WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED? Part 2

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED?

In-depth Three-Part Series! Part 2 of 3

We Need To Be Saved  (Part 2 of 3)

Salvation is not granted to those who achieve a state of sinless perfection. Such perfection is not possible in this life. Salvation cannot be earned; it is God’s gift to those who confess the hopelessness of their sinful behavior and turn to the Lord in repentance. Sadly, many of us live in a state of denial, failing to comprehend the depravity of our condition. This delusional mindset is pervasive across the spectrum of societal thinking. Many cling to a false sense of assurance, convinced that all is well between God and themselves. Occasionally, some folks become uncomfortable and highly defensive when we share the need for salvation in their lives. One of Satan’s many schemes is to confuse our minds from comprehending the truth. The Apostle Paul tells us:

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

In part one of this three-part series, we learned that according to the scriptures, all humans are sinners and have a sinful nature. We are powerless prisoners of sin and our sinful nature. We are deserving of the Judgment fires of Hell rather than a place in heaven. However, Jesus didn’t say, “Stop sinning, and I will save you.” He said, “Whoever believes in me shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus didn’t come to condemn us; He came to save us. The Apostle John tells us that those who do not believe in Christ are already condemned.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (John 3:16-18)

All who call upon the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13)

There is only one plan of salvation, and it is the only path to God and Heaven. There are no alternative plans that provide salvation; no matter how well-intentioned and comforting they seem, they are powerless to save you from your sins. God alone offers the perfect plan to save us. He desires to set us free from our sinful nature and the power of sin so we might learn of Him and walk in a righteous relationship. He gave his life to rescue us and prove His love for us. How could we ever say no thanks? How can we say to God, “I don’t need you or your plan?” How shall we escape the fires of Hell if we say no to Jesus (Hebrews 2:3)? If we reject Christ and God’s salvation plan, we will spend eternity in the judgment fires of Hell.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

The Bible uses the term saved (Gr. sozo) to characterize being rescued (saved) from the punishment and penalty of eternal separation from God, awaiting all who reject Christ as Savior and Lord. We are saved from sin’s consequences by Jesus to the Father. He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). To be saved, one must first believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of all humanity. Secondly, we must recognize that we are sinners who need to be saved from the consequences of our sinful lives. Isaiah 53:5 tells us, But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

In part 1, I stated that sin is the rotten fruit produced by your sinful nature. It is the evidence that we are corrupt to the core. For example, Jesus said if you lust after a woman in your heart, you have already committed adultery (Matthew 5:27-28). The act of adultery is cultivated and flows from our sinful nature, as does all sin. In other words, our hearts and minds are corrupted by our sinful nature, and apart from salvation, the power of the sinful nature dominates our lives. Those ruled by their sinful nature are easily led astray to enjoy whatever sin is calling them. Listen to what  James says in his epistle to the early church. He writes:

…but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15)

Our sinful nature is holding us captive and making us slaves to sin. The Bible explains our struggle with sin and why we fall short:

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7:14-20)

We need more than forgiveness of sin; we need regeneration, redemption, and transformation. We need a new heart, a new mind. We need to be born again by God’s Spirit because our sinful nature is destroying us and robbing us of eternal life with God. It is through regeneration and being born again that the old sinful nature is nailed to the cross with Jesus, and we become a new creation in Christ. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

There is more to being saved than escaping the judgment fires of hell. The term saved includes the idea of being healed or made whole, as in healing and restoration of our sin-sick heart and mind. We are saved out of spiritual darkness into the Illuminating light of God’s Holy Spirit. We are saved from the power of sin’s dominance and are no longer slaves to sin; we are set free from the bondage of sin (John 8:34-36). We are saved from worldly passion, the lust of our flesh, the lust of our eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). We are saved from a lack of knowledge and wisdom (James 1:5). We are saved from being powerless to obey God to a life where all things are possible (Philippians 4:13, Mark 9:23). We are saved from fear, timidity, and discouragement because we are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37). We are saved from powerless religious practices into a glorious supernatural relationship with the Living God. We are saved from demonic oppression and control, that angel of light, the sheep in wolf’s clothing, that roaring lion, and the god of this world who once blinded our minds from turning to our Savior and Lord (2 Corinthians 4:4). All this is possible and more because God has rescued us out of this world and separated us unto himself. Those who cryout to God in true heartfelt repentance will be saved.

Turning to God involves understanding that we are not in a right relationship with God. Only God knows if we are sincere when we turn to Him. Only God can examine your heart, and He will, to determine whether you are truly repenting or just praying some religious prayer. Let’s consider what the Apostle Paul told the church at Corinth.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Worldly sorrow is a type of sorrow you feel when you are caught in the wrong, exposed, and feeling guilty. It seeks forgiveness without truly wanting to change and submit to the Lordship of Jesus. Worldly sorrow desires forgiveness without repenting and turning our lives over to God. Worldly sorrow is the realization that we are sinners who possibly deserve God’s judgment, but are hoping God forgives us and doesn’t cast us into Hell. Worldly sorrow is ubiquitous in most religions and involves achieving an acceptable level of good deeds and self-righteousness. Worldly sorrow promotes a false sense of salvation that masquerades as salvation, but ultimately ends in death and eternal separation from God.

Godly sorrow leads us to understand that God loves us, but we have not loved him as we should. The Holy Spirit convicts us not only of being sinners but also of living a life that is not submitted, yielded, and following God’s word. Through godly sorrow, we experience a deep hunger and thirst to know and love God. Godly sorrow leads us into a lifelong relationship of learning about God and following His word. The Holy Spirit supernaturally changes us into new creations in Christ. There is an awakening of our spiritual being that was previously dead (dormant), but now awakened by our supernatural rebirth in Christ. Our minds, hearts, and desires are transformed, and a brand-new spiritual world emerges that we never knew existed. We are born again in Christ and are committed to following Jesus as Savior and Lord. God becomes the number one priority in our lives. We become singular in purpose to do His will and to please God. The power of our sinful nature that ruled us, controlled us, and dominated us is broken.

For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

We cannot be saved unless we repent and turn to God. Repentance involves a change of heart and mind that causes a person to do a 180-degree turnaround. Consider the Apostle Peter’s instructions he gave to those seeking to be saved on the day of Pentecost:

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

When a person truly repents and is born again of the Spirit of God, the next step is to be baptized in water according to the scriptures. If your repentance is genuine, then you must be baptized in water. Water baptism symbolizes what happened on the inside of your mind and heart. The Holy Spirit has awakened a new spiritual person created in Christ Jesus. The old person, that is our sinful nature, was nailed to the cross and crucified with Jesus. We are a new creation, a brand new person in Christ.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 KJV)

There is a huge difference between being religious and having a born-again relationship with the Lord. Pews, pulpits, workplaces, and homes are replete with people needing to be saved. The question we must all ask is whether we are saved according to the scriptures. If we are loving God on Sunday and sleeping with the devil on Monday, then it is highly likely we need to take another look at what we call being saved.

Biblical Synopsis: I am a sinner. I have a sinful nature. I understand that there is nothing good about my sinful nature. I am wretched, corrupt, and an enemy of God. I love myself more than God. I love my life more than God. All this is wrong and part of who I really am. My only hope of salvation is to repent and surrender my life to Christ. Jesus is the only Savior. I need regeneration. I must be born again and learn of God through the Spirit and walk in the right relationship with the Lord. There is no other way to be saved. With heartfelt godly sorrow, I must turn to God now.

For a comprehensive understanding of the new birth, read ARE YOU REALLY BORN AGAIN.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED Part 1: The Sinful Nature

COMING SOON: Check back for Part 3 of 3: Justified, Sanctified, Saved, and Reconciled to God