What is Salvation in Christianity?

What is Salvation in Christianity?

When talking about salvation, people make it sound so complex when in fact it really isn’t. Many Christians who claim they’re saved do not really understand what it means to be saved. What is salvation in Christianity?

In our evangelism we often quote Romans 10:9 which says, “that if you confess with our mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Saved from what? Why do we need to be saved?

Some also use Matthew 24:13 which talks about standing firm to the end in order to be saved. Again, saved from what? And why do we need to be saved?

The Definition of Salvation

Just a quick glance at the world we live in reveals man’s sinful condition and the awful and sad reality that man will never be able to save himself all on his own. Man’s condition is one which is completely helpless and despite all his efforts to bring about peace and prosperity in a supposedly new society, the world remains in chaos, shattered and torn as a result of sin.

It all started in the Garden of Eden when Adam sinned by disobeying God. As a result, man’s fellowship with God was cut off and he was bound to suffer eternally in hell as punishment for his sin. There is hope, however, as the Bible speaks of God’s gracious plan to provide a solution to man’s problem and we call that “salvation.”

*Read here: Death Penalty for Sin, Eternal Life in Christ

The word salvation is from the Greek wordsoteria” which is derived from the word soter” meaning savior. It is personal and universal and is centered on the life and works of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As used in Scriptures in its broadest sense, the word salvation includes comprehensively the total work of God by which He seeks to rescue man from the power of sin and bestows upon him the abundance of His grace, eternal life and eternal glory.

In theology, however, the major use of the word salvation is to denote a work of God on behalf of men which includes redemption, reconciliation, propitiation, conviction, repentance, faith, regeneration, forgiveness, justification, sanctification, preservation, and glorification.

In simpler terms, salvation is God reaching out to man to rescue him from the power of sin and the eternal punishment for that sin in hell.

Why Do We Need to be Saved?

In order for us to really come to terms with our need of salvation, we first need to realize that we are sinners in need of saving; we’re all fallen. We need salvation as a result of the sin of rebellion as recorded in Genesis 3 and also our own personal rebellion against God and rejection of Him.

We need salvation to escape the penalty and punishment that hangs over all mankind. We need to be saved from eternal destruction and punishment. Man’s offense was against God, and God being holy and just demands justice. The Bible tells us that “we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and the penalty for that sin is death (Romans 6:23).

Secondly, we need to be saved from our state of being alienated or separated from God. Isaiah 59:2 says, “our sin has separated us from God.” If we are separated from God then we will not able to enjoy His presence, His fellowship, His grace, mercy and blessings.

In other words, we will not be with God in heaven for eternity because hell means “separation from God.” Heaven is God’s throne, His dwelling place (Acts 66:1; Acts 7:49), and if we will not be with God in heaven, then we will be spending eternity in hell.

How Did God Save Us?

God saved us by sending His only Son to die on the cross for us. On the cross, Jesus made the once-for-all sacrifice for man’s sin and its penalty which is death. Since the just penalty for sin and death is finite and eternal, only God Himself could pay for it because only He is finite and eternal.

But God being divine could not die so He had to become human in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ who is God, took on human flesh, lived a perfect life of obedience to the Father, even to the point of death (Philippians 2:8).

The Bible says that we are spiritually dead because of sin (Ephesians 2:1) and are cut off from the presence of God, making it impossible for us to make contact with God by our own efforts. It is for this reason that Jesus Christ came; He came to redeem us and to bridge the gap that separated us from God. Jesus came to restore the broken relationship between man and God.

How Do We get Saved?

In Acts 16:29-31 we read how the jailer asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved. And in response, Paul and Silas told him to believe in the Lord Jesus and he and his household will be saved.

God has already done the work for us. All we need to do is receive the gift of salvation that He is offering for free. Salvation is received by grace through faith alone in the Lord Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). This is what makes Biblical Christianity different from all the other world religions, sects and cults. We are saved by putting our trust in something that God has done for us and not in something we can do.

It is because of God’s great love that He Himself made a way for us to be reconciled back to Him. God had to bear the pain of seeing His Son suffer and die so that we will not perish in hell but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Conclusion

This is what salvation means in Christianity; God coming in human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life of obedience and set an example for us to follow, to suffer and die on the cross for our sins and to rise again to conquer death and hell, in order set us free from the power of sin and death and to rescue and deliver us from the wrath of God and the judgment that is to be poured out upon all flesh on the earth in a future event known as the Great Tribulation.

Question is: Have you acknowledged your need of a Savior? Have you trusted Jesus for your salvation? If not, trust Him today. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. It’s not yet too late, for God is patient with you because He does not want anyone to perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).


Recommended Resource: The Case for Christ:  A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus by Lee Stobel

The Case for Christ by Lee StrobelIn this revised and updated bestseller, The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel cross-examines a dozen experts with doctorates from schools such as Cambridge, Princeton, and Brandeis, asking hard-hitting questions–and building a captivating case for Christ’s divinity.

Strobel asks challenging questions like:

  • How reliable is the New Testament?
  • Does evidence for Jesus exist outside the Bible?
  • Is Jesus who he said he was?
  • Is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual event?

Winner of the Gold Medallion Book Award and twice nominated for the Christian Book of the Year Award, Strobel’s tough, point-blank questions read like a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it’s not fiction. It’s a riveting quest for the truth about history’s most compelling figure.

20 Replies to “What is Salvation in Christianity?”

  1. Thank you.

    You have made me understand the word salvation which I was given a chance to preach in my dream but couldn’t. So when I woke up, I went through your articles in your website to understand it very well.

    I pray that God will give me more insight into His word like you.

    1. Hi Derick,

      I’m glad for you to come by and are able to gain a better understanding of what salvation really means. I understand that some people could make salvation so complicated that it becomes more difficult to understand. I’m just glad that this article was of help to you.

      In regards to being able to preach, I’m sure God sees your desire to serve Him. If you have the willingness to become an instrument of God to share the Gospel, God will honor that and will give you wisdom as you continue to read and meditate on His word.

      God bless you more.

  2. Hello Alice,
    Thank you for this great post!
    God loved us so much that He gave us His son in order to save us. How His love is unconditional regarding all the sins we have done. His grace and mercy are a gift, they are above all. Jesus I trust in You!
    Keep up this beautiful work. May God bless you.
    Diana

    1. Indeed, it’s the unconditional love of God that caused Him to come down, gave up His majesty and glory in heaven to live a perfect life of obedience to the Father. He suffered and died just so we can be forgiven of our sins and be reconciled back to God. It’s all because of the grace and mercy of God that we can have hope of eternal life. 

      Thanks for your comment, God bless!

  3. Alice, you are certainly well versed for your arguments that you present in your blog.Your blog is well written and has a clean crisp presentation to it. You have a header that is straight to the point. I may have overlooked it but I did not see any links to your site for any books, dvds, or any advertisements of any kind. You have a well written article here.
    Jerry

    1. Hey Jerry, thanks for your comment and the kind words, I truly appreciate it. 

      It’s my passion to share the truth of God’s word through articles that aim to inspire, encourage and enlighten Christians and non-Christians alike. In as much as I do not claim to know and understand everything that’s written in the Bible, I do try to be honest and objective as much as possible whenever I give an explanation, exegesis or interpretation of biblical texts and passages.

      Although the main bulk of my posts is centered on the good news of salvation, I will also be tackling issues that relate to Christian growth and Christian living. By the way, I have some articles, not all of them, with recommended resources such as books and DVDs which readers can avail of if they want to read more about the featured topic.

  4. This is so true! We need to accept Jesus Christ as our savior. Unfortunately, there are too many young people who think they can get by without salvation. I think Romans 6:23 says it all: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Great article!

    1. Yes Kevin, salvation is a gift from God through Jesus Christ our Lord; all we need to do is receive it by faith.

      It’s really sad that many people ignore the Gospel message and that’s why I believe it’s our duty as believers to keep sharing it to everyone. It’s not our job to convert people but it’s our mandate to keep spreading the word.

      Thanks for stopping by, God bless us!

  5. Hi, great post! Your site is a pleasure to read and set out really clearly. You appear to have a very sound theology and are very grounded in scripture which is great. I came to Jesus two years ago and the transformation in my life has been incredible. His grace is so amazing, I marvel at it every day and I am so glad I came to call upon his name. I just want to share this message with as many people as possible, especially in these trying times. Do you believe we are living in the last days? Do you think we will witness the events of the Great Tribulation in our lifetime? Keep up the great work, God bless.

    1. Praise the Lord Oliver for your life. It’s my joy and pleasure getting to know you. The word of God in 2 Corinthians 5:17 is so true; anyone who is in Christ is a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come. Change and transformation are inevitable to anyone who has truly received God’s gift of salvation.

      Having received and experienced the amazing grace of God; having been rescued from the powers of sin and death and from the wrath of God, we are likewise mandated to share it to as many people as possible so they too will come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

      Yes Oliver, I believe we are living in the very last days. We can see the signs everywhere. What we read in 2 Timothy 3 are happening right now; people have become lovers of themselves, lovers of money, and all are showing all these kinds of ungodliness.

      Are we going to witness the events of the Great Tribulation in our lifetime? Hmmm … let me put it this way, I am not looking forward to witnessing it. I am waiting for the second coming of Christ for the Church. Do you know that many Christians today believe that Jesus Christ will return in their lifetime? No one knows the day nor the hour (Matthew 24:36), but whether we will still be here when that day comes or we will “fall asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:51), let us always make ourselves ready to meet the Lord face to face.

      Oh and to answer your question as to whether we will witness the Great Tribulation, I would have to say, “No.” Why? Because Jesus did not only save us from eternal punishment but His death also saved us from the wrath of God that is to be poured out during the Great Tribulation. Yes, I hold to a pre-trib rapture because the word of God in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 and Revelation 3:10 are pretty much clear that we are not appointed unto wrath and we will be kept from the hour of great trial.

      I am aware there are 3-4 views regarding the timing of the rapture but this disagreement is considered minor. I think the most important thing is that we believe that Jesus is coming back to take His bride, the Church and to defeat all His enemies.

      God bless you!

      1. Hey thanks for your response to my question. Yeah, it is an interesting subject. I am still seeking guidance from the Lord on if the wrath we will miss is the seven bowls of wrath as spoken about in Revelation, but if we will still have to deal with the trumpets and seals. Like you say, ultimately as long as we know that we will be saved and that Jesus is coming for his bride, that is the main thing. Please keep up the great work, it’s great to have found this site! 🙂 God bless.

        1. Hello Oliver! I’m glad to hear from you again.

          Even as we know we are saved and have assurance that Jesus will come again to receive us unto Himself as He promised in John 14:1-3, let us be encouraged all the more to seek guidance from the Lord concerning His written word.

          Shalom and God bless you more!

  6. Amazing to be hearing the gospel again and still feel touched and grateful for what God has done in my life. Thanks for sharing this concise but yet packed with truths in an easy to digest way. I do wish many many people will come to read this and know how simple it is to believe even when the word “salvation” appears complicated and hard. Keep up the good work.

    1. Hello Ht, the message of salvation is indeed amazing! It’s because of the amazing grace of God that He saved us from destruction. Salvation in Christianity may sound complicated to those who do not understand why God Himself had to come to earth in the flesh to die on the cross for our sins. But if we just realize how our sins have separated us from God, we will understand that somebody had to pay for the penalty, and that’s what the Lord Jesus accomplished through His suffering, death and resurrection.

      May God bless and keep you always, shalom!

  7. We only need to receive the gift of salvation in order to be saved. It is such a precious gift indeed. Jesus has already done all the work for us. Every day I continue to be amazed by His grace and patience. More people need to hear about the gospel of grace.

    1. That’s right Yvonne, all we have to do is receive God’s gift of salvation; receive it by faith and live a life that pleases God. How amazing is the love of God that He saved us regardless of how sinful and rebellious we are. God is so gracious, kind, loving and wonderful. That’s the God that we serve!
      God has commissioned us to share the gospel of grace, the gospel of salvation to everyone so that they too will experience what we have in Christ.

  8. Hi Alice, thanks for a lovely post. I agree wholeheartedly, we are saved by the tremendous Grace of God which He freely gave when He gave us His Son. There is nothing for us to do to earn this Grace other than to accept it. Allow it to wash us clean. What a gift. What a privilege. What an Honour. Amazing Grace.

    1. Indeed Lauren, how great is the love that God has lavished on us. He saved us not because of anything we’ve done but because of His amazing love. He saved us not because we deserve it but because of His grace and mercy. God loves us unconditionally, there is nothing we can do to make Him love us less.

      May we then strive to live a life that is pleasing to Him, may we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and obey Him whole-heartedly. 

  9. God really is patient. Thank you for sharing this. I’ve only in recent years come to discover salvation; and come to find my faith to follow Jesus.

    I was in a really awful place for most of my life, but now I’m 23; and thankfully still here to experience the beauty of life. Through suicidal attempts, and extreme reckless behaviour in which I pretty well toyed with the possibility of death – as my doctor has told me, it’s amazing you’re still here.

    And it is. I’ve clearly had angles watching over me, and I can see the purpose in it now. Because now I understand my faith, and because of what Jesus has done – salvation. It’s really beautiful, and I am ever so thankful to have made it to this place today. The Lord has saved me!

    1. Hi Mei, 

      God is patient indeed, hallelujah! He is longsuffering and does not want anyone of us to perish but that we all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). I’m glad you have finally accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life. We may have all come from different walks of life, different culture and upbringing but God is Lord of us all. He is no respecter of person but He loves us all just the same. He has given His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins so that we will no longer be bound for hell but will have eternal life (John 3:16). God has saved you and me, praise His Name!

      God loves you so much Mei and He has big plans for you that’s why He saved and rescued you. You are still young, you have many blessed years ahead of you to love & serve God. If you are not yet a part of a church family, I encourage you to join one that’s nearest to you where God can utilize you with the gifts He has given you. Continue to keep growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18), keep the faith and be a blessing to others. 

      Your sister in Christ,

      Alice

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