Christians talk about being saved but the question is, "What are we saved from?" Salvation (being saved) is the deliverance from the consequences of sin. Not just the immediate consequences of a bad decision, but the eternal consequences due to being separated from God by unforgiven and unrepented sin. Because God is perfectly holy and just, He cannot be in the presence of sin. Sin must be washed away thoroughly. This is only accomplished through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son.
The Consequences of Sin: Separation from God
In modern society we seem to have forgotten that sin is the presence of evil. Sin is when we miss the mark of perfection set by God. This means failing to live up to His moral standards in our actions, thoughts, or attitudes. Sin can be things we do and things we fail to do. It can be evil acts or wrong thoughts, like pride. Sin is contrary to the nature of God and all of us sin. When we choose sin—and that is what we do—we make a conscious decision to separate ourselves from God. As Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Because we all sin, we need redemption. Redemption is the deliverance from the condemnation and bondage of sin.
When we refuse the redemption that the sacrifice of God's Son offers, we eternally separate ourselves from God. If we don't believe in sin, then it is hard to believe that you need saving from it. God hates sin. The Bible even lists seven specific sins that God finds particularly detestable.
God's Hatred of Sin: Seven Detestable Acts in Proverbs 6
In Proverbs 6:16-19 God lists seven sins that He absolutely detests. He hates:
Arrogance or haughtiness - when we are prideful and look down on other people. We may pride ourselves on being such good Christians we rarely sin. God hates this pride. Whatever good we have comes from Him alone.
Lying - since the Devil is the Father of lies we know that this is a truly awful thing. Lying can mean to tear someone down or it can be the lies of flattery to get something you want.
Murder - killing an innocent person willfully. Jesus even says that being angry with someone without forgiving them is the same as murder.
Wicked schemes or plans - devising or plotting to do harm, physically, emotionally or mentally to someone else. David committed this sin when he plotted the death of Uriah so he could be with Bathsheba.
Feet rushing to evil - God hates it when people make no effort to resist sin. Do we yield to sin at the first temptation? Or do we as James 4:7 tells us, "Resist the devil and he shall flee from you."?
A false witness - similar to lying, in this case bearing false witness against someone else, like in a court of law, could cause them to go to prison or even receive the death penalty. We can't lie to save ourselves or someone we love.
Someone who stirs up dissension among brothers - we are to be peacemakers not troublemakers. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are not supposed to cause strife or unnecessary disagreements among ourselves. We are to encourage one another.
Answering the Question: What Salvation Truly Saves us From?
When a non-Christian asks us, "What are you saved from?" We should have an answer. We are saved, not from a physical death (unless we are alive at Jesus's return) but from a spiritual death. Spiritual death is an everlasting punishment, where we are cut off from God's presence, love, and eternal life. As Romans 6:23 explains, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Our wages, what we deserve, is death, but God offers us a gift. His gift is eternal life through Christ. This death, or eternal separation from God, is the final consequence of sin. In 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Paul says that those who perish without Jesus "will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might."
The Final Judgment: Spiritual Death vs. Eternal Life
Because God is holy, righteous, and a God of judgment, "Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God" (John 3:18). Those who do not believe in Jesus have been condemned, found guilty, and deserving of punishment. This may, at first glance, seem harsh and unloving. But look at the sacrifice God has made so that we can escape condemnation. Instead of wondering how God can punish sinful people, we should be amazed that He offers us the promise of eternal life. What salvation truly saves us from is the condemnation we deserve. However, everyone of us can have hope and that hope is found in Jesus.
God’s Ultimate Sacrifice: Jesus Christ, the Perfect Lamb of God
His very own perfect Son, Jesus, was sent to earth in human form to live among us, teach us, show us His love and care, and then die on a cross so that we could escape this condemnation that sin brings. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The sufferings of Hell only come about when someone rejects the free gift of salvation that is given to those who believe in Jesus. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is the unearned, unmerited free gift of God. It is the work that Jesus did on the cross, not our work, that saves us.
Salvation by Grace Through Faith: Freedom vs. Slavery to Sin
Sometimes, when we reject God and His gift of grace, we believe that we are living a life of freedom. No more restrictions, no more rules, just do what we want and when we want. We can satisfy our every desire and not worry about consequences. What we don't seem to realize is that we have only become a slave to sin. We are living a life of conformity to the world. We are deceived by the devil to believe that we are free.
A Deceptive Freedom: Enslavement to Worldly Desires
In this world, people may view themselves as wise and kind. They may have received many blessings. They may feel no need for God because their needs are seemingly satisfied. They simply don't see the fact that they are truly enslaved by their own desires. They may think they are good enough without God. They don't realize they are enslaved to the lies of Satan. All of us, before we were saved, were in rebellion to God. Romans 5:10 tells us we were literally enemies of God. We wanted to be our own god. We believed we had no need for the God of the universe.
What Salvation Doesn't Mean
Salvation is not something we should desire solely for what God can give us or do for us. If we value God only for satisfying our worldly needs, we miss the true purpose of faith. God must not be seen merely as a means to an end. When we lose everything, as happens in this world sometimes, then we may turn away from God if we think His only purpose is to provide us with family, an escape from loneliness, a sense of purpose, or the food on our table. God must be valued for His own sake.
True faith finds its anchor in who God is, not merely in what He does for us. Then when all is lost, we will draw near to Him. What we know of God—His faithfulness, truth, justice, and love—is connected to our faith in Him. We know Him through His creation, His voice within us, and His Word. Our salvation is not a transaction but a transformation, drawing us closer to God for His glory, not simply for our own comfort. God tells us our transformed life has a purpose.
The Purpose of Salvation: Saved to Do Good Works
So what does God save us for? Paul explains this in Ephesians 2:10. He says that we are saved, not by our works, but to do good works. We are saved to show the world Christ through our love, humility, and obedience, fulfilling God’s purpose to make us a light to others (Matthew 5:16). We are saved to show the world Christ! Jesus, you made a way, praise your holy name!
Enjoy this beautiful song, "Thank You Jesus for the Blood" by Charity Gayle here.
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