Saved for good works

Are you saved? This is a question often posed by Evangelical Christians. We ask it to determine whether someone believes in Jesus and has accepted Him as their personal Savior. It can sometimes function as a sort of status question—helping us discern whether someone is already "in" or if they need to be evangelized. But is being "saved" merely a matter of in-group or out-group status, or is there more to it than that?

If we take a step back from using salvation as a sorting term and instead consider its deeper meaning, we see that it broadly refers to the gracious gift of eternal life that God gives to those who believe that Jesus is the true ruler of the world and publicly confess that belief. This is a beautiful and true statement, but it does not provide a comprehensive understanding of the full picture of salvation as presented in Scripture.

In the book of Titus, the Apostle Paul writes to his friend and colleague in church planting, reminding him of the comprehensive work of salvation in the life of a believer. We often think of salvation as being saved from something bad or harmful—saved from death, saved from hell, saved from evil. However, Paul’s writing reveals that salvation is not only about what we are saved from but also what we are saved to. Let’s look at the passage:

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. Titus 3:1-8 (ESV)

What a beautiful and comprehensive salvation we have been given! God, in His goodness, kindness, and mercy, has given us the free gift of salvation. This salvation includes the hope of eternal life, an aspect of salvation with which many are already familiar. However, notice the additional manifestations of salvation in verse 3, which tells us what we are saved from:

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

We are saved from a life in constant opposition to God, to ourselves, and to others. Salvation is not only cosmic and eternal; it is life-transforming. Paul describes this transformation as "the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit." Salvation is not only about what we will become in eternity—it is also about what we are becoming now.

Furthermore, look at what we are saved to in verses 1 and 8:

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

And

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

When we accept the incredible gift of God's salvation but merely disengage from the world, waiting for Him to take us to that heavenly city, we miss the fullness of salvation. If we, like Jonah, sit outside the city waiting for God’s wrath to be poured out on those we despise, then we have not truly understood or accepted the work of Christ’s salvation. Our hope of eternal life should produce in us a boldness and readiness to do good works.

This boldness comes from knowing we have nothing to fear or lose—what is loss in this life compared to the eternity awaiting us? This hope is the antidote to the human tendency to strive and compete out of fear that there is not enough to go around—not enough food, money, love, attention, or time. The promise of heaven assures us that any lack in this life is temporary, a mere interruption before the great feast (Matthew 22:1-14). Jesus Himself exemplified this hope in His ultimate sacrifice on the cross:

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. Hebrews 12:2-3 (ESV)

We have not been saved for our own sake; we have been saved to be the redeemed hands and feet of Jesus here and now:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

Salvation is not just about securing a place in heaven—it is about being transformed in the present and living out God’s purpose. May we embrace this calling with joy, courage, and devotion.