A response to another criticism of Sozo: Bethel Sozo is attempting to redefine salvation

There are some who believe Bethel Sozo is attempting to redefine salvation. This is because the word chosen to name their ministry is the Greek word, sozo. This word means, to save, heal, deliver. It’s the complete package of salvation. I am not in any way trying to say one must have a Sozo to be saved. I do, however, recognize that salvation doesn’t instantly rid us of our lies, wounds, and walls. While salvation wipes our slate clean, washes away our sins forever, and often deals a deathblow to many lies and wounds, there are some “giants in the land” that we need to evict.

When the Israelites crossed the Jordan river, God had dealt with a number of their enemies. But, he left some for them to eliminate. There was a process to occupying the land….a process of which they had a part. When we are saved, it is much the same story. God deals with much of what haunted us, but doesn’t eliminate everything. It is a process of which we are a part….a process to occupying the land. We were slaves…..and are now free. We now need to unlearn some things and learn other things. Our minds need renewing. Sozo is just one tool in that renewal process.

When I look at much of the church today, including a large portion of what I’ve experienced, I realize that redefining salvation is not new. We have no problem teaching that sanctification is a process that involves us obeying rules. We have no problem redefining salvation to mean what it looks like to us. We delineate what salvation means without batting an eye. I’m not saying I agree with those things. I’m just saying that IF Sozo is attempting to redefine salvation–which it isn’t–it’s in good company with the rest of the Western church.

Let’s be clear: no one is attempting to redefine salvation. Salvation is in Christ alone who made the ultimate sacrifice, erasing our debt, and inaugurating a New Covenant based on forgiveness and love. It is to Him we are completely indebted. Salvation is not to be had through Sozo. But, neither is it to be had by obeying a list of rules.

Sozo is the Greek word used when it refers to salvation as we understand it.

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save(sozo) the world through him. John 3:17

But, sozo can be translated other ways. How does one explain the following passages that seem to define salvation differently than we believe it to be?

To the woman who had an issue of blood,

“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed [sozo] of your disease.” (Mark 5:34 ESV)

Is Mark trying to redefine salvation as being healed of a disease?

“And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed[sozo].(Luke 8:36, ESV)

Is Luke saying here that salvation is the deliverance of demon without any repentance required?

Here’s a dangerous teaching:

“Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak ; and as many as touched it were being cured[sozo].” (Mk. 6:56, NAS)

Is Mark suggesting that salvation is available to anyone who simply touches Jesus’ clothes?

In Acts 26, we have a story of a ship that is in the midst of a storm. Sailors are trying to escape the ship. Paul tells the centurion and soldiers,

“Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.[sozo](Acts 26:31, NAS)

Huh? Is this referring to eternal salvation, as we understand it? Or, is Paul attempting to redefine salvation?

In the story of the 10 lepers, all 10 were cleansed of their leprosy. When one of them saw that he was healed(Greek word iaomai, which means to be healed of a disease), he returned to give thanks. Jesus then told him, “Your faith has healed(sozo) you. All had been cured of their disease….one realized his disease was gone and returned to give thanks….and he is the only one who was sozoed-the same word we use for salvation. So what’s Luke saying? Clearly, he differentiates between physical healing of a disease(iaomai) and the complete healing(sozo).

Sozo is found 110 times in the New Testament. It is translated saved, healed, delivered, and made whole. Clearly, even when Scripture uses the word ‘sozo’, they are not merely referring to the word salvation as we understand it. However, it does seem that Scripture seems to indicate that salvation involves our entire being: spirit(saved), soul(delivered), and body(healed).

There is no attempt to redefine salvation by naming the ministry Sozo. Salvation is based on the cross. Period. The ministry recognizes that God desires far more than us just getting to heaven. He wants us to be whole, healed, delivered….body, soul, and spirit. And Sozo helps to bring healing to wounds, wholeness to brokenness, deliverance from lies and bondage.

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