In a biblical sense, salvation means deliverance from the control of sin and its consequences in a person’s life. Salvation is a result of accepting Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Savior. Salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone.
The Scripture teaches “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).
“Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes: as justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness, sanctification, and glorification. Salvation is in three tenses: (1) The Christian has been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin (Lk. 7:50; 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:15; Eph. 2:5,8) and is safe. (2) The Christian is being saved from the habit and dominion of sin (Rom. 6:14; 8:2; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 2:19-20). And (3) the Christian will be saved at the Lord’s return, from all the bodily infirmities that are the result of sin and God’s curse upon the sinful world (Rom. 8:18-23; 1 Cor. 15:42-44).” (C.I. Scofield, D.D.).
Sadly, there are some who believe they can be saved by doing good works. This is totally false and has no merit. It is first salvation, and then works. The apostle makes it clear when he says salvation “is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Also, Titus 3:5 tells us we are saved “not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.” If we were saved by works, what about those who had no works? Being saved by grace means the unmerited favor of God, that is, His undeserved kindness he demonstrates through the shed blood and death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
One of the great and wonderful joys of salvation is that we become more and more Christ-like in our attitude, desires, and behavior. In other words, we now have a Christ-inspired lifestyle, because we are saved from the practice and dominion of sin. The Bible says, “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
Under the old lifestyle, Satan and sin held us captive, whereby we conformed to the dictates and patterns of this world. In those times we were fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6).
The text says dead in our trespasses, meaning “spiritual death,” which is the state of the natural or unsaved person who is still in his or her sins, being alienated for the life of Christ, and destitute of the Holy Spirit of God. Spiritual death also means eternal or unending separation from God and heaven when a person dies without being saved.
Christians live with the blessed assurance that we have a full and complete salvation because “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). Therefore, nothing needs to be added or taken away from our salvation.
God declared through the prophet Jeremiah “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). It is believed God had the advent of His Son, Christ Jesus in mind, who would go to the Cross and pay the penalty for man’s sins.
God made a promise to Israel which is also applicable to Christians today, “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities and I will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12). It must be remembered that sin has no effective remedy except in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Hence, the Scripture says “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Saved, saved, saved. On my way to heaven.
Saved, saved, saved. I’m rejoicing day by day,
And in God’s amazing grace I will forever stay.
—Geoff Daniels 12/2021
Jesus’s last words at His crucifixion were: “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30). This was definitely a declaration of total victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave. Hallelujah. Glory to God.
People need the Lord Jesus and His salvation to have a victorious lifestyle. God, in His wonderful love and mercy, has rescued us from the power and control of sin. The Scripture says: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13,14).
Have you been delivered from the domain of darkness? If not, you can experience it right now by trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Prayerfully ask Jesus to come into your heart, forgive you of your sins, and save you. And He will. The Bible says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).