Jesus wasn’t saved.
That’s right.
And I have a Bible verse to prove it.
In Matthew 27:42, some of the people who were watching Jesus die on the cross said this: “He saved others; but He can’t save Himself!”
You see? Jesus wasn’t saved. He did not save Himself.
That’s ridiculous, right?
The people in Matthew 27:42 are talking about dying on the cross. They are referring to how Jesus rescued and delivered many people from sickness and even death, and they find it ironic that although Jesus rescued others, He cannot rescue Himself from death on the cross.
And of course, we all know that Jesus could have rescued Himself, but He didn’t. Jesus did indeed die on the cross. He was not saved (from death on the cross).
But does this say anything about His eternal destiny? Of course not! (Jesus always had eternal life, for in Him is life — 1 John 5:11).
Anyone with a little bit of sense understands that in the context of Matthew 27:42, the word “save” does not mean escape from hell and entrance into heaven, or receiving eternal life. The context clearly shows that the word “save” means deliverance from death on the cross.
So in the context, when people say, “He cannot save Himself” they are saying “He cannot rescue Himself from dying on this cross.”
Why do I bring this up?
I have been having numerous online (and offline) conversations recently about various theological topics (baptism, unpardonable sin, women in ministry, etc.), and in these discussions, people will often quote a verse to defend their view, and these verses often includes the word “save” (cf., Matt 24:13; 1 Pet 3:21, 1 Cor 3:15; 5:5; 2 Thess 2:10; 1 Tim 2:15; James 2:14-26).
They read these verses thinking that the word “save” means “deliverance from hell, entrance into heaven, justification, or receiving eternal life,” when in reality, the context indicates otherwise. But when we think the word refers to hell, heaven, justification, or eternal life, confusion and really bad theology are the results.
When Dr. Earl Radmacher used to go speak in churches, he often would open in prayer before he began to preach with these words:
Father, as I preach today to these fine people who have gathered together today, I pray that they would get saved, and I would get saved too. Amen”
He says that he always loved to pray this with his eyes open so that he could watch the reaction of the people in the pews. They would open their eyes and glance around at each other, apparently thinking, “What? Did we just bring in a guest speaker who is unsaved? Uh oh! This church is going liberal on us!”
Then Dr. Radmacher would go on to teach them something similar to what I am teaching in this post. Dr. Radmacher’s prayer did not mean that he thought his listeners and himself did not have eternal life. No, he was praying that they (and he) might get saved from some incorrect thinking about God, or saved from some misunderstanding about Scripture. This is a completely appropriate and biblical thing to pray for!
Dr. Radmacher knew that the word “save” in Scripture usually has nothing to do with receiving eternal life. (If you haven’t already, you should read his book, Salvation.)
The Word “Save” in Scripture
I believe that somewhere between 99%-100% of the uses of the word “save” in Scripture (and it’s cognates: saved, salvation, Savior, etc.), do not refer to “deliverance from hell, entrance into heaven, justification, or receiving eternal life.” Instead, some other sort of deliverance is in view (cf. Matt 8:25). See a post I wrote about the word “save” here.
From the results of my own study, I believe there are only two likely candidates for places where the word “save” refers to receiving eternal life: Acts 16:30-31 and Ephesians 2:8-9. And to be honest, I am not fully convinced about these two either (But I’m not going to explain why in this post).
So next time you are reading Scripture and come across the word “save,” stop and think about what you are reading, and then look in the context to help determine what sort of deliverance is being discussed.
Isn’t this just semantics?
Yes. It is.
And when it comes to the Gospel, semantics are vitally important.
How many of us have told people, “Jesus Saves” or asked people, “Are you saved?” Not only is such a statement or question not found anywhere in Scripture, it is hopelessly confusing to most people. People who have not been raised on Christian lingo automatically think, “Jesus Saves? Saves me from what?”
Don’t believe me? The following pictures poke fun at Christianity, but they show you that the statement “Jesus saves” is confusing.
When telling others about the offer of the Gospel and how to receive eternal life, use the terminology most often found in Scripture: Jesus gives eternal life to anyone who believes in Him for it.
Thankfully, this offer is backed up by Jesus through His death and resurrection. Jesus was not saved from the cross so that we can have eternal life through faith in Him.
I luv the Geico shirt, but didn’t realize until just now that Jesus drives a car (which must be why he needs car insurance). I learn so many things reading this blog!
You’re right – Some of us aren’t sure what is meant by “Jesus saves” or “Are you saved?” One of my mentors, upon hearing that said about someone would say “Must not have worked. He’s as ornery as ever.”
There’s lots about Christianity, especially the current Evangelical version of it that we accept at face value if we do not know that the ideas and expressions of those ideas are really not Biblical. Interestingly, the groups that use those expressions are often the ones who are most vocal in explaining that everything they believe comes straight from the Bible. Right! Right?
Right!
Yes, I love that Geico shirt too.
The funny thing about those Geico commercials is how rabid that Gecko is to get his message out, and he does it with grace, humility, and humor.
I think Christians could learn a lot from the Gecko about how to evangelize.
Strongly agree with this post…strange as it may sound, I think excessive talk on ‘you’re saved, I’m saved, my neighbor’s saved, who’s saved?’ at a minimum cheapens the gospel…and at worst is really just inaccurate.
When I read through the New Testament, I never get the impression that it’s all about getting people to ‘cross that dotted line,’ say the magic Jesus prayer, or do anything of the sort. The focus is on a true understanding of God’s insurmountable love and grace. It’s a call to put our faith solely in Him and run after him with all of our life.
God will handle eternal justice. We’re here to witness to what he did and the truth of a relationship with him. While most of our evangelistic efforts try to simplify things so it’s easy to digest, I feel like the sole focus on salvation isn’t probably what God had in mind.
Just things I’ve been noodling around…it could be heresy. =/
Brian,
That’s a good point. I didn’t really talk about it in this post, but so much of evangelism and witnessing today is limited to just getting people to heaven when they die, and the Gospel is about so much more than that!
I almost spilled coke all over my keyboard after I saw the one where Jesus is holding a floppy disk because I was laughing so hard. lol
Careful with that keyboard! If you spilled coke on it, you would have to figure out a way to save it.
Of course, Jesus never needed to be ‘saved’ from his sins anyway. He needs no ticket to eternal life as he is The Life.
That’s true too. He IS eternal life.
another common one is “born again”, which is another one I struggle to grasp the full meaning of
Right. That is another misunderstood word.
I think there is a verse or two in the Bible about a guy who struggled with that concept too!
Thanks, Kelly.
Awesome. Thank you for that. I try to avoid using that terminology unless I’m talking to people who can’t get what I’m saying UNLESS I use it . . . and even then, it’s rare!
On the other hand . . .
Once, about 7 years ago, I was in this ongoing email dialogue with this kid, Andrew, who was pretty resistant to any biblical worldview but also liked to debate me about it. I kept copies of all our emails in a Word document. One day, when I was feeling particularly pessimistic about the likelihood of Andrew’s ever experiencing that eternal life that you mention, I closed out of the Word document, and the little bar at the bottom of the screen said, “Word is saving Andrew.”
I dunno. But I felt better after that!
Ha! Interesting. Very clever. Word was prophetic maybe!
*I* think you should write a post about *that.*
Have you ever heard of metaphor?
So, christians are the only ones who get an afterlife? The rest of us are simply extinguished as if there was no value or meaning, as if we we’re all disposible, residual, accidental objects?
Hmm. Is that the same arrogance and entitlement – and ignorance – that killed and tortured all the natives?
no all people will die soon gates of heaven will close that is on death of last save person
u right no religion is right that hole probem god wanted all people come togather
now all will die. u honestly think all going on around world not all link to end of time
u think u know how be save ? have u even seen spearts put to death called 2ed death and i have seen. how god chosen me to end this world they in heaven cant ack with out some one on earth that they can use to give there words , in all if number was right only 500k people was save throw out all of times , all rest failed consider that keep in mind was war in heaven over us becuase a mistake made
i new this along time ago, would u beleave if i told u how. jesus was jewish if god did speak to him would made him a chosen person, they limited on what they can do unless a 2ed chosen person who can join them now as impossable as this is, it has never been done, i know things everything all the quistions, how there was son over all sin, that adem and eve was spearts and something they learn turn them humen but a mistake was made in this, u want understand how i know i know about the 2ed death, i know how to be save, and it is a job to change one self, i know i was chosen but unlike all rest who ran i chosen to learn . am i nuts out 4 chirchs i been to all siad same thing god closed all them, i know far more about jesus and all rest , i understand things shows that all happen was cuase do one event wich trigger end of time clock is counting down
and was another chosen could of stop all of it , i warn pope and all rest that there way no longer be put up with want more ?
Thank you for this article. I was looking for clarification on being saved, with an emphasis on smugness. I hate to put it that way, but it seems to be the lingo that people, especially in my church, toss around like pizza dough. For me, it feels very exclusionary. I’m saved and you’re not.
For one thing, you cannot utter a phrase about belief in Jesus as your Lord and Savior without feeling it in your heart. That seems to be the puzzle piece that’s missing when we’re told to go out and evangelize. If someone doesn’t feel it, you cannot bestow a state of being saved by having them repeat words they might not even understand.
Anyway, thanks again.