Read these verses about God our savior. What does each verse teach you?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
Romans 5:8 …God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Hebrews 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Switching gears…The word “saved” in Greek is SOZO. Here’s what it literally means.
σώζω sōzō to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): – heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole. The word sozo is in the New Testament 110 times.
By grace we have been delivered, protected, healed, preserved, saved, made whole, done well!
Here are some verses where God “saves.” I marked the saved word with italics. These verses are in the King James.
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Jesus took the punishment for our sins, bearing our wrath.)
Matthew 8:25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. (protection, physical saving – This is on the boat during the storm.)
Luke 8:36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. (deliverance, spiritual healing)
Luke 8:50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. (raised from the dead)
Acts 14:9-10 The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. (physical healing)
Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (eternal salvation)
You don’t earn your salvation. There’s no work you have to accomplish first. We receive salvation. The disciples, fearing for their lives in the storm, called out to Jesus and were saved. Can you imagine Jesus just leaving them to die? Why do we doubt His love and care for us today? God doesn’t change. He showed us Himself in Jesus.
We have a great salvation. Salvation isn’t just going to heaven when we die.
Jesus came to take away our sin (1 John 3:5). That means we have forgiveness because our punishment was justly dealt with in Christ’s death, but it also means that by being joined with Christ in His death and resurrection we are dead to sin. We are no longer slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness, doing what is right. Our sin was taken away. We now can choose to do what is right. If we love Jesus, we know the right thing to do and do it. He took our sin away from us! But we also get to live with the Holy Spirit and His abundance in our lives. He’s watching over our lives. He’s our Helper. We can rest in our salvation, knowing that He is taking care of our lives in every way.
Lesson Point: God saves us from sin and all its bad consequences. His salvation is for eternity but also for today.
Challenge Question: Do you believe in God’s salvation? Can you trust Him with your life? If so, tell Him. Give your life over to Him to care for and tell Him you trust Him with it.