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📖 What does it mean to be “saved?”
I’ve been SAVED (by the blood of the Lamb)
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What does it mean to be “saved?”
Cover art for Bob Dylan’s 1980 album Saved (spoiler alert: the title track is a banger).
I was blinded by the devil
Born already ruined
Stone-cold dead
As I stepped out of the womb
By His grace I have been touched
By His word I have been healed
By His hand I’ve been delivered
By His spirit I’ve been sealed
So goes the first verse to an underappreciated Bob Dylan classic.
With each line, the instruments build and energy mounts, giving way to a powerful crescendo as the first lines of the chorus smack you with the full-fledged force of a Gospel choir:
I’ve been saved
By the blood of the Lamb
Saved.
“Christianese”
Every subculture, subgroup, etc. has its own lingo, its own specific phrases and sayings unique to them.
The first church I attended was no different.
Phrases like “worship music,” “receiving Jesus,” or “it’s a relationship, not a religion” were commonplace.
And, quite frankly, from the outside looking in, do come across as rather strange.
My personal favorite Evangelicalism is praying for a “hedge of protection.”
Sometimes, due to hearing these phrases so much, we grow desensitized to them.
As a result, their meaning gets lost, misconstrued, or taken for granted.
That’s what we’re going to take a look at this week, specifically the popular phrase Bob Dylan sang about 45 years ago:
“I’ve been saved.”
Saved?
As a child, when I heard the word “saved,” chances are I was thinking about my save file on Pokemon Emerald.
We’re talking about a different kind of saving this week.
When I became a follower of Jesus, however, that word took on a new meaning.
After that, when I thought about “getting saved” I thought of the moment I dedicated my life to following Jesus.
And I think this is what some Christians envision when they speak of being saved. In other words, it’s the moment they “converted to Christianity.”
For them, to be “saved” means to be Christian.
Simple, easy, do we really need four days to discuss this?
Heck yeah we do.
I hate to be that guy (kinda) but summarizing the beautiful and complex reality of human salvation requires a lot more than just one word with a lot of meanings.
So open your Spotify and get Bob Dylan’s controversial 1980 album playing in the background - we’re getting Saved this week!
For now, be blessed.
Jon,
Theophilus Newsletter
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