YOUR SPIRITUAL WALK
Salvation
What Is It?
The theological term for the doctrine of salvation is soteriology. According
to the American Heritage Dictionary salvation is the deliverance from the power
or penalty of sin; redemption. The word salvation in the Old Testament carries
with it the concept of deliverance from Israel’s enemies. That thought
process carries into the New Testament. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist,
states in Luke 1 beginning at verse 68 – “Blessed is the Lord God
of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, 69 And has raised up a
horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, 70 As He spoke by
the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, 71 That
we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, 72
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: 74 To grant us that we, being
delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness
and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. 76 And you, child, will
be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the
Lord to prepare His ways, 77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people by
the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God, with which
the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 79 To give light to those who sit
in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 80
So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the
day of his manifestation to Israel. (NKJ)
Salvation, therefore, is the delivering power of God that sets a person free
from their enemy. In a real sense then, salvation is the delivering power of
God that sets us free from Satan’s power. This is the essence of the message
and it is clearly stated by Paul, concerning his mission here on earth, in a
defense he gave before King Agrippa in Acts 26:13-18 – “At midday,
O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining
around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the
ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15
So I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
16 'But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose,
to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and
of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 'I will deliver you from the
Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 'to open
their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power
of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance
among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” (NKJ)
Notice what takes place in this transition of salvation: verse 18 says we receive
the forgiveness of sins. This is what salvation is all about. Transferred from
one power to another and in the process receiving forgiveness of sins.
There are several New Testament terms used for the salvation experience. They
are saved, born again and regeneration. The verses of scripture that specifically
address these designations are:
SAVED
John 3:16-17
16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but
that the world through Him might be saved. (NKJ)
BORN AGAIN
John 3:3-7
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless
one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter
a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water
and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit.
7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' (NKJ)
REGENRATION
Titus 3:5
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to
His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing
of the Holy Spirit. (NKJ)
The Need
Romans 5:8-12 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in
that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through Him.
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.
11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through
sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned”-- (NKJ)
Rom 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God.” (NKJ)
How Do You Get Saved?
Let’s start with one of the verses previously used. Titus 3:5 – “Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He
saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” (NKJ)
Rom 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it
is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first
and also for the Greek.” (NKJ)
I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NKJ)
Rom 10:9-13 – “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.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to
shame."
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over
all is rich to all who call upon Him.
13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (NKJ)
Salvation, then, is a work of Jesus Christ affected by my belief in
the gospel concerning Him.
Is It Possible To Lose Your Salvation?
The answer is yes and no. Yes if you let go of it, no if you hold on
to it. Salvation is a gift from God. We become righteous. But the scriptures
are very clear and abundant that once I receive it, it becomes my righteousness.
The question is not, “Does God take it back?” The question
is, “Do we throw it away?” We must look to scripture to give
us insight on this subject. To do so, let’s take a look at specific
examples given to us in the Bible.
Judas – Acts 1:15-20
The Galatians – 3:2-4; 1:6; 5:4
Demas – (called a fellowlaborer in Philemon 24) 2Timothy 4:10; 1John
2:15-17
Hymanaeus and Alexander – 1Timothy 1:19,20
The Result of Salvation
1 Pet 1:3-10 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again
to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade
away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready
to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need
be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold
that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor,
and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing,
you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith-- the salvation of your souls.
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully,
who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, (NKJ)
