HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED when the English language began, and how many words it contains? The birth date of “English” commenced in A.D. 500, and is presently termed “Old English.” However, in 1845, “Modern English” came into being and is used by all English-speaking people today. English, as a language, contains no less than 750,000 words according to the Encyclopedia Americana – and the list is continually growing! Also, the meanings of words are constantly changing! For example, the word “upset” until the 17th century meant to set up, or erect something. Today, it means the opposite: “to capsize.” When the word “nice” was first introduced, it meant “fool-ish,” being derived from the Latin word “nescius” (“ignorant”). In the 15th century, “nice” came to mean “coy” and in the 16th century, “fastidious.” By the 18th century, “nice” had come to mean “good” or “agreeable.”

What is a word? Noah Webster tells us that it is “the smallest unit of speech that has meaning when taken by itself – an articulate sound which communicates an idea.” Through words, God has come out to man to reveal Himself. This divine revelation is called “The Word of God.” “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:21). To compose the Holy Bible, the Holy Spirit took over 1,600 years and inspired more than forty holy men as writers. Not until A.D. 1290 did we have an English translation! The Holy Bible in our language contains 11,280 different words (exclusive of proper names) and a total of 773,692 words.

Out of all these words, I have a few favorites and one of them is the word SAVED! You will find it 104 times in the Bible and out of those times, 44 of them have a very special meaning and are found in the New Testament. I like Webster’s definition of saved: “To make safe; to rescue of deliver from danger; to preserve; safeguard; redeem.” If God uses the word “saved” so many times in relation to man, then man must have a problem – and he does! Read on and discover some startling facts!

GOD’S DESIRE – MAN’S PROBLEM

The Bible says, God “will have (desires) all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4). This fact implies that all men need to be saved. The question arises, saved from what? The answer is, saved from the power and penalty of their sin. The solemn fact is that all are under the dominion of sin (Romans 3:9); consequently, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Christ speaks of those who die in their sins, “Whither I go, ye cannot come” (John 8:21). Christ went to heaven, thus it is plain to see that those who die in their sins, unforgiven by God, can never enter heaven. Consequently, the sinner has only one place that he can go at his death, and that is into hell – forever! Solemn but true – God declares it in Psalm 9:17! Christ warns, “Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him” (Luke 12:5).

MAN’S QUESTION – GOD’S ANSWER

In the light of such sobering truths, well might you exclaim like a jailor of old, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). Christ asked the religious leaders of His day, “How can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:33). Men have provided strange answers to that question such as, do good works, reform, pray, attend church faithfully or be baptized. But God says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).

SALVATION’S TREMENDOUS PRICE

All who provide gifts pay for them – all who receive gifts obtain them free! To be saved from eternal punishment in hell and to be secured for a home in heaven is a gift from God. To provide that gift, God had to pay a tremendous price – the death of His Son! “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” John 3:17. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3). In His death His blood was shed as God’s requirement to save us. Thus “being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9). Justified simply means being declared right with God – SAVED! Notice the word “now” in that verse. You can be saved NOW, and know it without a shadow of a doubt! How? – through faith in Christ! “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Christ declares, “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9). There is no other way – only Christ! The jailor who asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” was told, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:30,31) – and that answer is for you too!

SAVED OR LOST?

Friend, are you SAVED, or are you LOST? There is no in-between! Some may look upon such truths as foolishness, but such an attitude only betrays their position. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). A man sarcastically said to Jesus, “Lord, are there few that be saved?” (Luke 13:23). The sad answer is yes! “Few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). SAVED! What a grand word! Saved from hell – saved for God’s glorious heaven! Friend, why not trust Christ with your heart? Don’t draw back! Then you will be able to exclaim as all true Christians, “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:39). Yes, friend, it’s a great thing to be SAVED! Let me ask you again – are you SAVED?