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Why Be “Born Again?” (Endnotes)
1. Later on we will develop the time distinction regarding Pentecost. Close
2. We use the phrase “the age to come” instead of the commonly-used phrase “eternal life” (aionion zoe), because the actual promise of aionion zoe (literally “age life”) refers to “life in the coming age,” the future Paradise that the prophets spoke of. The contemporary translation of aionion zoe, “eternal life,” was not in the mind of the writers of Holy Scripture. See Is There Death After Life?, and the Christian Educational Services tape “The Kingdom of God: Paradise Regained.” Close
3. We are showing in this book that when a person is “saved,” it is synonymous with being “born again,” and that it is at the time of his new birth that he receives holy spirit (which is “born” in him). The Christian is a child of God (I John 3:1; Galatians 4:5-7), has a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17), is righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21), is justified (Romans 5:1), is sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:2), is a holy one (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2, etc., often translated as “saint”), has been redeemed (Galatians 3:13), is reconciled to God (Colossians 1:22), and is at peace with God (Romans 5:1). Thus the Word of God is clear concerning the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ in a Christian. Since all this is true of the Christian, why are there verses that seem to indicate that a Christian’s salvation is not yet accomplished? The answer to that very good question lies in the way in which the words “saved” and “salvation” are used in the Word of God. Scripture contains quite a few words that have more than one meaning. The basic meaning of the word “save” is “to rescue.” However, “save” and “salvation” are used in ways other than to mean salvation unto everlasting life. Some other New Testament usages include: saved from evil circumstances (Acts 7:25; Philippians 1:19), saved from starvation (Acts 17:34—translated “health” in KJV, “survive” in NIV, “preservation” in NASB), and saved from disease (Acts 4:9—translated “made whole” in KJV, “healed” in NIV, “made well” in NASB). Often, “saved” does refer to salvation from everlasting death unto everlasting life. In such cases, the verb tense and the context make it clear that salvation is a completed work. There are, however, other verses that seem to say that our salvation is not complete or assured. In them, the word “salvation” is used of behavioral deliverance or wholeness. Although the work of Christ is spiritually complete and entire, the work of salvation in the physical realm, i.e. rescue and wholeness, is not yet complete. Christians still sin, get sick and in general suffer the consequences that living in this sinful world brings. Thus, when the Bible says that Christians “are being saved” (1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 2:15) or to “work out your salvation” (Philippians 2:12), it is not referring to salvation from sin, but to the rescue and wholeness that relates to physical life. Each Christian is involved in a constant struggle to experience outwardly in his flesh the rescue and wholeness that Christ wrought for us spiritually. As the Christian walks forward with the Lord, he is in a very real sense “being saved.” Close
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