What Is Salvation And What Does It Mean To Be Saved?
by Brian Farrell(335)
http://www.ph16.com
What Is Salvation And What Does It Mean To Be Saved?
Salvation, in the greek, soteria (sounds like so-tay-ria, and where we get “soteriology”, which is the doctrine of salvation):
1) deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation; to be saved
a) deliverance from the harassment of enemies
b) in an ethical sense, that which concludes to the souls safety or salvation
1) of Messianic salvation
2) salvation as the present possession of all true Christians
3) future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God.
Scripture describes a fourfold salvation: saved from the penalty, power, presence and the pleasure of sin. (cf. Arthur W. Pink, A Fourfold Salvation)
1. Salvation is necessary for all of humanity because all have sinned and fall short (are falling short) of the glory of God and the glorious standard of God, which is perfection.
Matthew 5:48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Romans 3:10-18, 21-28
2. Being saved is to be forgiven by God of all of our sins; past, present and future.
Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Isaiah 43:25
" I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.
Hebrews 10:16-17
" This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them, " then He adds, " Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. "
Psalm 32
Luke 1:77
3. Salvation is only possible because of Christ’s death for our sin on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.
Acts 4:12
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Colossians 2:13-15 (...triumphing over them by the cross.)
4. Salvation is the act of God alone. When we are saved, we are made right in God’s sight by His grace, through faith in who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for us.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes...
Ephesians 2:4-10
5. Salvation is the promise and assurance of eternal life with God. That eternal life begins now, in that our relationship is restored with God and the Spirit of God indwells the believer at the moment of salvation.
John 3:16-17
John 10:27-30
John 17:1-4
6. At the very moment we give our hearts to Jesus we are “born again”, born anew by the Spirit of God taking up residence in our spirit, and we are unified with Christ.
John 3
John 14:16-17, 20-21, 23-27
John 17:20-26
7. Salvation is the act of being transferred from a position of opposition to God to a position of privilege with God. When we are saved we are translated from the kingdom of darkness, sin and death into the Kingdom of God, which is the Kingdom of light, eternal life and righteousness. We go from being God’s enemy, under His judgement and punishment, to being His child, part of His family in Christ.
Romans 5:12-21
Ephesians 1:3-14, 2:1-10
Colossians 1:11-17
1 John 3:1-3
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!
8. Salvation is a free gift from God, it is not something that can be earned, and therefore cannot be lost by someone who is truly born again. Salvation is based on what Jesus did for us by His death for our sin and His resurrection life, not on our own good merits or works. Our works are as filthy rags to the Lord, but because of Christ’s death on the cross, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Isaiah 64:5-6
Ephesians 2:8-9
Romans 8:28-39
9. Salvation is available to all who repent of their sins and believe in who Jesus is and what He has done for all who believe. We receive Him in our heart, making Him the Lord and Savior of our lives.
Mark 1:14-15
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, " The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
2 Timothy 2:24-26
John 3:16-21
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
10. Final Thoughts
Salvation is both a present and a future matter for us. The full realization of all that God has in store will not be ours until the end of human history [or at our death, when we go to be with the Lord and share in God’s glory with Him], but the enjoyment of these blessings depends on conditions fulfilled in us [being born again by the Spirit of God] and by us now [receiving Christ by faith]. But a foretaste of the blessings of forgiveness of sins and growth in holiness is given on this earth [through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit]. -International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia
First steps in your new relationship with Christ:
1. Be in the Word of God daily. The Word is alive and active, and God uses it to teach us about Himself and His ways. He speaks to us through His Word. Start in Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, the Gospel of John and the rest of the New Testament.
2. Be in prayer daily. Offer up to God worship, petition for yourself and intercession for others. Remember, prayer is not just a one way conversation, it is a dialogue. It is our time to be with the Lord, communing with Him. He is always present with us. Wait on the Lord with your Bible open. Let Him speak to your heart through the Holy Spirit in you and through the Bible (His Word).
3. Fellowship with other Christians as often as possible. However much time we spent in our lives doing the things that we are now ashamed of we ought to spend with the Lord, the things of the Lord and with the people of the Lord. Jesus said to love one another, and there is nothing better than sharing in the love of Jesus with our brothers and sisters in Christ and in serving one another and others in Christ’s love.
Article submitted Sunday, January 24, 2010 & read 575 times.
Leave Your Comments:
» left by Anonymous (50 days 6 hours ago.)
So....what can I add....nothing :-) Excellent definition, explanation, and instruction for a babe in Christ. Well done. This is a great one to print out and keep handy in my Bible and pass along when the Lord gives opportunity. Blessings to you! TeresaRespond to this comment
» left by Brian Farrell(335)
Thanks! Blessings to you and yours. Hey, I didn't know you were such a Lakers fan. :) I like the Lakers too (being from SoCal), but I'm not all crazy about it! Haha :)
Peace and joy in the Lord,
Brian
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» left by Marijo Phelps(371)
Excellent! I especially like ". Salvation is available to all who repent of their sins and believe in who Jesus is and what He has done for all who believe. We receive Him in our heart, making Him the Lord and Savior of our lives" I get scared at those who say "just ask Jesus into your heart....without saying anything about repenting. We have to OWN our responsibility for those things we have done which caused us to miss the mark, sin. MarijoRespond to this comment
» left by Brian Farrell(335)
Amen! Thanks Marijo.
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