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What is Salvation?

1. Salvation is a gift from God, by His grace (undeserved favor). Salvation is not earned or deserved by anyone. Ephesians 2:8–9 — “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

2. Salvation is by faith alone in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Son of God, was born in a manger and lived a sinless life. He willingly died on a cross, shedding His precious blood to pay for your sins and for mine. Acts 4:12 — “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

3. Salvation is deliverance from sin and its penalty. Sin is a transgression against God’s law, and the Bible tells us in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” John 3:16 “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.” Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

4. Salvation is a new birth to a new life. When someone gets saved, it changes the heart. It isn’t reforming or “turning over a new leaf.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

5. Salvation is eternal (forever) and secure in Christ. True salvation can’t be lost because it is a result of Christ’s finished work and not our ability to earn or keep it. It is sustained (kept) by God’s power, not ours. Jesus said in John 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

6. Salvation is for God’s glory and our conversion. Salvation isn’t just for escaping hell, but also being brought into fellowship with God and converted/transformed into His child, giving us a desire to live for Him. Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Ephesians 2:10a “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works;”

What Salvation is not!

1. Salvation isn’t earned by any good work or religious acts or membership. Isaiah 64:6a “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;” Titus 3:5a “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”

2. Salvation is not a partial or temporary “fix”. John 3:15 “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Hebrews 7:25a “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,”

3. Salvation is not without repentance. Repentance means to have a change of mind which leads to a change of direction. True salvation includes repentance and faith. Acts 20:21 “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus said in Luke 5:32, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

4. Salvation isn’t universal. The need for salvation is universal and while it is available to all, not everyone will be saved. Only those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will be saved. John 3:18 “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already.”

5. Salvation isn’t merely an emotional experience. While some people are more emotional than others when they are saved, salvation isn’t in the emotions. Jesus saves, not our emotions! 1 John 5:12-13 “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. ¹³ These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

6. Salvation isn’t permission to continue in sin. Instead, because we are saved, Grace frees us from sin. Romans 6:1-2a “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ² God forbid.”

SO, HOW CAN YOU BE SAVED?

If you feel God’s Holy Spirit convicting you of your sin and showing you your need to be saved, place your faith and trust entirely in Jesus. Understand that you can’t save yourself and that you deserve to go to hell. Repent of your sin and call upon Jesus (pray to Him) to save you. Using your own words, ask Him for forgiveness and for Him to save you from your sin and its penalty. Romans 10:11,13 “¹¹ For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you have been saved, we’d love to hear about it! Please reach out to us at the address below or through the QR code. Next, find a fundamental, Bible preaching, Bible practicing church to attend. -MTR

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