The other day while I was doing my morning Bible reading in Hebrews I ran across this verse,

It got me thinking, and I asked God about it.  You see, all my life I have heard, and I’m sure you have too, “We are saved, we have our salvation…” things like that.  Well, as you should, I asked God about it.  He told me that many people use the word saved instead of the phrase born again.

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Look at it this way, when you get born again and confess openly that Jesus is Lord of your life, you are getting in line.  Now before I go any further let me give you an illustration:  Jake went to a travel agent and bought a plane ticket to go the Jamaica.  He goes to the airport and up to the desk to register for his flight and then sits in the waiting area waiting for his plane.  Soon Jake falls asleep, such a deep sleep that he doesn’t wake up at the last call for boarding his plane.  Then the plane takes off.

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So, as I said, when you confessed openly, in public, that Jesus is Lord you were born again, some call it being saved.  So, now you are in the waiting room or in line, but your plane isn’t even here yet.  You have heard the saying, “Occupy until He comes.”  Well, that doesn’t just mean take up space; it actually means do something, and the something we are to do is the things He told us to do.

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I just looked up some synonyms of the word saved on thesaurus.com and the best synonym that I can equate to the Paul, possible, definition is released.  Before Jesus came everyone was captive to sin, He came to bring release from captivity.  There is nothing that you can do to earn this release.  Another way of looking at that is that Jesus came to unlock the cage that held us captive to sin.  He was crucified and He unlocked the cage.  Now, those who confess Jesus as Lord are those who push open the cage, and some actually walk out.  Everyone in the entire world was released from the bondage (captivity) to sin when Jesus rose up from the dead, defeated death and sin.  Those who accept it by confessing Jesus push open the cage and can walk out; but that doesn’t mean they do, some go to sleep.

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Released means set free or given their freedom.  But, does that mean the people are physically picked up and moved out?  No, it means they are given their freedom.  If I said to you, “You are free to marry so-n-so,” does that mean you have to marry so-n-so or you are married to so-n-so?  No. it simply means I won’t stop you.

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But anyway, if you realize you freedom and are awaiting full salvation don’t fall asleep because that might stop you from realizing your salvation.