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The (Sozo) Kind of Salvation

by Rochelle Arnold
11/09/2017 / Salvation

Spiritual Beings

We as human beings exist in three different aspects. The first and primary aspect is that are true man, true person or true self is our spirit. We are essentially a spirit that lives in a body which possesses a soul. The Bible describes how we were created by Father God.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm139:13-16 NIV)

We have a physical body or earth suit, as I have heard some call it. We know that this earth suit is mandatory to survive in this physical realm, but within our physical body we have a spirit.

Our soul is housed in our fleshly brain. The soul has freewill and the ability to think critically and reason. The Word of God is able to split asunder soul and spirit with precision like a master surgeon. (Hebrews 4:12) In other words, we as fleshly men and women tend to follow are soul, but when we receive revelation through the Holy Spirit the Bible takes on a new life and we can better distinguish between what is of God (Spirit) or man (flesh.)

God is a spirit and the Bible also says that God is love. I am convinced that love is the most powerful force in the universe. God exists in three different persons: God the Father, Jesus his Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Scripture says that God made man and woman in His image. (Genesis 1:27) Original sin entered in when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Jesus was sent to earth to redeem fallen mankind from the curse of sin. When Jesus died on the cross physically, he took on all the sins of the world.

Born-Again

When we become born-again, the Bible says we become a new creation. Our spirit and God's Spirit become one. So when we believe and understand God's Word we are able to better understand what salvation means. I believe through divine revelation and careful study of the Scriptures we can uncover great truths regarding our redemption.

The Greek word for salvation is sozo. The definition of sozo from the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (4982) means: safe, to save (self), deliver or protect, heal, preserve or make whole. It's always important to read Scripture in context and study what the words mean in Greek or Hebrew. Even different Bible translations change words and therefore meaning when translating. This is why it is so crucial that we study the Word for ourselves to be able to rightly divide the Word. (2 Timothy 2:15) I have recently heard many wrong teachings about salvation that cannot be backed up by Scripture. Whenever, you hear a teaching make sure you compare it to what the Word of God says. Our spirits are changed and saved at the moment we receive Jesus Christ in our hearts. We must confess with our mouth and believe in our heart.

The error in doctrine comes when people try to earn salvation through works of the flesh. I've even heard preachers try to separate being saved from eternal life. Remember, the spirit is the real person that goes on either to heaven or hell. The flesh is not redeemed until Jesus comes again. At that time, we that our still alive will be changed. The dunamis or resurrection power of Christ changes the old carnal man into a new creation that is not subject to death or decay! Incorruptible also means everlasting. So right now, we all have the corruptible flesh. Corruptible means subject to physical degeneration and decay. Corrupt also means guilty of dishonest practices and lacking integrity. Therefore, we sometimes get sick or even get a disease. The good news is there is a promise that Jesus healed us by His stripes on the cross. (Isaiah 53:5)

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagles. (Psalm 103)

Our flesh is corruptible as it is right now, but we can discipline our flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit. We renew our mind by studying the Word and we strengthen our faith by hearing the Word of God. We must study to show ourselves approved able to rightly divide the Word of God

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:52)

What does the Bible Say about Salvation?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save (sozo) the world through him.(John 3:16)

John 3:16 confirms that we cannot separate eternal life from being saved. They are one in the same. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8) We are not saved by anything we can naturally do. In other words, we cannot earn our salvation. Since we cannot earn it we cannot lose it either. Once we invite Jesus into our life and our genuinely saved we become born-again, which means our spirit is changed and made new.

The Hand That Never Lets Go

Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died and rose again, who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:34)

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 8:38)

So, nothing can separate us from the love of God and since God is love we cannot lose our salvation! I think that is crystal clear from the above Scripture. Nothing can separate means just that, nothing! The blood of Jesus is the glue that holds us together with the Father. For we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. (Revelation 12:11)

For example, if you take the hand of someone much stronger than you and that person has promised to never let go, you will not be able to release yourself from that person no matter how hard you try to let go. If this is physically true in the natural, how much more is this true with God the Father who is the strongest being in the world.

There is a story in the Bible that illustrates how merciful our Lord is. There was a thief on a cross next to Jesus as he was being crucified and he cried out to the Lord to be with Him in Paradise.

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying,Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong. Then he said to Jesus,Lord remember me when You come into Your kingdom. And Jesus said to him,Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.(Luke 23: 39)

Even in the sinners last hour, the Lord is able to save him or her. It is by his loving kindness that many will turn to him in repentance. (Romans 2:4) This Scripture is proof that salvation is not based on actions but on belief. The thief on the cross deserved death and separation from God. However, his faith saved him.

This is not a license to sin and do whatever you want, but if the Holy Spirit is part of your life and you are born-again of the Spirit of God, you are saved. One cannot separate salvation from eternal life they are one in the same. Once we are saved the Holy Spirit begins to guide and direct us in the Word. Guidance can take the form as such things as dreams, visions, rhema words or living words coming to life out of the Bible. Yes, we should abide in Christ that means we must continue to grow and have an intimate relationship with Jesus. When you are truly saved, you know that you know you are His because you cannot accomplish anything without Him.

Hearing His Voice

The Bible says His sheep hear his voice and know Him.My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27) So if you truly belong to Jesus you should be hearing His voice and following Him. He changes us from the inside out. A religious spirit will try to change you from the outside in and that does not work because there is nothing good in the flesh.My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. (Romans 7:18)

The Prayer of Faith

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save (sozo) the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:14-16 ESV)

In James 5:15 the word save is the same word sozo used in John 3:16. So if we insert the meaning of the word sozo, verse fifteen would read And the prayer of faith will save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve or make whole the sick The Scripture goes on to say in verse sixteen that the prayer of a righteous man or woman has great power. From this understanding of the word sozo and its use in Scripture, I believe the prayer of faith can save a sick person either physically, spiritually, or both. Think of redemption this way. Redeem means to gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment. Jesus died for us to gain or regain possession of our spirit, body and soul. He paid the price and now He owns us!

Since we know that not everyone we pray for is physically healed, but their body sometimes dies, does that mean the Word of God is not true? Certainly not! The Lord sees us as an eternal spirit before He sees us as just a physical body. When a saved man or woman offers the prayer of faith and anointing of oil on behalf of a sick person, the person we are praying for may be delivered from darkness into the Lord's glorious light. A lost person may be saved because of the prayer of faith of a righteous man or woman of God. Just because their body dies does not necessarily mean their spirit is lost. On the other hand, if you die without Christ then you may be separated from God and go to hell. Some people call this the second death. First the body dies and then the spirit is separated from God in outer darkness.

Personal Testimony

I lost my little sister to Leukemia on January 30, 2014. I visited her about a month before she died and I felt the Lord impress upon me that it was very important for me to anoint her with oil and pray the prayer of faith over her. Up until this point, I don't believe she was saved. During the week I had to visit with her, I tried to share as much as I could about Jesus and the good news of the gospel. Over the years before this time I had also shared the gospel with her and all of my family whenever I could.

As I touched my sister's forehead with the holy oil that morning, she let out a soft sigh. I wasn't sure exactly what happened at the time, but since then I have more insight on what the Scripture describes in James 5:14. I of course, was praying primarily for her physical healing though I was also believing for her salvation as well. I am now convinced that when I laid my hand on her forehead and confessed the prayer of faith the Lord imparted His light into her spirit and saved her from spiritual death or hell. Later her physical body died but her spirit was saved, and I believe she is in heaven now.

Although she was previously not a believer of Christ, I believe at the very moment I ignited my faith the Lord saved my sister. Salvation is multi-dimensional. When we are saved or born-again, the Lord restores our spirit and transports us from death and darkness into eternal life and light in Him. I also believe at some point before she physically died she called upon the Lord. The Bible says whosoever calls upon the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

Though my sister physically died, I know that through the prayer of faith and the anointing of oil, as well as planting the seed of God's Word the Lord saved her spirit. Remember at the last trumpet the dead are raised as well and put on the incorruptible. (1 Corinthians 15:52)

I believe the Lord manifested himself to my sister in a glorious way before she passed from this earth to her heavenly home. As we were saying goodbye to my sister here, my dad and uncle were welcoming her home in heaven.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions it is by grace you have been saved.And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,in order the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2: 4-9 NIV)

Sinners Prayer

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans10:9)

Dear Lord Jesus,

Forgive me for my sins and come into my heart today. I believe you are the way, the truth and the life. I ask you to be Lord of my life and direct my path. I believe you are the Son of God and you died for me. Help me to find Your destiny for my life in this world. Help me to have life more abundantly in You.

Now find a Bible based Christian church and begin to walk out your faith. Learn about Jesus and get to know Him. It is very important to begin reading the Bible for yourself and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding into the Word of God. It is not about religion. It is about having a relationship with Jesus.

Rochelle Arnold graduated from RHEMA Bible School and is the Founder of Change the World Ministries. Her desire is to impact the culture for Christ through sound teaching and the fine arts. Author of Rags or Robes: Finding Your Identity in Christ & SOJOURNERS: In a Strange Land available on Amazon

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