During Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Bible records that it came about that he “went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved?” (Luke 13:22-23). What did this inquirer have in mind when he posed this question to the Savior?
To be saved means to be delivered out of danger into safety. For example, Matthew records that Jesus and his disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee when “there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he [Jesus] was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him saying, Lord, save us: we perish” (Matthew 8:24-25; emphasis added). The gospel writer goes on to tell how Jesus “rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was great calm” (Matthew 8:26). The disciples were saved from being overcome by the storm.
Matthew records another event featuring the disciples on the sea during extremely windy weather. “Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea…they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord…bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him” (Matthew 14:25-31; emphasis added). Peter was saved from drowning in the sea.
The question, however, to Jesus as he was teaching on this occasion is much more fearful for it contemplated to be saved from a peril far greater than mere loss of life, eternal damnation. Since Adam and Eve disobeyed God and fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, this has been the greatest question. In a time pre-dating Moses, Job’s friend, Bildad, asked “How then can a man be justified with God?” (Job 25:4). The jailer in Philippi asked Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). Man has always sensed his own shortcomings before his Creator.
Sin separates man from God. Scripture teaches that the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Sin does indeed result in death. The universal presence of cemeteries testifies to that. But the Scriptures confirm that “it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27; emphasis added). John gives a glimpse of this judgment. “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away…And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God…And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written tin the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-15).
Every man and woman enters this world lost in their sin. Without Christ, they stand in peril of losing their very soul. But Jesus “came to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Are you saved? Give heed to the answer Paul gave the jailer. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31)
From the Chaplain 