What does the Bible mean when it uses the term Saved How broad is the term used in Scripture
Can you explain Salvation as it is revealed through New Testament Scriptures?
A Prophecy in Scripture taken from the Book of Matthew answers this question very early in the NT for the believer. So let s start there.
We are SAVED BY JESUS FROM OUR SINS that have the sentence of death over us. Therefore, Sin should no longer have dominion over a genuine believer.
Salvation from your sins means that Jesus Christ paid the penalty on your behalf to set you free from the bondage of sin. So that you are no longer a slave to sin. Romans 6:5 14
When you REPENT and are BAPTIZED INTO JESUS for the remission of sins AND receive the Holy Spirit then you are no longer a slave to sin. Repentance and Baptism breaks that bondage of sin over your life. Romans 6:5 14
When you are BAPTIZED IN WATER (when you go down under) the old man is crucified with Him, that old body of sin is done away with. In effect you have died with HIM. Romans 6:5 14
When you come up out of the water you come up in the NEWNESS OF LIFE being RESURRECTED so-to-speak: Being FREED and the old body of sin is done away with. Romans 6:5 14
That s what the Apostle Peter was talking about when he said Baptism NOW SAVES YOU. While Noah, prepared the ark in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us BAPTISM (1Peter 3.21)
So if you have not genuinely REPENTED BEFORE GOD (with a godly sorrow) AND Baptized in Water for REMISSION OF SINS AND received the Holy Spirit then you are NOT SAVED from your sins. That OLD NATURE is still ALIVE in you. You are still a SLAVE to sin.
If this is the case you are still a sinner. You CANNOT break free from sin because have NOT CRUCIFIED THE FLESH so-to-speak. You have not TRULY REPENTED. YOU HAVE NOT OBEYED GOD
God commands men everywhere to REPENT. Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance (Matt 3.8)
God command men everywhere to REPENT.
The Scriptures warn the believer NOT to conform himself to the former lusts AFTER he repents. That person is to live HOLY. You are to live as a people FREE FROM SIN And not USING YOUR FREEDOM AS A COVERING FOR SIN! 1 Pet 2.15
The Scriptures place many warnings in front of the Believer!
Once Saved Always Saved? What about AFTER you have truly repented? Can you forfeit this GRACE of being Saved? Can a Christian fall away and thereby lose the Grace of Salvation?
Can I interrupt the process of salvation? What does the Bible say about this?
AFTER the Holy Scriptures then WARN the believer to BEWARE.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance;
For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
The Apostle Peter taught the same thing to the early believers.
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
Then he warned them saying: For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness
Jesus also talked about the not being fruitful in your repentant walk of faith.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away:
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me
If a man abide NOT in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, AND CAST THEM INTO THE FIRE, AND THEY ARE BURNED.
Similarly Paul said this: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
There are many other sayings of Jesus regarding a faithful believer persevering to the end.
If you are still under the BONDAGES OF SIN then, you are a FALSE believer. Sin should NOT have dominion over you that you should obey its lusts (Romans 6:14).
Perhaps your conversion was NOT genuine? Maybe you have no REAL Commitment to God? What if the cares of this life have Choked the Word in you so that you become UNFRUITFUIL?
There is Hope for you! You can take the prodigal son as an example to you.
A certain man had two sons.
V12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. So he divided to them his livelihood.
V13 not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
V14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
V15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
V16 But when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
V17 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
V18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, Humble repentance before the FATHER!
God is willing that none should perish He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4