Weekly Sabbath Survey
Saved From What? — 2-17-2018
We use the word ‘saved’ to mean Born Again and belonging to Jesus. In general usage, “saved” may mean rescued from something. Life guards saved him from drowning; the prince saved the fair maiden from the dragon. So, as Believers, we might ask the question, What am I saved FROM?
If the preaching of hundreds of years among evangelicals is to be believed, we are saved from HELL—(eternal damnation.) Years ago, my Mama would complain about the preachers who were constantly “dangling us over Hell’s fire.” I always laughed when she would go on and on, but I wonder if she was on to something with this. The whole idea of ‘saved from Hell’ seems to be a scare tactic and an incomplete “Gospel.” You get saved, then hang around enduring earthly life waiting for heaven?
And, it could be possible for someone to accept that weak, half truth salvation, buy themselves a 40 lb. Bible, get a big ol’ cross to hang around their neck, and think they are just fine, literally ‘good to go.’ We can believe that, and keep living just like we always have. Many people have done that over the years. The blood of Jesus was applied to protect us from hell, like our lucky coin we carry with us when we play golf.
But what about another aspect of salvation? Could it be the complete Gospel involves being saved FROM something? Yes! There is a Gospel in which Jesus says: “Go, and sin no more.” This doesn’t have the crowd appeal that missing Hell does. Giving up sin is hard work. Especially when it may be sins we like and really want to keep doing. Not too many preachers sermonize about sin these days. It’s a ‘Jesus loves you and wants you to be happy’ message most of the time. True enough. But a life of true salvation cannot keep going the way it always has. The saved one must hear the rest of the story! Real salvation involves a desire to embrace change in our way of living. The ‘proof’ of salvation is a changed life, not a ‘Get Outta Hell Free’ card!
Another advantage of being saved from sin, is that we are saved TO Eternal Life. Missing Hell isn’t even factored in for the redeemed of the Lord! There is no such thing as “fire insurance” in the Bible. Our insurance and assurance is in the shed blood of Jesus who has Saved Us From Sin To Righteousness. By the power of His Spirit, Jesus has made us strong enough to resist and refuse sin. This power evident, visible, by a life lived in righteousness. (The ‘magic’ word here is: REPENT. Which means ‘stop sinning— turn around and go the other way.’)
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10
Charlene Reams Manning, Believer in the Lord Jesus Messiah
copyright June 2017
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