Written by Janna Shick
When you think of being saved, what comes to your mind? Consider the one who has been lost at sea, floundering in the waves desperately hoping for someone to rescue them. Ponder the child who is stranded in the upper floor of a burning building, screaming for help. What torment there is for the one who is suffering in these situations! Yet, what incredible joy and relief when they are rescued.
At the Church of God, when the word “saved” is used – it means to be free from sin.
Similar to the physical examples above, an individual can feel mentally hopeless in life. Instead of joy, each day seems to be full of heartache and sorrow. No happiness can be found, although it is searched for in many places. Dishonesty, unfaithfulness in marriage, the vices of tobacco, alcohol, drugs or pornography can tightly grip an individual, just as if they were in prison. How can a man be set free?
Jesus came to be hope for the world, to offer new life. Matthew 1:21- “for he shall save his people from their sins.” Jesus, who was born the Son of God, died on the cross and arose again on the third day that “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
A sinful life is truly unnecessary. Some will refute that point, stating that sin cannot be helped. If that is the case, Jesus’ death was to no avail. He did not die to just help man live a better life. He died so that man could be holy, just as He is holy.
In the physical examples above, when they are saved – the lost one at sea is no longer in the water; the child has been removed from the flames. Jesus came to completely changes lives! “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17) This is the amazing wonder of truly being saved. The things that once held a person in bondage can be totally removed. The addiction can be broken, lives put back together and happiness restored through the power of Christ. We invite you to attend our services and find out more about this incredible gift of Salvation.
