What Is Salvation?

What is salvation? How does it work? Are there components of salvation? In Greek the word for Savior or Deliverer is s?t?? (soter) and so we call the study of salvation soteriology.

What is salvation?

Temporal Salvation

When enthusiastic Christians ask others if they have been saved, many don’t even know what that means. Salvation in the Bible refers both to a physical and spiritual rescue. In the case of ancient Israel, they were saved from slavery in Egypt.

Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. (Exodus 14:30 KJV)

Later Israel was saved from many national calamities. Many individuals were saved from personal misfortune or sickness.

O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! (Jeremiah 17:14 NLT)

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us (Luke 1:68-71 ESV)

Eternal Salvation

More important than temporary physical salvation is permanent eternal salvation, humanity saved from sin and the consequences of it. What makes the salvation of the world possible is Jesus Christ.

They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42 NIV)

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. (1 John 4:14 NASB)

Facets of Salvation

Although salvation can refer to being saved from a calamity or sickness, generally it refers to eternal salvation, and contains several important aspects.

Election

In the New Testament the people, who are often referred to as the church of God, become God’s elect and it is a group open to all people of the world.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

Calling

We are called to be holy, set apart by God, which is what the word saint means.

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7 KJV)

Regeneration

Regeneration is a strange word, almost machine-like to our modern ears, but let’s understand that it is also called being born again or born from above.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God… I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:1-7 NLT)

Conversion

In Greek the word conversion is ?p?st??f? (epistrophé) meaning a turning about. The process of conversion involves repentance and faith.

repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21 KJV)

Christian Unity in Christ

The divisions between Christians are only worldly. In reality there is no division between genuine Christians because we are one body in union with Christ.

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:5 KJV)

Justification

In Greek the word for justification is d??a??s?? (dikaiosis) and means simply declared righteous. It can also mean an acquittal, a declaration of “not guilty” even though we were guilty. God declares sinners righteous because of Jesus’ righteousness not because we were blameless.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin… and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus… For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. (Romans 3:20; 24, 28 NIV)

Adoption

In ancient times there was often no difference between an adopted child and a natural born one. An adopted child received all the rights and privileges of a biological child. That is the meaning in the Bible. We have a special relationship as an adopted child of God.

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26 NLT)