ELTBefore Saved ישע
In Hebrew, when a letter is placed in the middle of a two-letter gate, it often represents a deep affection for the concept that the gate itself symbolizes. In the case of *יע* (Yod-Ayin) with *ש* (Shin) placed in the middle, it can also be understood as a metaphor for salvation—*His flesh* being the means through which the increase of the Word occurs, and by loving this increase, we are "saved."
- *י* ('Yod') as a prefix is 'his' - *ש* ('Shin') represents *increase*, specifically the spread and growth of God's Word. - *ע* ('Ayin') represents *flesh*.
When we love the increase of the Word, we are engaging with the living Word made flesh, Christ Himself. The *Shin* (increase) in the middle of *יע* suggests that as we embrace and allow the Word of God to grow in us—growing in understanding, knowledge, and spiritual fruit—we experience salvation.
- Loving the Increase of the Word and Being Saved**
Salvation, in this metaphor, is not simply a one-time event but a continuous process of growth in the Word. The *Shin* in the middle of *יע* teaches that salvation is linked to our love for the Word and its increase within us. Christ’s flesh, as the embodiment of the Word, is the vehicle through which salvation is both initiated and continually nurtured in the life of the believer.
As we open our hearts to the increase of God’s Word in our lives, as we learn from Christ and allow His Word to transform us, we are being saved. This process of spiritual growth is what the metaphor highlights—our love for the Word's increase leads to our salvation.
- The Relationship Between the Flesh, the Word, and Salvation**
The idea of being "saved" through loving the increase of the Word emphasizes that salvation is intimately tied to our relationship with Christ, who is both the Word made flesh and the means by which the Word grows in us. Just as the *Shin* signifies the increase of the Word, it is through this increase—the growing understanding of God's truth—that we are continually saved and transformed.
In summary, the structure *יע* with *ש* in the middle teaches that loving the increase of the Word, allowing it to grow and deepen within us, is a key element of salvation. Christ’s flesh is not only the means through which the Word came but also the source of its continued increase in our lives, leading us to deeper salvation and spiritual renewal.
