Daily Bread - FEB/19/07
Acts 16:31 - "And they said, 'Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and your house.' "
The Greek word "sotzo" is translated "saved." It is used to express our rescue from sin and death in the New Testament. The redemption that is in Christ Jesus has brought "sotzo" to our spirit, soul, and body. This word not only refers to being delivered from the sinful nature but also preserved and protected against future assaults by Satan. It is a word that is used to describe healing of the body from sickness and disease as much as deliverance of the spirit and soul from sin and death (Mark 5:23; 10:52; Luke 8:36,48,50; James 5:15; Galatians 2:20).
Although the word appears 364 times in the Old Testament, it is first observed in the New Testament in Matthew 1:21, "And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins." The Lord Jesus has not only promised to save us by simply asking Him to do so, He has also promised to protect and keep us (Jude 24; 1 Peter 1:5; John 10:28; 17:11, 12, 15; Romans 8:38-39; Philippians 1:6).
You may truly rest safely when Christ Jesus has saved you; for He is the good shepherd who has laid down His life for His sheep. He is the one who will keep that which we have committed unto Him (2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 12:2; Romans 15:13; Ephesians 1:13; Philippians 3:21; Hebrews 2:18; 7:25) . He is still the good shepherd today who is watching over His sheep to protect and defend them against every evil thing. He is the one who will never leave you nor forsake you. He will always uphold you and will perfect everything that concerns you.
It is Jesus who forever lives to make intercession for us as the one who authored and finished our salvation. All of these past and present activities of Jesus are included in the meaning of "sotzo." Peter revealed the same thing to Cornelius' house by saying, "all who believe in His name shall receive the release of sins" (Acts 10:43). When the crowd of Jews asked what they must do in Acts 2:37, Peter said, "Repent and be baptized each one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the releasing of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Being saved includes your sins being released, your body being healed, and the gift of the Holy Spirit being made available. Father has made salvation so easy to obtain. There is nothing complicated about being born of the Spirit; all one must do is call and God will answer. It is just as easy to be healed and forgiven as it is to be saved; all one must do is ask in faith.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
About Me
- Carol L
- San Diego area, California, United States
- I started this blog back in 2005, but in 2006 began dedicating it solely for the purpose of posting email messages called, Daily Bread, sent out Monday through Saturday by my pastor, Mark Spitsbergen. These daily emails contain fresh revelation that Mark gets from the Word of God by the Holy Spirit for that day for the church that God has called him to pastor, Abiding Place. 1 Peter 4:11 says, "If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God gives that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen." Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, (John 14:6), and He says, "The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are Life." (John 6:63). For the Word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).
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