“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”-{Matt 1:21}
The Greek word “sozo” is used over 100 times in the New Testament. It’s an all inclusive word and usually translated “save” or “saved.”
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, shows us how it is used:
“sōzō” 1) to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction 1a) one (from injury or peril) 1a1) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health 1b1) to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue 1b) to save in the technical biblical sense 1b1) negatively 1b1a) to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment 1b1b) to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance.
“FORGIVENESS OF SINS.“
– Thirty eight”Sozo,” times it is translated for “forgiveness of sins,” such as …
“She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save [sozo] his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save [sozo] them that believe.”
1 Corinthians 1:21
“Wherefore he is able also to save [sozo] them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25
“Sozo” was translated another fifty-three times as “saved” (past tense) in reference to forgiveness of sins.
PHYSICAL HEALING;
However There are times when it is used to speak of “Physicial healing”- translated as “healed”, ”
“[Jairus] besought [ Jesus] greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed [sozo]; and she shall live.” Mark 5:23
This word “healed” is referring to physical healing. As the story unfolds, Jairus’ daughter actually died, and Jesus raised her from the dead. (Mark 5:35–43.). Here it is seen as the power to not only heal but raise from the dead! -“Healed!”
“The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed [sozo].” Acts 14:9
Paul saw this crippled man and perceived that he had faith to be healed [sozo], and he was (vv. 8–10).
This same word that’s used for both forgiveness of sins and physical healing also applies to deliverance from demons.
DELIVERANCE FROM DEMONS;
“They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed [sozo].” Luke 8:36
This man was known as Gadarene demoniac. What a stigma, what a horrid name to be known as. The best society could do with him was to bind him up, pit him in chains, but even they could not confine him as he often broke them. What society did was chain him up, isolate him. Jesus looked him up and freed him up- such is the deliverance power of the LORD Jesus! demons cannot thwart Him! That is included in this word sozo.
CHRIST’S DELIVERING POWER;
Here is a classic example of Christ’s saving power manifesting in our lives both as healing and forgiveness of sins.
“The prayer of faith shall save [sozo] the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” James 5:15
In another instance, Jesus knew the thoughts of the scribes and Pharisees, so He asked:
“Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save [sozo] life, or to destroy it?” Luke 6:9
When they didn’t answer, He turned and healed the man with the withered right hand (vv. 8–11). Jesus SHOWED them what they could see in the physical realm what He was able to do in the spiritual realm, namely to have the authority to impart “forgiveness”!”
MADE WHOLE
This same word—sozo—was also translated “made whole” in reference to healing. Consider the example of the woman with an issue of blood:
“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole [sozo]. And the woman was made whole [sozo] from that hour.” Matthew 9:22
In faith, she touched the hem of His garment and received healing. She was sozo—made whole. This is the same Greek word that is synonymous with forgiveness of sin. Here again, it’s applied to being healed physically.
This same instance, recorded in the book of Mark, reveals that right before she reached out to Jesus, she said:
“If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole [sozo].” Mark 5:28
Sozo was translated “make whole” or “be whole” eleven times in scripture. It’s obvious from God’s Word that salvation isn’t limited only to the forgiveness of sins.
“And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole [sozo].” Mark 6:56
When Jesus heard the news that Jairus’ daughter had died, He answered him, saying:
“Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole [sozo].” Luke 8:50
DELIVERED FROM PERISHING…DANGER;
“And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!”- MATT 8:25
SALVATION, DELIVERANCE, RESCUE, THROUGH THE LORD JESUS;
“For the Son of Man has come to save {sozo}that which was lost.”- Matt 18:11
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved{sozo} through Him.”-John 3:17
“He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”- John 12;45-47
“…and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”– Acts 16:30
“And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’-ACTS 2:21
“ And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”- Acts 4:12
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. “- 1 Cor 1:18
“ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;”- Eph 2:8
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”- 1 Tim 2:4
“who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,”- 1 Tim 1:9
“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,”- Titus 3:5
“In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.”- Heb 5:7
“Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”- Heb 7:25