Have you ever wondered what salvation really means? Let’s discover what the Bible says.
This subject is one of the most assumed understood concepts in the Christian faith. Some think it is about following rules and regulations to gain approval from God, some see it as another form of religion, while others think it is about giving your life to Christ. However, in this article, we will explore a biblical teaching on what salvation truly means and its effects.
The Christian faith is built on salvation. Salvation is authored by God alone. Hence, what is salvation?
“1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Paul explained salvation and what we were saved from in the scriptures above. Salvation is God delivering man from the dominion of darkness.
Salvation is a word that means deliverance. Colossians 1:13 (KJV) “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” Salvation is God delivering us from the hold of darkness and the rule of the devil. We can see that salvation is not “how we can please God” or about “rules and regulations,” but rather, salvation is deliverance. Salvation is the work of Jesus alone— “He delivered us and brought us into a new kingdom.” Salvation is of God alone. “But [as for me], I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I shall pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!” (Jonah 2:9 NIV)
Salvation is God, through Christ, taking us out of a kingdom ruled by death, sin, and darkness into a domain of life—the kingdom of His dear Son.
Apostle Paul said in verse 3 of Ephesians 2 that we were by nature children of wrath. Salvation is God Himself delivering us from the nature of wrath unto eternal life. Salvation is not about changing ourselves and doing good things; as the Law of Moses showed us, we could not give ourselves salvation (Galatians 3). Roman 3 vs 23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” This was the summary of what the Old Testament men said (Psalm 51:5, Isaiah 64:6). However, this is not the reality of the man who has received the salvation of God.
Salvation is the work of God, done by God alone. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Salvation is done by God and given to us as a gift. It is not of the works of man.
Salvation = God + nothing – nothing
Salvation is not about following certain rules and regulations. Remember, there was a law (Moses’ law), and it was evident that they could not fulfill its demands.
What happened in salvation?
In salvation, God became a man, died, and rose again for the justification of man. By this sacrifice, He gave us His Spirit. In salvation, God indwells man. “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13).
Here is the gist:
Salvation is deliverance from the domain of darkness. How? Through His death, burial, and resurrection, He brought us into the kingdom of God by giving us His Spirit through His ascension. All this was done and given to us through grace, and we can only receive this gift through faith. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (KJV) says, “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Salvation is received by believing in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ—His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a new birth, giving us the nature (Spirit) of God.
SALVATION IS A CHANGE OF NATURE, A CHANGE OF CITIZENSHIP
Salvation implies that we are born of God and our citizenship is in heaven. For example, attending college in another country and obeying its rules and regulations as an international student does not make you a citizen of that country, but rather an obedient international student, right? In the same way, good conduct does not make you a citizen of the kingdom of God. At best, you are an obedient child of darkness. What makes an international student become a citizen? It is by following the steps put in place by the government of that new country. Similarly, becoming a citizen of the Kingdom of God is only possible by the system He put in place—faith in the gospel of our Lord Jesus and confessing Him as Lord and Savior.
Salvation is not about “giving your life to Christ.” This may sound absurd because it is commonly heard among Christians. Let’s dive into scripture. Ephesians 2:5 states, “Even when we were dead in trespasses, [He] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” John 3:16 (KJV) says, “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.”
Paul said we were “dead” in our trespasses. John 10:10 (NKJV) says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” If we already had life, there would be no need for another life. Also, Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJV) “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
The life we have in Adam is death. The life in Adam is spiritual death, alienation from God as Paul said in Colossians 1:21 (NKJV) “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled ” Adam was a living being but did not have life (spiritual and Eternal). 1 Corinthians 15: 45 “And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit”
At salvation, we received the life of God. We had no life before. Colossians 1:13 states that we were delivered from the kingdom of darkness. The dominion of darkness is characterized by death and sin. We did not have life; it is at salvation that we received the life of God.
Referring to salvation as “giving our life to Christ” can diminish the understanding of what truly happens at salvation. Salvation is God Himself indwelling man by His Spirit. 1 Peter 2:9-10 (KJV) says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
At salvation, we received the life of God and were born into a new kingdom—God’s kingdom.
Key Point from Reverend Peter Alabi’s teaching
Salvation is explained by these five Greek words.
- Sola Gratia – Grace alone
- Sola Fide – Faith alone
- Sola Scriptura – Scriptures alone
- Solus Christus – Christ alone
- Soli Deo Gloria – Glory to God alone