The word saved is the most misunderstood and misused biblical term of all

The word "saved" is the most misunderstood and misused biblical term of all. It must be understood that there are various contexts in the Bible in which this term is used. When Israel crossed the Red Sea and the Egyptians were drowned therein, the scripture states, "Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians" (Exd. 14:30). Knowing that Egyptian bondage was symbolic of the bondage to sin that we were born in, we see by the scriptures that we are 'saved,' meaning delivered, from all of our previous sins if and when we are born again [Spirit baptized] by faith in Christ (Mat. 1:21; Titus 3:5; Mk. 16:16; I Pet. 3:21; I Cor. 6:11). This usage of the term 'saved' is referring to our conversion to Christ, not our salvation. It also must be understood that the scripture listed here referring to baptism saving us is certainly speaking of the baptism of the Spirit, not water baptism. Jude made certain that this context of the term 'saved' would not be misinterpreted to mean that we have automatic eternal salvation just because we have experienced the new birth: "I will put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not" [i.e. those who ceased demonstrating true faith] (Jude 1:5). That is not a scripture that you will see referenced very often anywhere, and there is a reason for that. That reason is not a good one either.

The context in which the term 'saved' refers to eternal salvation is one in which we are made to understand throughout the scriptures, that only by continuance in doing the will of God can we be saved, or inherit eternal life and immortality. Time and space limit me to quoting a few key scriptures: "For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed" (were born again-Rom. 13:11); "To an inheritance ... reserved in heaven for you, who are kept [from sin] by the power of God through faith UNTO salvation ready to be revealed in the last time... receiving the END of your faith, even the salvation of your souls" (I Pet. 1:4,5,9); "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure UNTO THE END, the same shall be saved" (Mat. 24:12,13). Other references confirming this truth include Philip. 2:12; Heb. 3:6,14; Heb. 12:14; Rom. 8:24,25; I Thess. 5:8; Titus 2:11,12; Heb. 2:3; Heb. 10:28-30; Acts 15:11; Isa. 25:9; and Jer. 8:20. Scriptures which refer to believers as being presently saved, such as I Cor. 1:18, I Cor. 15:2, II Cor. 2:15, and Eph. 2:5; can be more accurately translated as saying that we are BEING saved, meaning that everyone who has been born of the Spirit of God is in the process of being saved as long as they are continuing to follow after the Spirit in holiness (Rom. 8:13,14; Gal. 5:16).

If we discontinue holiness, then we forsake the "hope of salvation" unless and until we repent and get back to holiness. Period. Many of the scriptures we have listed here reaffirm this truth with absoluteness. Every reference to the term 'saved' in the Bible where it regards deliverance or salvation falls into one of these contexts, and the reader must be able to distinguish through honest observation and study which context they are reading in. Also, the universally recognized phraseology, to "get saved," is erroneous and not found in the Bible. The big problem with that error is that it confuses 'conversion' with 'salvation.' That is a major hindrance of confusion, seeing that 'conversion' is the new birth or baptism of the Spirit that puts us into Christ, whereas 'salvation' is the end result of finishing our course in this life AFTER we are converted, without sin. Many of the previously referenced scriptures in this article show that clearly. We cannot work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling" if we believe we have already received our salvation. No my friend, THAT 'saved' is for those who truly "endure unto the end" [in holiness], as Jesus plainly said (Mat. 24:13; Heb. 12:14). As Peter said, and is previously quoted here, that 'saved' is at "the END of our faith," if we are "found unto praise and honour and glory [of God] at the appearing of Jesus Christ." Amen.