One day, we were in the car and we drove past one of those signs that I’m sure many of us have seen before. It was a sign, in the shape of a cross that read “Jesus Saves”. My son, who was 13 then asked what was a very amusing question at the time, but later I admitted to myself was a very intelligent question:

Jesus saves what?

I was born into a Christian home. I went to church because my parents took me to church. It wasn’t until middle school that I began to attend church on my own. But then again, even that was simply out of habit. I developed a personal relationship with Christ when I was in high school. That was when I began to have a genuine interest in the message of salvation. That when I began to desire to know Jesus for myself. It was then that I began to come into the knowledge of what exactly it is that Jesus saves.

So, the question is not only valid, but it is extremely vital. It is also a question that every single Christian should be able to answer.

My life has been a series of lessons. Once one is learned, the Lord starts me on another one. The life lesson that I’m currently on is “The demonstration of love”.

Matthew 22: 36-40 says

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

The amazing thing about this God that we serve is that for everything that He instructs us to do, He always; directly or through a messenger or servant; shows us how to do it.

So, when we are given the commandment to love God and our fellow man, faithfully, the Lord shows us how.

How does one really know when they are loved? How does one believe that they are loved? The answer is quite simple. When they see, and feel love based on the demonstration of love from another.

God has been demonstrating his love for man since creation. First of all, He put us in a beautiful garden, furnished with everything that we could ever want and need. Then, even after we disobeyed Him, He continued to show His love with mercy, long suffering, and compassion. God demonstrated, and demonstrates his love by sending His word through His ministers and prophets to guide and lead us away from the path of eternal damnation.

But to solidify the deal; to ensure that those who received His love would be saved and taken care of for eternity, He demonstrated His love in the mightiest of ways. He offered up himself, in the image of his son. To be the sacrifice for those who truly love Him.

To an unbeliever, this makes no sense. But to those who have been called, and are trying to find their way to Him, we ponder this act, and based on the demonstration, and the reason behind it, we feel the love, which causes us to believe the one who has demonstrated the love.

So, when posed with the question “Jesus saves what”? One who can feel the love of God; one who has begun to establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, can confidently answer:

“Jesus saves me”!

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36 KJV)

Jesus saves me from a destiny of damnation that sin condemns me to. The grace of eternal life abides in me as long as I abide in Christ.

You’ll notice I said “Jesus saves me”, not Jesus ‘saved’ me. The process of salvation is a continuous one for as long as we sojourn on this earth. Temptation, trials and tribulations are a daily occurrence. Satan’s mission to rob us of our crown of salvation is active every minute of every day. So, Christ’s effort to save us is a continuous process. A never ending gift from Him to those who receive His love.

But as “feeling loved” is a specific connection between the giver and the recipient; as “showing love” is a deliberate effort from the giver to the desired recipient, answering the question “Jesus saves what ?” Can only be answered on an individual basis.

Coming into the understanding of “What Jesus saves” is a personal and individual experience. No one can make you feel the love of God any more than anyone can force you to fall in love with someone.

It has to blossom in you. It has to awaken in you. And it is only then that you will feel it, begin to understand it, begin to walk in it, and begin to allow it grow you.

But where every human cannot fall in love with every human because we are all not connected to one another that way, all of those called by God do have the ability to love God because we ARE connected to Him that way.

God is actively doing His part. He has & continues to demonstrate His love for us, to us. Individually. Specifically.

He wants us to receive His love.
He wants us to understand His love.
He wants us to feel His love.
He wants us to share His love.

Because it is in doing all these that we will truly understand what Jesus saves.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

Share your thoughts, that you might encourage your brethren.

In Christ.
The handmaid at His feet.