What does being ‘saved’ mean?

We’ve seen that billboard that says, “Jesus saves — we should also be thrifty!” We might chuckly or be annoyed at the use of this word to talk about being thrifty instead of a serious spiritual matter, yet it reminds me that words often have more than one meaning. I love my husband, but I also love pizza and quilting!

In Bible interpretation, context is important, particularly in today’s devotional verse, Psalm 37:39. The immediate context includes verse 40 and defines how the word ‘salvation’ is being used in this passage:

“The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.” (Psalm 37:39–40)

A Hebrew concordance says the root meaning for salvation is to “make wide” or “make sufficient”— in contrast to another word that means “narrow,” or “be restricted” or “cause distress.” It explains that ‘wide’ is about freedom from distress and the ability to pursue one’s own objectives, a moving from distress to safety that requires deliverance. This deliverance generally comes from somewhere outside the one distressed. In the Old Testament this includes national and individual distress from enemies, natural catastrophes, such as plague or famine, and sickness.

The definition adds that anyone who brings deliverance is known as the “savior” yet this word is used in everyday life too, without theological overtones. One example is Moses saving the daughters of Reuel from some shepherds (Exodus 2:17).

However, the OT word ‘save’ or ‘salvation’ often has strong religious meaning because it points to God who delivers. He might empower people to do it, yet it is God behind the salvation. In the NT, this word generally means forgiveness of sin, deliverance from its power and defeat of Satan. The OT begins to point in this direction, yet many references to salvation speak of Yahweh granting deliverance from real enemies and out of real catastrophes. Reading Psalm 37:39-40 again, this is about salvation from wicked people. An illustration is given again from Exodus:

“Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: ‘Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.’” (Exodus 15:20–21)

This celebration points to God’s deliverance of His people from bondage in Egypt and the evil of forced slavery, setting them free to serve the Lord. While it depicts what Jesus later did concerning slavery to sin, these verses need to be considered in their context.

How can I interpret this saving power of God for today? Mostly by my life experiences. Last night I dreamt that I was driving on a slippery street and my vehicle would not stop when I braked. I slid into another vehicle. When I got out, the other driver said we could go to court or he would settle for a million dollars. I looked at the dent in his truck and realized that my vehicle could not have done that because it was not high enough. I told the man what I observed (and the many onlooking witnesses) and suggested he was being dishonest and greedy. Then I woke up.

This event never happened, but I did have a real incident where a woman accused me of hitting her bumper. I knew I didn’t, but leaned down and checked — impossible because my bumper was not even close to the same height as hers. When I told her, her husband hustled her to their car and they left. Both the dream and that situation illustrate God’s protection from this and many other evil things that could and do happen to many people. I take refuge in Him and He has proven to be a real stronghold from all sorts of evils.

^^^^^^

Jesus, I know You have saved me from the penalty and power of sin. I’m thankful that Your saving power is for sin, yet includes deliverance from a host of evils and the things that evil people might try to do to me. Life holds no guarantee of perfection, but I do know that You are in control of the forces that could threaten me. Thank You. Thank You also that the OT has wonderful promises that show Your saving care for Your people. 

Let my light shine

Writers know the power of words and punctuation. A misplaced comma can change the meaning. Even little words need to be exact. Today’s Bible passage has a little word that could be translated at least two ways from the original Greek to English. The biggest surprise is that either way is correct.

“But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles . . . .” (Galatians 1:15–16)

Some versions say “. . . was pleased to reveal his Son in me . . . .” rather than to me. As I consider the immediate context, I can see the value and truth in both versions.

The phrase “to me” describes how God opened Paul’s eyes so he could see Jesus. The Christ had been revealed to him, and because of that, Paul was motivated to proclaim Him and His saving work to the world. Seeing Jesus changed his life and his direction.

However, “in me” is also true. When people become Christians, the Spirit of Jesus Christ brings the very presence of the Lord into their hearts. When they abide in Christ in loving obedience, others can see Jesus in them. God uses this amazing phenomena to reveal Jesus Christ to others.

What are the steps? First, the sense of need must be there. It comes to us through conviction of sin and/or helplessness. Before I became a Christian, I recognized that I am a sinner and unable to save myself. I still recognize my sinfulness and am even more aware of my helplessness. In that attitude, I am eager to give my life to Christ, to have Him do in me what I cannot do myself.

Next, God reveals to sinners the wonder of Jesus Christ, the Savior. Seeing Him indeed changes everything. He forgives sin, grants repentance and faith, and comes into our lives. He lives in me!

This remarkable event happens just once, and He promises to never leave me or forsake me. However, the saving part has just begun. An illustration of a guest coming into our home is often used. It describes that the guest enters the house but is not given access to some of its rooms. I am to give full access to Jesus, allowing Him to not only enter all, but to be in charge of all. Sin permeates every part; so must the Savior.  When that happens, people began to see Jesus in me.

Regeneration is a biblical term for this wonderful new life. At first, the new Christian is called a babe in Christ because we have been spiritually reborn. As Jesus brings maturity to my faith, increasing both it and the desire to live in obedience, people see less of the old me and more of the new creation, the treasure, the life of Christ in this clay pot.

 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (2 Corinthians 4:6–7)

As Jesus is manifested in the lives of His people, He is glorified and others are confronted and will respond. Some will fall in love with this wonderful God-man Redeemer, and others will hate Him and try to silence those who bear Him and His message.

How is this practical? Obviously, I’m to get out of His way and let the light of Christ shine through me.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me…

My name is a derivative of Elizabeth which is Elisabet in Greek and Elisheva in Hebrew. That biblical name means “my God is an oath” or “my God is abundance.” I’ve also read that it means “consecrated to God” which is a blessing to me. As a derivative, my name comes from that name and meaning, and I’m glad for it.

Names were very important in Bible times. They indicated the character and life direction parents wanted for their child. New Testament apostle Peter began with the name “Simon” but he didn’t keep that name.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). (John 1:42)

Curious, I looked up these three names in an online name dictionary. Simon means, “he has heard” which does describe Peter. It took time for him to learn how to act on what Jesus told him, but he did listen to God and eventually became the person described by the other two names. Cephas is Aramaic for "rock or stone," and Peter is a Greek word that means the same thing. The one who heard became a rock!

Is this coincidence? My studies have shown me otherwise. For instance, many literary devices are used in Scripture. For instance, the story of Joseph in Genesis is constructed in chiasms, a word not found in many dictionaries. It is an X –shaped structure where the beginning and ending of a story or poetry use the same thoughts, even the same words. They could be diagrammed like this: A, B, C, D, E, D, C, B, A. The pivot point is always key information in the story.

One of these chiasms starts in Genesis 43:26 with “Joseph’s brothers return to Egypt from Canaan and bow to Joseph” then ends with 50:18 where “Joseph’s brothers return to Egypt from Canaan and bow to Joseph.” The “B” sections are about Joseph weeping over his father in 46:29 and 50:1. The C sections include “the order of the first born” and so on.

The author who recorded Genesis may have chosen this literary device, but because the entire Bible is filled with them, it could be that they appear because of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit on the writers. That is, God who is a God of order, structure and beauty, influenced even this as the Scriptures were written.

Going back to the names of Peter, they do tell a story. Peter did hear Jesus. He was up and down in his understanding of what he heard, and also up and down in his obedience, but he did become a rock, a pillar in the early church.

His story also reminds me of another story Jesus told about hearing and obeying. From it, I get the impression that our God loves using words and uses them to repeat certain themes and images…

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24–27) (italics, underlining is mine)

Even more word play is used to describe that Jesus Himself is the Word of God, the one who “spoke” the universe into existence, and the One who “became flesh and dwelt among us.” He also listened to and obeyed His Father. God is called the Rock of ages, a Rock of refuge, and the One who hides us in the cleft of that Rock.

While these word plays may seem inconsequential to some, I find them wonderfully descriptive of a God who cares about both beauty and details. My faith is given a boost because Jesus changed Peter’s life and because of the way He uses words to change my life. As the psalmist says,

He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. (Psalm 62:6)

Put it on?

Whenever someone studies the Bible, one of the first steps is making sure that they know what the words say. This is primary yet well-read people tend to take this step for granted, particularly if the words are simple. Yet this can be dangerous because even simple words can mean something other than what we think they mean.

For instance, when I read the words “put on” I tend to think of someone doing something misleading, they are acting or putting on an attitude that is not real or normal for them. Today, I looked up “put on” and found that even an ordinary dictionary lists six meanings. Three of them resemble the meaning that pops into my head.
    3. To assume affectedly: put on an English accent.
    4. Slang, to tease or mislead (another): You're putting me on!
    6. To produce; perform: put on a variety show.

The other three are more positive and do not have that sense of faking it.
    1.  To clothe oneself with; don: put on a coat; put socks on.
    2. To apply; activate: put on the brakes.
    5. To add: put on weight.

Consider these six meanings for the following verses about the way Christians are supposed to live. 

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. (Colossians 3:9-10)

If any of the first three meanings are assumed, then the passage is about acting, playing a part, being misleading. That is not what the Bible is talking about, but often that is the way the Christian life is interpreted. Put on a Christian face, show a pious and spiritual attitude. Never mind what is really going on, just look good on the outside.

Definition #1 is closer to what the verses are saying. Most commentators say that putting on the new life is like putting on clothes, but even this definition misses the idea a little bit. Putting on clothes could be seen as an external action, a covering up of what someone is really like. This is not what God has in mind. The Greek word is more about “sinking into” clothes, perhaps a slight difference, but it puts to mind a deeper thing than just donning a new persona or affecting an external change.

All that being said, the context enriches the ideas in these verses. The former self was involved in sinful living, but Christians are given a new mind, the mind of Christ. With that, we have a renewed knowledge that is more like the innocence and openness of a babe yet this renewed understanding is patterned after Jesus Christ. Instead of being like we once were, we are told to dump that like an old rag, and now be like the new people He has made us.

We are to wear that newness, live by it, sink into it, let be the way we are, not a way we pretend to be. Our piety is not to be a big “put on” but genuine, from the inside out, like Jesus.

As soon as I start saying to myself, “How should I act in this situation?” then I have lost the very thing Colossians 3 is talking about. The new nature is a choice, but once it is yielded to, then the Holy Spirit does the deciding and I just am who I am. It isn’t a put on.

These are only two simple words, yet what a difference the definitions make. Without checking it out, I could think it is okay to wear a church face, or pretend I am patient, or let others see only the “good” side of me.

Renewed knowledge, and a bit of effort to activate that knowledge with some Bible study, says otherwise.