What Does Mean?

Short Version Answer

“Savior” means a special person who rescues in a big way. Jesus will rescue believers from going anywhere other than Heaven after the body dies, and He will be glad to rescue and help us in many big ways during our present lifetimes. He is high above all others we look to for help.

If you have ever experienced someone saving your life, that is an example of what a human savior does. I was with a friend, as a teenager, and my dog was with me as we walked along a railroad track.

Tony yelled down at me from an elevated mound of dirt next to the track telling me a train was coming. Its horn was blaring, but I was not paying attention. I looked up and saw it coming. I immediately got my dog off the track, which was a challenge, and then stepped off it myself just in time.

I know what it is like to be physically saved, and to save my dog. As Savior Jesus saves many lives from death, and into heaven. But also from many negative outcomes here on earth.

Long Version Answer

A Savior brings Salvation. Salvation means the state of being saved or rescued. Once we “get” saved, we “are” saved, and we are in a state of salvation. Jesus is not just the Savior of the world. He wants you to make Him your personal Savior. Accept Him as being just that, Your Personal Savior.

Our English words for salvation and salvage have the same root word. Imagine you find an item in a trash heap that you know you can clean up and enjoy. Then, you offer to buy it so you can make it a prized possession. When you do so you have salvaged the item.

When you experience salvation, it is a bit like a valuable item being saved from the trash heap, cleaned up, fixed up, and made better than new. You are a valuable person, even if others don't see you that way.

When you are saved, you are placed in the hands of Jesus, the Master Craftsman. You are being salvaged. You are being made better than new. You are given new life.

When you start relationship with Jesus, you are in the process of being cleansed, fixed up, and filled with purpose. He makes your life a beautiful thing. Some have said He is making each of us His masterpiece.

Some people think they don’t need to be rescued or salvaged. They don’t want anyone to try and help them. These people are not as wise as those who recognize everyone sometimes needs others to come along and offer some assistance.

The same is true of letting Jesus be your personal Savior. Let Him, through His Holy Spirit, come along and be your Helper.

It was in the lyrics of an ancient praise song where the first mention of the word "Savior" appeared in the Bible. David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

David wrote: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior." -2 Samuel 22

The word "savior" was used many times after that for God's intervention in difficult situations. Before God came to earth embodied in Jesus Christ, He consistently showed Himself to be a savior.

When Jesus died in our place, He fulfilled the ultimate meaning of the word. He saved us from a fate worse than death, delivered us from our evil enemies, and now shields us under His wing from the present day to eternity.