Among Christians one of the most common phrases is, “ever since I was saved,” or they may ask, “are you saved?”  They equate taking Jesus into your life as your “personal savior” is an indication that you have been saved.  It is harmless simply catch phrase that Christians use but many organizations have this in their church doctrine.  If this is the case there are three critical issues that must be looked into more deeply.  Those issues are how and when you know you are saved, what you are saved from, and the word ‘saved’ and what it means.  After this you will have a better understanding on the topic and know for sure if you are really saved.

The word ‘saved’ implies a past-tense.  I was saved from having to eat my broccoli, the end result was that I did not have to eat broccoli.  My life was saved when a donor gave me their liver.  In these situations the subject is ‘saved’ because they were rescued from a condition that was to come upon them.  Those of the children of Israel were ‘saved’ from the angel of death who put the blood on their door-post.   The word saved is past-tense meaning it is done.  In the examples above the subject does not have to eat their broccoli, they will live because they were given a new liver, and their lives were preserved because they put the blood on their door-post.  When a Christian says they are saved, what are they really saved from?

What are you saved from is the big question?  It cannot be from death because people die every day.  Jesus died on the cross and so perhaps you do not have to die the death of the cross because He did it for you.  What are we Christians claiming to be saved from?  It is actually from the second death (Revelation 20 v14).  Jesus created an eternal existence for rebelling angels led by Satan; this eternal existence is called the lake of fire.  This is because angels do not die physical deaths as mankind so in order to punish them; Jesus created a live spiritual death.  I equate it to being in the dirt of the earth with worms eating on you but the problem is you are alive to see and feel it.  At any rate this is the ultimate event Christians are hoping to be saved from.  In essence, no one can be saved until they have been granted eternal life.

How to know you are saved and when becomes vital.  Jesus says he that endures to the end, the same will be saved (Matthew 24 v13).  The could only mean two things, the end of your life or the end of mankind’s rule over the earth or more precisely the time Jesus will return.  While we are alive we can change our minds, leave Christianity and become an atheist, Buddhists, or any other non-believer and give up the faith we once had in Jesus Christ.  Would you count on being saved if you did this?  The reason you wouldn’t is because you did not make it to the end and that was Jesus’ criteria in order for you to be saved.  Are you really saved?  You cannot answer that now, if you are in Christ you are walking in safeness and looking to be saved.

Grace and peace in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ

Koko Ishe