Eugene Peterson observed, “You know, if there were one other word that could have been used for most translations of ‘salvation,’ it would have been ‘healing.’ ” Interestingly, most often in the New Testament when the Greek verb “sozo” occurs it is translated “saved.” It not only means being rescued from destruction, but also means “healing” or “made whole.” This dramatically changes they way we read some familiar verses.
For example:
- “She shall give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will [sozo—heal/ make well] his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, NIV) Jesus came to heal/make well our lives from the ravages of our brokenness we experience on a daily basis.
- “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to [sozo—heal/make well] the world through him.” (John 3:17, NIV) God sent Jesus to bring a present redemption to our fractured lives.
- For it is by grace you have been [sozo—healed/made well], through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8, NIV) Any restoration wholeness we receive is a result of the creative, dynamic, and transformative activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Jesus’ offer of salvation is not just a static place for after we die, nor is his healing only for our bodies. Jesus offers to heal us from the brokenness and “unfinished” places of our soul right now. Salvation is about a life with God now…not just an eternity for later. Don’t miss the wholeness, well-being, and abundance of this moment because you are holding out for something different.
Gail Johnsen 