What is Salvation?

In the old testament, salvation was more physical. It meant victory in battles and freedom from captors. After 430 years in Egypt, the Isrealites were saved through Moses. Exodus 1 - 12.

Esther was a tool used by God to bring salvation to the jews. There are many other examples which depicts salvation.

In the new testament, it is seen as a spiritual awakening and process. The rebirth of our spirit man.
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Ephesians 4:22‭-‬24 KJV

Before Salvation was the sin nature.

This nature produces bad fruits--
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19‭-‬21 KJV

This nature caused a separation between us and God.
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Isaiah 59:2 KJV

Humans could not communicate directly with God without a priest who first had to offer sacrifices for his sin and theirs before going into the inner court . Imagine the process! Thank God for the blood of Jesus.

What does it mean to be saved?

To be saved means turning away from a life that is without God, a life based on our selfish whims and desires.

To be saved means to be rescued from God’s wrath and condemnation
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.Romans 5:8‭-‬10 NLT

By His death, Jesus reconciled us to God. The veil of separation was torn. And by His resurrection, we are given a new life in Him. We become new creatures
He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

Titus 3:5‭-‬7 NLT

Essence of salvation: The big 3

Saved by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8

1. Grace
For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.Titus 2:11‭-‬12 NLT

Salvation by grace, this is Christ paying our debts with His blood undeserved. This is God proving His love for us through His gift of salvation.
For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:9 NLT

Our works could never have qualified us.
He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

Titus 3:5‭-‬7 NLT

2. Faith

Faith is an instrument throufh which we receive salvation.
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:15 KJV

When we believe, we accept the redemption provided for us by the blood through grace.
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

John 20:31 KJV

3. Good works.

Believers are not saved by Christ for the liberty of selfish deeds but unto goodworks.

Mind you, we don't earn salvation by good works, we do good because of our new nature of righteousness. It becomes the fruits we produce as a result of salvation.
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Titus 3:4‭-‬5 KJV

How can you be saved?

Christ is saying;
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.Revelation 3:20 KJV

You believe in His name- John 1:12
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Acts 16:30‭-‬31 KJV

Confess and believe
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9-10 KJV

Is there another way to be saved?

Jesus is the only way
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.John 14:6 KJV

Here again;
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 4:12 KJV

What happens when we become saved?

After you repent and receive Jesus as our Lord and personal Saviour:-

a. You become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

b. We have Jesus as our high priest who mediates and intercedes for us before God.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Hebrews 4:14 KJV

c. We become children of the most High God.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:12‭-‬13 KJV

d. We begin to enjoy the promises attached to righteousness.
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord : he is their strength in the time of trouble.

And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Psalms 37:29‭-‬30‭, ‬39‭-‬40 KJV

Dear friends, embrace salvation today and start living in the richness of the kingdom.

Stay blessed

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