What is Salvation?

Posted by spreadingthetruthministry.com on Saturday, April 28, 2012

What is salvation? Is it necessary? How can we obtain or maintain it? These are very common and important questions. Fortunately, the Word of God has plenty of answers and information to guide an individual who is interested in learning more about the topic. What is salvation? Regarding its usage, the word salvation appears 163 times in the King James Version (KJV) Bible. The word is known to be associated with Jesus Christ and rightly so. However, did you know that salvation was used before Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection in the text? God left on record in the old testament regarding the things to come and predictions of God’s purpose to redeem man since the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden. 

Salvation was first mentioned by Jacob in Genesis 49:18. While Jacob prophesied to his sons regarding the last days, as referred to in verse one of Genesis 49, God also gave him foreknowledge concerning Christ. Jacob said in verse 18: “I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD” (Blue Letter Bible, 2010). This brief and yet profound statement spoke of the things to come. The word salvation is translated in the Hebrew to be Yĕshuw`ah or Yahshua (Jesus), and it is interpreted to mean save and deliver. Jesus is salvation, his name means salvation, and that’s what he came to do save.

According to Act 4:12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Blue Letter Bible, 2010). That's why he is referred to as savior. He came to save and deliver humanity from sin and the penalty associated with it. The Bible says in Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Salvation is necessary. Without salvation, one will have to give an account in the judgment for the deeds that were done and suffered the consequences of their sin which is eternal damnation/Hell-Fire-Brimstone-Torment. However, if one accepts salvation, they are accepting what Jesus did on the cross which was:

Redemption: (the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt) On the cross, Jesus delivered us from the bondage of sin and the penalty associated with it. He paid our debt by becoming the ransom and purchasing us with his blood so that we no longer have been slaves to sin and Satan. He paid it all.

Justification: He took on the penalty of our sin and exchanged it for righteousness by dying in our stead. "For he hath made him be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" 2 Cor 5:21. (Gal. 2:16)

Propitiation: He met the demands or satisfied the legal requirements so that the wrath of God was moved away from those who accept salvation and took it (the anger) upon himself because of his love for us. Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. According to the scripture, the wages of sin and death. (Romans 6:23 & 1 John 4:10)

Reconciliation: Our sins separate us from God. Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, that he will not hear." We were enemies of God. Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. However, Jesus took away our sin and reconciled us back into a loving relationship with God. "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation: 2 Cor 5:19).  

Victory: 1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ gave us victory over sin, Satan, death. We have victory over sin. Rom 6:18 says “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” We have the victory of Satan. Act 26:18 “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” We have victory over death. 1 Cor 15:55 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”    

Atonement: To cleanse, purge away, consecrate, and sanctify. Romans 5:11-12 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

And considering what Jesus Christ did for humanity, it should motivate us to want to receive salvation.

How do we accept salvation? One of the best passages to read regarding salvation is Romans the 10th chapter. The chapter begins with Paul’s desire, and then he walks us through the process. It states in Rom 10:9-10: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Blue Letter Bible, 2010).

He also discusses the importance of the gospel being preached. Once the message is conveyed, the hearer has an obligation to act upon what was shared. You can’t believe in someone that you've never heard of, that’s why it’s important that we share this beautiful gospel of salvation which is Jesus Christ. Once you've heard the message like in John 3:16-17: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (Blue Letter Bible, 2010). It’s up to you to accept the message of good news.

How do you accept/maintain salvation? Right now you can believe in your heart what the scripture says regarding Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection. Ask God for forgiveness of your sins and repent (having a godly sorrow and mindset of not wanting to go back to a sinful lifestyle and turning to God). Openly confess to an audience with your mouth that you want to receive him as your Lord and Savior and receive him, this can be done at church, or the first opportunity presented. However, if you do this privately a confession has to be done openly as well, so you may have to make an open confession of what you've done in private to other believers. Do what you know is right. Keep the commandments of God. Allow God to lead you to a church or place that teaches and preaches the word of God (Bible) so that you can grow spiritually. After which, seek to be baptized (immersed) in water in the name of Jesus (Act 2:38) and seek to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4).

Experience salvation, and it is for you. Please remember that you can’t save or deliver yourself; it can only be done through Jesus Christ. Don’t allow anyone to make you think that this is figurative or fictional, but it is real and can become a reality through your belief and confession. I would strongly recommend reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts and this will give you a sound basis about Jesus' birth, life, death, resurrection, and being a comforter and guide.

Shalom


Reference

Blue Letter Bible. (2010). Genesis 49:18. Retrieved from http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Gen&c=49&v=18&t=KJV#18