Your walk can start today and will never end. You can receive all the benefits God wants you to have today. It starts with Jesus.
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