Most of the time when thought is given to the word "saved" it revolves around the question, "Are you saved?" I would like for us to give some thought to what it means to be saved.
Being saved means we have had our sins forgiven; for we cannot enter heaven with our sins. Paul tells us in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Being saved means we have figuratively entered Christ's death and resurrection. Paul in Romans 6:3-11 tells us that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus were baptized into His death. We are buried with Him by baptism into death and resurrection. In doing so, the body of sin is destroyed. This, after all, is why Christ came into the world. 1 Timothy 1:15 says, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."
Being saved means we no longer serve sin. Once again, we turn to Romans the sixth chapter where Paul was dealing with Christians who felt that since grace covered sin, they could continue in sin and be covered by grace. Paul tells them in Romans 6:1-2, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Paul lays it out for them in verse 16, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" We are the servants of whom we obey. 1John 3:6 says, "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him." If we claimed to be saved and are sinning, we are like the individual who claims to be a vegetarian but is always eating steak, chicken, and pork chops. You may think you are vegetarian, but your actions show that you are not.
Finally, being saved means we are ever vigilant in our lives concerning our salvation. Paul told the Philippians in Philippians 2:12, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." We should always listen and consider those things concerning our salvation in light of the warning from Paul in 1Corinthians 10:12, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." However, that warning comes with a promise in verse 13 that God will not suffer us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, but will provide an escape that we might bear it.
In conclusion, you can know you are saved by what is written in the scriptures. 1 John 5:13 says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
By Charles Royal, Decatur AL
