“Saved” - The 5 letter word Christians hesitate to use

I generally avoid the word. Why…

• In my experience, it’s way overused not underused
• It implies that people who are saved are done being saved. This is only the case in one sense: sin’s penalty is removed from us. But …

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, (Php 2:12)

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (1 Co 15:1–2)

5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Pe 1:5)

See also 1 Cor 3.15

We need to bear in mind also… (though ‘saved’ and ‘salvation’ are not used)

21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Ro 8:21)

…the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. (Re 22:2–3)

In short, God’s saving work is ongoing in His people, and isn’t done in this life. It also includes the entire creation.

People tend to use the term in ways that imply a gap between “us” and “them” that isn’t really there. The gap that is there is deliverance from wrath. The gap in character is in progress and we don’t all start at the same point or move at the same pace on the journey of transformation.