THEOLOGY

Salvation Defined!

by
Robert E. Schoenle

The Hebrew and Greek words for the English word “salvation” imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing and soundness. Thus, the word “salvation” gathers into itself all the redemptive acts and processes such as grace, forgiveness, redemption, propitiation, justification, imputation, sanctification and glorification (Prov. 3:5-6; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Jn. 4:10). The word “salvation,” is the great inclusive word of the “Good News” of Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 3:5)!

The Holy Bible clearly teaches that eternal “salvation” is attained solely by the grace of God, through faith alone, in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, while on the cross at Calvary. Therefore, “salvation” is a free “gift,” without the involvement of any “works” by the recipient! The result of which is the justified “believer” is to have nothing laid to his charge (Rom. 8:31-34).

A “work” is what one does to be “saved” or to be “righteous” before God. A “work” is thought to be necessary by those who do not believe the “sacrifice” of the Lord Jesus Christ, is sufficient, by itself, to save them (Rom. 3:27-28; 4:1-8; 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9). The people who refuse to offer the “lamb of God” (Jn. 1:29, 35; 3:14-15), for the forgiveness of their sins, are no different than Cain who refused to offer to God a lamb (Gen. 4:1-16). It is necessary to “do” the will of God (Ps. 40:8; Lk. 6:46), to be “in” the will of God (Mt. 7:21). Thus, those who seek to “insure” their “salvation” by doing a religious “act” will remain “unsaved” [lost] (Prov. 14:12; 16:25; Isa. 64:6)!

After hearing his message about the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts. 2:22-36), this question was asked of Peter, by the men of Israel, “. . . what shall we do” (Acts 2:37)? “Then Peter said unto them, Repent [this means to, “have a change of mind”], and be baptized [this means, “be identified”], every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [this means, “a dismissal or release”] of sins, and ye shall receive the gift [“indwelling”] of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

What the people on the day of “Pentecost” did to attain “salvation” was to first “believe,” which led them to having a “change of mind” and then be “identified” with the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, the “cause” of Christian “salvation” begins with “belief.” The “effect” is what is done afterward!

All who desire to attain eternal “salvation” from the God of the Holy Bible, need to acknowledge being a “lost” sinner who is incapable of doing “anything” to justify them self before a holy and perfect God (Job 25:4; Ps. 51:1-5; Rom. 1:20; 3:9-10, 23; 5:12; 6:23; Gal. 2:16; 3:22; Heb. 7:19). They then need to believe, by faith alone, that the Lord Jesus Christ, paid in full, the penalty due for their sins and that He died, was buried, and bodily arose from the dead (Mt. 5:17-18; Jn. 2:18-21; 4:34; 11:25-26; 14:6; 17:4; 19:30; 20:29-30; Acts 4:10-12; Rom. 1:16-17; 3:24-28; 4:5; 5:1-11; 6:3-10; 8:33-34; 10:9-13; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:7; 1 Tim. 1:15; 2:5; 1 Pet. 1:23). Thus, “salvation” is a free gift, solely by the grace of God and nothing else (Rom. 5:12-21; Eph. 2:8-9)!