What is true salvation? Is it simply saying a prayer? This subject that is foundational to the life of a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is one of the most misunderstood topics to those who go to church or call themselves believers. It is my prayer that you will take the time to read and prayerfully consider this article.

In order to understand salvation we will define the word this will help with our understanding. Salvation in the Hebrew is y^eshuw`ah { yesh-oo’ aw} which could be translated salvation, deliverance, welfare, prosperity, or victory.

In the Greek it is soteria { so-tay-ree’-ah}which has three meanings:

1) deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation

1a) deliverance our enemies

2) salvation as the present possession of all true Christians

3) future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God.

These definitions help us to understand the salvation that we have in Christ Jesus. Many erroneously believe that salvation is just the last definition of the future salvation. Many will run around with a great deal of sin in their lives saying that “I’m saved.” This in not true salvation! If by simply saying a prayer one is “saved” then let’s gather the world together say the “Sinners’ Prayer” and then we will get back to living our lives how we wish. Salvation is a commitment to the righteousness of God. I will explain these concepts in more detail later in this article, but first how does salvation begin?

Salvation begins with an acknowledgement that God is right and we are wrong; this usually begins with a prayer. I like to you the analogy of a marriage. It begins with a vow between to individuals (man and woman) in the presence of God and loved ones, but this does not constitute the totality of the marriage: they must fulfill the vows that were made otherwise the vow has become broken. We too come unto the Lord and acknowledge that God’s Word is right that we are all sinners. Jesus through His shed blood made atonement for the world (Praise God!). After we come unto Him and accept Him into our hearts then we need to walk out our vow so to speak; however, we do not need to do this alone. We have His grace! Here again we run into a problem: many do not know or understand the grace of God. This is important because the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. Let’s define grace so that we can understand how we are saved. Please stay with me and don’t click out you will miss something very important.

Grace is defined and God’s unmerited (meaning it isn’t something that you can work for or be good enough to obtain), Devine assistance, given to man for his regeneration (to become new) and sanctification (being cleaned up and set apart). So, God’s grace is how we are saved, right? Yes! We are saved by His ability in us to overcome all sin and temptation. By the virtue of getting sin out of our lives, our lives are made much better! If we take a close look at Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. This is how we live a victorious (salvation) life. So will point out that it is not of works, lest any man should boast, but I don’t consider not “sinning” a work. This is what we are supposed to do. I have a sister in-law who would ride around in a car with an “I’m Saved” license plate on the front of her car. She went to church, but her life was filled with a great deal of sin. She would spend two-hundred dollars a week smoking dope. I looked at her life and thought what are you saved from? She needed to be saved from herself.

We are indeed saved by the grace of God and not of works. You can never be good enough in your works to be saved because you will fall short of the glory of God; however, with God’s ability in us we can overcome all things. We have His grace to overcome sin and temptation. The Bible say in Romans 5 and into the 6 th chapter it talks about how the Law entered in to convict all under the Law. Some miss understand the following passage:

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21 (NKJV)

You see the Law (First five books of the Bible) enter in that offense might abound, rather that our knowledge of sin might increase. When our knowledge of sin has increases so does grace! Not only does God convict our hearts of sin, but He gives us the ability to overcome that sin! Praise belongs all to Jesus!

I want to discuss a couple of more scriptures found in 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV)

For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Today is the day of salvation; we do not have to wait until we die to see salvation. We can live a victorious life now! What we need is to draw upon the grace of God to help us in our time of need. Let’s look at one more scripture.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV)
13But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,

Look how salvation comes: through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. We will live successful lives by allowing the Holy Spirit come into our lives and convict our hearts of sin and we simply yield to Him. He is the one who sanctifies us. The more He sanctifies us the more we walk in this present procession of true believers. More sin we get out of our lives the more victorious we will be in this life. We must also believe in the truth. Many would rather believe in a lie, but I encourage you not to believe a lie. We cannot continue in sin that grace may abound! Do not believe the lie that you can continue to do whatever you want to and you are still “saved.” This is a lie!

Look at this verse: They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate Titus 1:16 (NKJV) the Apostle Paul said that if you denied Him, He would deny us (2 Tim. 2:12). Think about this: If we with our mouth say that we know and love Him and we deny Him in our works, we are still denying Him and if we deny Him, He will deny us!

Consider this verse:

Matthew 7:22-23(KJV)
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

If you have any questions or comments, please email them to me.

Thank you for take to time to read this, may God bless you,

Pastor Michael Duncan