What does it mean to be saved?

John 3:16-17“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

Our salvation includes a rescue from perishing and the gift of eternal life. We can do neither for ourselves. This opportunity comes to us as the ultimate expression of God’s love for us as members of the world he sent his Son to save.

Romans 3:24God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Romans 4:7-8“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

Being saved, spiritually speaking, means our sins no longer count against us toward an eternal death sentence. Instead, our sins are forgiven by the grace of God and we are given the free gift of eternal life. Being saved does not spare us from earthly troubles, but it does spare us from eternal judgment.

Psalm 103:12He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

Being saved means our sins have been completely forgiven by God.

Psalm 51:9-10Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Being saved means the stain of guilt has been washed away. Guilt not only appears to be gone; it is gone! We are given a clean slate! A clean heart remembers humbly and gratefully without regrets.

John 10:27-29“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.”

John 5:24“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”

Being saved means we are assured of living forever in heaven. We will live on a new earth where there will no longer be sin, pain, and suffering. What greater hope could we have?