The Gospel

1 John 4:⁹ “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”

Today, we will begin by expanding on a few things we touched on yesterday. Sõzõ is an all-encompassing word. However, if you just look at it from the meaning save, you will struggle because you will not see the fullness of what it means to be saved, or what it means wherever the word Sõzõ is used. What I am saying in essence is that the English translation of the word save has led to an understanding that is too narrow, limiting it to the doctrine of atonement of sin alone. Remember that we have established that the number one problem of man is sin. So, if all Sõzõ means, if that is all to be saved means, then God has done more than enough.

If all we have on earth is the salvation of souls, forgiveness of our sins, and we are heaven bound. God has done more than enough. However, why should we put a full-stop where God has put a comma? Why should we put a period when God says to be continued? Why should we focus on so little when God has said there is so much more? Again, if all Jesus came to do was to die for our sins, and that is all He took care of, He has done more than enough because our sins are plenty. Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world – past, present, and future – completely taken care of on the cross. If that is the only thing Jesus came to do, that is more than enough. But guess what? It is much more than that.

What I am saying is the gospel promises and delivers wholesome and comprehensive well-being to the believer. Isaiah 35:^3-4 “With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” When the Bible says “God is coming to destroy your enemies’, a lot of us know that as deliverance. But God is saying there is more. The word Sõzõ is a full spectrum of what God did through Christ, a full spectrum of what happened on the cross of Calvary. The word Sõzõ is like having a whole banquet but you have just been eating from one corner.

Sõzõ means to save, to keep, and to preserve. If you are saved, not only will God keep you, but He will also preserve you. Wow! But that is not all, Sõzõ also means to deliver, it is in the same package. Remember the Syrophoenician woman? Read the story in Matthew 15:21-28, and we will take the conversation further in tomorrow’s devotional by God’s grace.

Prayer: Father, please expand my understanding to see the depth of Your heart in this season, to fully grasp the gift of salvation, in Jesus Name. Amen!