The Bible uses 'saved' because it is the scriptural word for rescue and deliverance from eternal doom through the gospel.
Paul repeatedly uses the word in his letters, and it is tied to salvation — being saved from something. Les Feldick shows that the same word is used in ordinary life, like being saved from bankruptcy, and in spiritual matters it means being saved from eternal doom. The gospel is what makes salvation possible.
2 Timothy 1:9 — Paul directly uses the word 'saved' and explains that it is not according to works but according to God's purpose and grace.
Romans 1:16 — Paul calls the gospel the power of God unto salvation, tying the word 'saved' to the gospel.
1 Corinthians 1:18 — Paul contrasts those who perish with those who are saved, showing the cross is the dividing line.
Scripture itself uses the language of being 'saved' to describe what God does for believers. Paul writes, 'Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began' (2 Timothy 1:9). He also declares that the gospel is 'the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth' (Romans 1:16), and that 'the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God' (1 Corinthians 1:18). The word 'saved' is therefore not an adjective invented by religious tradition; it is the biblical term for being rescued by God's grace through the gospel. Paul also ties 'saved' to the person and work of Christ: 'This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners' (1 Timothy 1:15). And in Ephesians he says, 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God' (Ephesians 2:8). These passages show that 'saved' is the Bible's way of naming the deliverance that God provides for those who believe.
Les Feldick explains that 'saved' is not an invented religious word. It is a simple word used in the secular world that denotes salvation — being saved from something. He illustrates this with a man about to go bankrupt who is suddenly given a fortune by a rich uncle; everyone would say that inheritance 'saved' him from bankruptcy. In the same way, 'we are saved from an eternal doom' — the gospel is our salvation. Salvation, Les says, has always meant bringing somebody out of a destitute place; the whole Bible from Genesis 3 onward is concerned with the salvation of a fallen human race. Paul makes it clear that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and that believers are saved not according to their works but according to God's own purpose and grace. Les also shows that salvation includes redemption — being bought back with a price. So when the Bible says 'saved,' it is using the precise word for rescue from eternal ruin through the gospel of Christ. Les stresses that believers are to know what they believe, lest they believe in vain.
In Scripture, 'saved' is tied to salvation — being saved from something. Paul writes that God 'hath saved us... not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace' (2 Timothy 1:9), and that the gospel is 'the power of God unto salvation' (Romans 1:16). The message of the cross is foolishness to those who perish, but to those who are saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). So the Bible uses 'saved' to describe the deliverance that comes through faith in Christ.
Les says salvation has always meant the same thing — being rescued from a hopeless situation. He uses the picture of a man facing bankruptcy who receives a rich uncle's inheritance; everyone would call that salvation. In the spiritual realm, 'we are saved from an eternal doom' — the gospel is our salvation. Les also stresses that Paul says we are to know what we believe, lest we believe in vain.
The Bible is a progressive revelation, and Paul's letters add to the older promises. Les points out that Paul writes that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — a statement not made in the Old Testament. Paul also connects salvation with God's eternal purpose, saying we are saved not by works but by His purpose and grace, and that salvation includes redemption — being bought with a price.
Les stresses that 'saved' is not a strange religious term; it's a simple word used in the secular world. We speak of someone being saved from financial ruin, and the Bible uses that same language for eternal salvation. That is why the word appears in the biblical message: it communicates rescue and deliverance.
Les points to the reality of eternal judgment — an eternal lake of fire waiting for people — and stresses that the Bible says there is only one way. 'Saved' is therefore a life-or-death word, not a casual religious expression. It describes being rescued from that coming doom through the gospel.
Only One Way and a Coming Doom
Les points to the reality of eternal judgment and stresses there is only one way — the Bible's way — showing why the word 'saved' carries life-or-death meaning.
Saved Means Saved From Something
Les explains that salvation always means being saved from something, using a financial rescue from bankruptcy as an example of a man 'saved' from ruin — in the gospel, from eternal doom.
By This Gospel We Are Saved
Les shows that Paul connects salvation directly to the Gospel: this Gospel is what makes salvation possible, and believers must know what they believe.
Salvation Has Always Meant Rescue
Les says salvation has always meant bringing someone out of a destitute place, and finds the same word in Isaiah's garments of salvation and Romans' righteousness covering the believer.
The Bible's Central Concern
Les points out that from Genesis 3 all the way through the last pages, the Bible's main concern is the salvation of a fallen human race — which is why salvation language pervades Scripture.
Christ Came to Save Sinners
Les notes Paul's faithful saying that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, while also explaining this language is progressive — the Old Testament emphasized the King and the Abrahamic covenant.
Saved by God's Purpose and Grace
Les reads Paul's words — 'Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works' — to show that salvation originates in God's eternal purpose, not human works.
Salvation Includes Redemption
Les ties the word salvation to redemption, explaining that a redeemed item is bought back with a price; the human race was lost in Adam and God paid the price to redeem it.
2 Timothy 1:9: Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Shows that the Bible's word 'saved' describes God's work of calling believers, not a human achievement.
Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Connects 'saved' and 'salvation' directly to the gospel message Paul preached.
1 Corinthians 1:18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Explains why the message of the cross is foolishness to the perishing but power to those saved.
1 Timothy 1:15: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
States plainly that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — the reason for the word 'saved.'
Ephesians 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Paul uses the word 'saved' to describe the way God delivers believers by grace through faith.
Isaiah 61:10: I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Les points to this Old Testament verse to show that 'salvation' language was already used for God covering His people — the same word carried through the Bible.
No. Les Feldick points out that 'saved' is a simple word we use in the secular world, like being saved from financial ruin. It denotes salvation and means being brought out of a destitute place. In the Bible it means being rescued from eternal doom.
The Bible connects being saved with the gospel. Paul says the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Salvation is from eternal doom, by God's purpose and grace, not by our works.
Because the gospel is the message by which people are saved. Les Feldick says Paul makes this clear in 1 Corinthians: by this gospel we are saved, and believers are to keep in memory what was preached, knowing what they believe.
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