Greek Word of The Week
Soteria (So-tay-ree’-ah)
March 3, 2024
Used 45 times in the New Testament and translated as “Salvation”
Soteria means deliverance, preservation, safety, and salvation. In Christianity, salvation is the saving of human beings from sin and its consequences—which include death and separation from God. This happened because of Christ's death and resurrection. Last week we looked at the word Sotar meaning Savior and God is the source of salvation and Jesus Christ is the agent sent by God to bring deliverance to sinful mankind.
Many pastors today don’t speak the salvation message because it's considered offensive. The message often spoken is “come to Jesus and he will take care of you” and they leave out the repentance of sin. The Word of God clearly reveals how sinful man is; just look at the world around us. Salvation is the act of God, because of His grace and mercy, redeeming man from their SIN and spiritual death through the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
Today we are hearing false gospel messages all around us. Paul in Galatians 1:8-9 sternly rebukes any person or teacher that delivers a different gospel by stating, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
May we at Spirit of Life Fellowship continually preach the simple message that it's about sin and the Savior. We cannot go along with the world, if the world goes against Scripture.
Soter (so-tare)
February 25, 2024
It occurs 24 times in the New Testament and is translated as savior
Sotar means saviour, deliverer, and preserver. This word in Ancient Greek was used to describe both gods and men. In the New Testament it refers exclusively to Jesus Christ (16 times) and to God the Father (8 times), and focuses on their saving, delivering and preserving character. God is the source and Jesus Christ is the agent sent by God to bring deliverance to sinful mankind.
Because of Christ we have absolute assurance of salvation. Second Peter is a letter that encourages Christians to live out the purpose of their lives in Christ. He warns readers to beware of teachers who claim to be believers, but present a false version of Christianity. And, Peter calls on all Christians to eagerly watch and wait for the return of the Lord.
May each of us here at Spirit of Life Fellowship realize the cost Jesus paid to be OUR saviour and commit to living our lives in Christ. John makes God's message very clear "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:13)