Salvation

What does "Salvation" mean? My dictionary gives this definition:

1. To save a person from sin and its consequences
   
2. The saving from danger, difficulty, or evil (in the Old Testament, trouble was referred to as evil)
   
3. Something that saves
   

Jesus said this about salvation:

And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:9-10

The word salvation is used 158 times in the Holy Bible, and the Bible tells us exactly what it means.

Salvation is listed 115 times in the Old Testament, where it is referring to God, our Father, saving His people, the children of Israel. It talks about what they obtained, or what was given to them, by doing the things God the Father commanded them under His law and the Law of Moses. In other words, what they obtained through obedience.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. Exodus 14:13

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:1-2. This is when God delivered His people from the Egyptian army.

And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. I Samuel 11:13. We see another example of God delivering His people from an enemy.

Salvation is listed only forty-three times in the New Testament. It is here that the word refers to the greatest hope and gift of the entire church, not only to the Jews, but to everyone in the world who is chosen to be one of God's children.

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. I Corinthians 15:12-19. Praise the Lord, Jesus Christ did rise from the dead and we do have hope of eternal life, through salvation from our Lord and Master!

Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. Acts 28:28

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

How do we get saved?

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:10-11.

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:10, 12.

First, we realize exactly how wretched we are in our sinful state, and how far we are from God. This makes us sorrowful, which causes us to repent (express remorse, turn away from the sinful acts, and ask forgiveness of God). We also have to believe and confess that Jesus is the risen Son of God, and that only His blood can wash our sins away. That part is free. You can't be good enough to earn salvation, and doing good deeds won't wash away your bad ones.

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. Ephesians 2:8-9

After that, we must work to stay saved. Our sinful nature wants to keep jumping back into the mud.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12. What kind of fear is that? The fear of God! The fear of what the consequences will be for us if we go back to our sinful ways.

Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. Acts 13:26. More of that fearing God!

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10. Sometimes, we will have to endure sufferings, as part of our perfecting process.

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Hebrews 5:8-9. Jesus suffered and was made perfect. We have to do the same.

There are people who play around and say, "Oh, some day I'll get myself right with the Lord, but not now. I'm having too much fun right now!" This is foolish, to say the least. Do any of us know for sure that we will be alive tomorrow? Of course not! God wants us to accept the gift that was given to us, the life and blood of His only son, Jesus. He died to be the final sacrifice for our sin. He rose again to give us hope that we can live in Heaven for eternity, after this life.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, I Thessalonians 5:9

For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

IN CONCLUSION

We are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation.

I Peter 1:3-5, 9-12

Doing the best we can at all times, ever striving to do better and to learn more of the Word of God, will lead us to joy and everlasting life.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. II Peter 1:3-12

Being forgiven, being born again (being made a new creature, II Corinthians 5:17), and being saved are all through the grace of God, but it is only the start of a life of crucifixion, (denying the flesh) and going on to perfection through Jesus Christ. May God help us to do our best at all times, knowing it will bring only the best He has for us. In Jesus' name, and God bless you.