What Does It Mean to Get Saved?

The term ''Get Saved'' is a common phrase. It means a number of very positive things. Perhaps the most common feature is the right to continue living on after physical death, in a much better state of mind, in a much better place, and with a much clearer understanding and appreciation of our loving God. The better place is often called ''Heaven''. It is also known by other names such as ''Paradise'' or ''God's Kingdom''. But becoming saved has much more meaning than that, starting immediately upon believing in Jesus.

Long Answer Version.

Heaven is widely thought of as a place of inexpressible beauty, peace, love, purpose, and meaning. It reflects the glory of God. His loving presence fills heaven in a way that is very tangible and enjoyable, or so I am told by Scripture.

The promise of heaven is only one part of being saved. In some ways, we can start our experience of heaven here on earth, at least in part. Getting saved can result in being set free in this lifetime from many of the burdens that we humans experience. God can set us free from guilt, shame, loneliness, and hopelessness, to name just a few. He saves us from ourselves and many of the unwise choices we would make without Him. He saves us from behaviors that hurt us and that bring negativity into our lives.

Not only does Jesus save us FROM many unwanted circumstances, but He saves us TO a better life with Him in the picture during this lifetime. Getting saved means being adopted by God spiritually as a son or daughter. He is generous and loving to His children. As we give Him that place of loving Father in our lives, it is amazing what good it produces in our hearts, and experiences. Getting saved entails being infused with life of a godly, heavenly nature. That new nature makes each of us a better person progressively through our stays here on earth. It grows within each of us, producing wonderful benefits.

Getting saved is starting a new relationship with Jesus. Receiving salvation means you receive forgiveness for sins. Being saved leads to many other new rights and benefits that come with the salvation “package”.

The promise of heaven is only one part of being saved. In some ways, we can start our experience of heaven here on earth, at least in part. Heaven is a kingdom. ''Kingdom'' means the rule and reign of a king. When a king is good and loving to His people, the ''Kingdom'' results in wonderful experiences and benefits that the King brings upon those who live under His reign. Jesus is the highest King of all. He brings His kingdom to us here, on earth, in our lives and hearts when we are saved and afterward.

The apostle Peter stated something as one of the central reasons to believe in Jesus. He addressed the crowd after healing a lame man in Solomon's porch of the Temple. He proclaimed the message of the good news of Jesus. Shouting so the crowd could hear, he said, ''turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.'' In a sense these times of refreshing are God’s kingdom love, presence, and power appearing for us to experience. My prayer is that you will receive and enjoy periods of refreshing from Jesus for years to come in this lifetime.

Refreshing can also come when we serve others and God with an openness to His presence with us. These activities deepen my love and trust for Him. The more we deeply express our love to Jesus, our inner beings will follow suit. We will find ourselves loving Him more. The more we love Him, we will recognize the many blessings He puts into our lives.

The brilliance of His kingdom that we experience later, will far exceed the glimpses in our earthly lives, but these glimpses can be nonetheless breathtakingly beautiful to our souls. The Bible says they are foretastes of a future kingdom that believers will experience someday. Believers can be said said to have "tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word of God, and tasted the powers of the age to come''. These tastes and partakings might not come to us all the time, but even when they are infrequent, they are blessings nonetheless. They are too precious to dismiss.

I have found that refreshing and foretastes come more often and tangibly to my heart the more I spend time with God in prayer, praise, worship, and tasting "the good word of God".

Refreshing can also come when we serve others and God. These activities deepen our love and trust for Him. The more we deeply express our love to Jesus, our emotions will follow suit. We will find ourselves loving Him more. The more we love Him, we will recognize the many blessings He puts into our lives. God has His ways and timing for each of us. He made us all to be different, and knows where, when, and how to work in us.

If you choose to believe in Jesus as your Savior, you will experience many blessings afterward. Maybe not all at once, but just wait. You will see the more you get to know Jesus, new clarity will bloom. The Bible will make more sense to you. You will pray and see the results of answered prayer. You will notice a new spiritual side to yourself, that is honed in on Jesus and able to sense things about Him. These things are just the beginning. As time goes on, you'll find your life has more meaning and purpose.

The benefits and experiences I am describing can come either with, or without special feelings from God. If it seems you are not feeling anything blatantly spiritual yet, please keep in mind that faith is more important than feelings. He will customize your faith to your personal make-up, so you do not base the truth of your salvation primarily on feelings. He will be near to you no matter what you are going through. You will feel His presence when, and to the extent, He wants you to. When you believe in Jesus as personal Savior, the truth of your salvation will always supercede your feelings. You receive salvation merely by deciding to welcome Jesus into your hearts. That is positive in every way. It is cause for rejoicing.

Once you believe in Jesus as your Savior, you can be encouraged to express your heart to Him. You may confidently reach out to Him with your best feelings of love, thanksgiving, and joy. Also, it is OK to bring to Him all your sorrow, pain, loneliness, depression, and neediness, when those feelings arise. Try to let yourself feel toward Him when you pray; don't just talk. Receive the truth of His love for you, and let yourself feel warmed by it. Feel love for Him, and let Him know. You don't need to be a super spiritual believer to do any of this. Just be real with Him, and you might find that He will be even more real with you.

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