The Meaning of Salvation

I was young when I received salvation, and I didn’t comprehend the meaning of salvation which includes being delivered from the power of sin and death (Psa. 68:20) and trusting Jesus (Acts 16:30-31).

It wasn’t until many years later when I suffered a marriage break up that I fully began to understand the meaning of salvation through the grace of God. And it was during those years that I began to take my walk with God and my Christianity more seriously.

When I hit rock bottom it all started to make sense. For me, it was during those dark days of separation and divorce, that my trust in God grew, and as a result, he pulled me out of the pit and into the light (Psa. 27:1). God was by my side when the storms of uncertainty would wash over me day after day. He was there, holding my hand through it all.

So, what does my plight have to do with salvation? It wasn’t until I committed myself to God and showed I was faithful, that He started moving in my life, and salvation is built on faith. Faith is the cornerstone of being saved. Without it, salvation ceases to exist.

It’s through faith by the grace of God that we secure our salvation (Rom. 4:16). It’s that simple. We aren’t saved by good works nor are we saved by being a good person. Salvation is free when we turn from evil by confessing our sins (1 John 1:9; Pro. 28:13) and trust the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus’ name in Hebrew is Yeshua, which means ‘salvation’.

The Bible tells us that we are not saved by good works. However, good works are a bi-product of our salvation. For Ephesians 2:8-10 explains “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

2 Cor. 9:8 expands further “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work”.

So, the apostle Paul tells us in each of those Scriptures, that we were created to flourish for good works. But what are good works? Paul clarifies it this way in 2 Cor. 9:6. “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Then we see the same message repeated in Pro. 22:9 “Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed for he shares his bread with the poor.”    

We’ve established that salvation comes through God’s grace from our faith in Him when we confess our sin so that we will imitate the love of God, by helping others. This sums up what it means to be born again.

0ur society is based on materialism and success in a secular world. The world we live in teaches us, that we need vast amounts of money to be happy. Essentially, people believe money will save them from despair and poverty. However, the wisdom of God teaches the opposite of this philosophy.

Pro. 28:6 tells us “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.” and 1 Tim. 6:10 states “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

As human beings, we are born sinful and unrighteous due to the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Additionally, we are all guilty of breaking God’s commandments (Jam. 2:10; Rom. 3:23-24). It wasn’t until Jesus’ death and resurrection, that we were purified and made clean.

God was Jesus Christ in the flesh, and He was crucified on the cross to take away the sin of the world so we could live eternally (Heb. 9:28; 1 Cor. 15:3). Therefore, repentance of sin plays a pivotal part in our salvation. Through repentance, we are cloaked in righteousness and commit to living our lives according to the Word of God.

The Bible says in Rom. 6:23 that the wages of sin is death. Hell is a real place in the supernatural, just like Heaven is. We have a choice to make, choose eternal life, which is narrow. Or choose the worldly road, which is wide, but leads to eternal death. God created us with free will to choose because He didn’t want our love for Him to be pre-programmed like a robot. He wants us to choose love.

Jesus came to preach and teach that there is life after death. He wanted everyone to know that eternal life awaits those who believe in Him (1 John 5:20). It didn’t bother Jesus if you were rich or if you were poor. His message of salvation was always the same – have faith (Acts 13:39; Mark 16:16; Rom. 3:22; Hab. 2:4; Gen. 15:6).

Thankfully, God is patient with us. He is giving people a chance to come to true repentance before He sends His son Jesus Christ back to earth, to take His saints home. 2 Pet. 3:9 confirms this. “The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

We all have a purpose in this life to fulfil the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20). We are called to be disciples of Christ. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from, God wants to use you because He loves you. If you take His gift of salvation and apply it to your life, you will know what it means to live in peace. Nothing is impossible with God if you just believe. Jesus won’t give up on you, He will stand at the door and knock, but it’s up to you to answer (Rev.3:20).