Saved?
What Does it Mean to be Saved?
Have you ever heard someone say something like, I got saved today? Or maybe they’ve asked you this question, Have you been saved?
It makes me wonder, What does it mean to be saved?
I’ll be honest, you could find a lot of different answers to that question. And people believe a lot of different things about what it means to be saved. But if you stop and think about it, it really is a good question.
Even more than that, it’s a biblical question.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1N2NlDoZls[/embedyt]Prison Break?
There’s a story in scripture about a man who wanted to know what he needed to do in order to be saved. He lived in Greece in the ancient city of Philippi some 2000 years ago. He worked in a jail and he had an opportunity to hear about Jesus from a couple of guys who had been arrested and sent to his jail.
He was working the night shift and these two men who were believers in Jesus named Paul and Silas were singing worship songs all night long.
This jailer was listening. He was listening because this was different. These guys had been arrested, beaten, then locked up by the city authorities. Things were not going their way.
They were in the middle of a difficult situation and whatever was coming their way tomorrow, it probably wasn’t going to be good. But they were singing worship songs in the middle of the night in the middle of a jail praising the name of Jesus.
About midnight, something happened that changed this jailer’s life forever. There was an earthquake. And when the earthquake hit every jail cell door opened! The jailer assumed that every prisoner was about to run free and if they did, that would mean an end to his life. He was responsible for every prisoner.
If even one escaped, his life would be on the line. He was about to take his own life when Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” (Acts 16.28).
What was he asking?
He couldn’t believe it, but Paul was right. Everyone was there. The jailer was so overwhelmed that he asked Paul and Silas this question:
“What must I do to be saved?”
What was he asking?
Was he asking – What do I have to do so I can go to heaven when I die? I don’t think so.
He knew that Paul and Silas had something he didn’t have. There was something different about them. In the middle of his own adversity, he was ready to end his life. In the middle of their adversity, they were singing songs of worship.
That speaks into this idea of what scripture means when it talks about being saved and this idea of salvation. Being saved understands that this life as we know it is lacking something. It’s incomplete.
There’s something missing in order for us to experience real life, what Jesus called the abundant life, and the good news is that God has acted in and through Jesus to supply what is lacking.
Being saved is having one’s life put into right relationship with God and with other people, it’s entering into the abundant life Jesus promised and it means we get to participate with God in making things on earth as they are in heaven. And yes, it also means being given this sure and certain hope of eternal life.
You might say that the opposite of “being saved” is “being lost.” Just like when Jesus told the story about the shepherd who left the 99 sheep to FIND, to SAVE, the one who was lost, we too are saved when we come home to God.
When the Jailer asked the question, “What must I do to be saved?” I want you to hear Paul’s answer. He said:
“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” Acts 16.31
What do you need to do to be saved?
What are you lacking?
Faith.
Believe in the name of Jesus and you will be saved.
The jailer believed in Jesus. And that same night he and his entire household were baptized because they all believed in Jesus!
This man who was lost is now found. The one who had no hope now has unparalleled hope.
Do you believe?
Do you believe in Jesus? Are you ready to step into a relationship with our God who loves you so much he gave his one and only Son for you so that you could be saved? To have the opportunity to be in real relationship with others? To have the assurance that come what may, your eternity is set and the abundant life that Jesus offers is already yours?
If so, it’s my prayer that you will respond the same way the jailer did that night. With faith in Jesus. And that you too will step into the waters of baptism and experience a different kind of life. The kind of life that knows the grace and forgiveness of God. The kind of life that has been changed by the story of the great love of God revealed on the cross of Christ.
The kind of life that can sing in the middle of the night in the middle of a jail because even in the darkest night you know God is with you, God is for you, and God is working all things together for your good and for His glory.
Want more about baptism… Click here.
