Salvation

Salvation implies that there must be an impending danger that necessitates the assistance of another. The word salvation in the Bible is of this sort, and it relates to the theological study of soteriology. Our situation as human beings is a desperate one!

When sliding into class at the sound of the bell, one might say you were “saved by the bell.” When fighting with a sibling, one might say you go to your room to be saved for a moment of silence. When snatched from a burning building, one might say that you were saved from sure death. But what about salvation? Are we saved to live another moment? Is there salvation available after death?

Salvation implies that there must be an impending danger that necessitates the assistance of another. The word salvation in the Bible is of this sort, and it relates to the theological study of soteriology (the study of salvation). Our situation as human beings is a desperate one! 

Every person who enters this world is connected to Adam and Eve. They are the parents of all living people, and we are partakers of the nature they left to us – fallen from righteousness, corrupted, and inclined to do evil. Our natural body is in this fallen state and constantly at war with God’s spirit; therefore, every person born in this world deserves the wrath of God and deserves the condemnation of our souls. Because of the situation that we find ourselves in, we are in desperate need of salvation. God’s character shows us that He is a just Judge, yet He is also loving and kind. Although these characteristics seem contradictory… they are not! God demonstrates this by paying the fine that we could not pay ourselves so that we can escape the just judgment that our sins deserve. The payment was made by His Son, who came as God in the flesh, dying on the cross as payment in our place. However, Jesus did not stay in the grave. Three days later, He was resurrected! 1 Corinthians 15:17 says, “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” The resurrection is a critical part of the Good News! Without it, we could not have life in Christ. This is the biblical definition of salvation. 

Being “saved” or “salvation” for believers means freedom from the effects of the Fall of Man. Freedom is attained through faith in Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, Jesus is called “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (NKJV, Hebrews 5:9). The scriptures teach that we enter into this relationship with Christ by faith and experience three tenses of salvation:

Past: We are saved from the penalty of our sins through forgiveness.

Present: We are saved from the power of sin in the present.

Future: We WILL BE delivered from the presence of sin as we enter into the Presence of God for all eternity

Some words in scripture that are associated with salvation include: deliverance, liberation, pardon, redemption, restoration, escape, release, and rescue.

Some words that are considered antonyms of salvation include: destruction, damnation, condemnation, doom, loss, and waste.

In the New Testament, the only term for “salvation” is the Greek word soteria, used 45 times, which means “safety,” “salvation,” or “deliverance.” Each mention of salvation is associated with God and/or Christ because it is only through Jesus' work, not our own. In the Old Testament, this word is used 117 times and is likened to the concept of Atonement. This concept of atonement points to salvation through Christ. In the Old Testament, people had to sacrifice animals to atone for, or pay for, their sins. Leviticus 17:11 (NKJV) says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’” According to Blue Letter Bible, the word atonement is the Hebrew word kapar. In general terms, it means to cover and to reconcile. So, when the Israelites brought animals to the Tabernacle, or later to the Temple, it was so the blood of the perfect animal(s) would cover their sins. Why the shedding of blood? According to Hebrews 9:22, “without shedding of blood there is no remission.” This atonement in the Old Testament, pointed to the Ultimate Sacrifice, who is Christ. He was the perfect, spotless Lamb whose shed blood covered our sins. The New Testament (NKJV) does not even use the word atonement as Christ’s blood has covered our sin so that we can be reconciled to God. Christ offers us salvation! “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

So, the question is: How can you be saved? Let’s look at a few verses:

1 Corinthians 15:3-4: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve”

Romans 5:10: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

Romans 10:9-11: “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’” 

Salvation is not by works of righteousness (Ephesians 2:8) but through faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ. God in the flesh came to die for us and rise again. If you want a personal relationship with Jesus, He is willing and able to forgive your sins and to welcome you into His family.

Revelation 19:1: “After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, ‘Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!”