Page 97 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2011

97

Greek: Strong’s Concordance

We are now going to look at “salvation” in the New Testament teachings of the apostles to establish
that they too taught there are areas of salvation that are past-tense, areas that are present-tense, and
others that are future-tense. If indeed this is true, then the rendering of “being saved” is the proper way
to approach this subject rather than cramming every aspect of salvation into a past-tense, totally
completed, possessive statement of doctrine. If the premise I am stating is true, then it renders the
popular cliché, “once saved, always saved” to be an unbiblical expression about salvation.

Perhaps it is noteworthy to bring out the fact that “eternal life” is not even specified as part of the

definition of the Greek word translated as salvation, and yet many teach that as its sole meaning.

If you say “salvation” the first word response people utter is “eternal life.”

Look at this diagram. S “RESCUE… “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS
It is a comparison of the A “SAFETY… UPON ME BECAUSE HE HAS
Strong’s Concordance definition L “HEALTH… ANOINTED ME TO PREACH
with what Jesus said He came V “DELIVERANCE THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR;
to preach. It is easy to see the A HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL
four words found in Strong’s T THE BROKENHEARTED, TO
described in Jesus’ objectives I PREACH DELIVERANCE TO
for preaching the gospel O
N THE CAPTIVES, AND
RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE

BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY
THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
TO PREACH THE ACCEPTABLE

YEAR OF THE LORD.”
Luke 4:18-19

“…WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING;
FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE”

Phil. 2:12-13

In light of this definition of salvation, we must conclude that when Paul uttered the command to “work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12), he wasn’t issuing a mandate to “work out
your own way to eternal life,” was he? Rather he must have in mind for God’s people to work out what
is needful to be “saved” is being rescued, finding safety, health and deliverance in the midst of this
present evil age that is under the sway of the wicked one. In this misunderstood verse, Paul is talking
about an aspect of “salvation” being worked out by the believer in the soul (mind, will and emotions).
“Salvation” does not always speak of “eternal life.”

Consider another use of the word salvation that does not speak of eternal life.

“IS ANY 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 THE SICK, AND THE LORD WILL RAISE HIM UP…”
James 5:14-15

James uses the same Greek word for salvation to state that “the prayer of faith will save the sick”
(Jm.5:14-15). We would not use this verse to convey how to be saved unto eternal life, would we?
James is merely speaking of the aspect of salvation that brings health in the physical realm. Not all
verses about salvation speak of eternal life!

I am now going to reveal to you how the Scriptures present salvation as a work in progress rather than
a past-tense possession. Stop thinking that salvation is always talking about eternal life. A note of
caution is in order here as well. While I am presenting to you a picture of progressive salvation, I pray
that you will not surmise that I am proclaiming to you salvation by your own works!