March 20, 2018 - When I was just a little boy I lived with my grandmother. Everyday we would walk up the road to my great-grandmothers house. I so enjoyed walking with "Ma." We would discuss life and she would answer any question I asked (and I asked a lot of them.) One day I asked her, "Why do people talk about being saved so much at church? What do we need to be saved from?" She looked at me and with a smile and said "sin." I didn't quite understand but I acknowledged her and went on.
Once I became a pastor and I listened to people talk about being saved, I realized that most people, even older Christians don't completely understand what they are saved from when they accept Christ. We can all use our Sunday school answer and say, "sin." So what is sin? The translated word for sin from the original Hebrew text means to "miss the mark." We miss the mark established by God for righteousness. Well, how do I know I have sinned? The Apostle Paul says in Romans 3:23: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." So none of us are free from guilt. Is there anyone, other than Jesus who didn't sin? Well, no, but there have been people who claim they are better than others even to the point of saying their sins aren't as bad as others. John in his first letter says, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." So we can safely say that everyone needs saving.
Lets look at it in regards to sin, what we are "saved from." First, Jesus' death saved us from the penalty of sin. What is the penalty of sin? Romans 6:23 states "the wages of sin is death." This may not be a physical death but spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. Jesus was the gift of God to the world so that through Him we could spend eternity in the presence of God and not separated from Him. Romans 6:23 goes on to say, "but the gift of God is eternal life."
Second, we are saved from the power of sin. When you become a Christian, God gives you power over the sin in your life. You are no longer bound by the chains that sin has on you. Romans 8:31 says "if God is for us, who can stand against us?" Because of the love that God had for us by sending His son Jesus you can overcome anything that is thrown at you.
Third, we are saved from the presence of sin. Revelation 21:3-4 says, "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God." God has prepared a place for all who accept His free gift of grace through faith to live with Him in a place where, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." You see, God loves you so much that He has went to great lengths to give you a way to be saved from the things that are hurting you.
Jesus died on the cross for you! Only He can save you. Trust Him and He will set you free from the penalty, power and presence of sin in your life.
I'm just sayin,
Mike Belgard
