What Does Being “Saved” Actually Mean?

ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

NKJV

now the ruler of this world will be cast out. (Satan)

The strategy of Satan (“the adversary”), is patterned many times throughout the Bible as an all-out attack to destroy seeds of promise God would always give to a generation, including ours.

Genesis 3:15, God is quick to reveal (through the text) that the crushing of the serpent’s head was a picture of Jesus’ triumph over sin and Satan at the cross (cf. John 12:31).

There’s a fast and furious decree laid out by God against the enemy in this passage -including a hidden pattern (by its symbolism)- of eternal life or death based on the readers desire to choose whom they will serve.

Who, therefore, would deserve to win the favor of God by making their lives a testimony of the curse of a powerless, convicted enemy of God?

If we don’t know the authority (given to us) or the “cutting-edge” strategies of God’s grace through the concept of human life; we stand at a loss as the adversary gains an advantage.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

…Remember, it’s a war.  A battle for souls. (cf. Ephesians 6:12)

By the pattern of Jesus’ victory playing out in our own lives, we inherit the same authority and dominion usurping evil invitations like we see in Genesis 3.

ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

NKJV

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

ESV

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

KJV

7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

ESV

8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually has he wills.