Salvation in the Bible
Salvation in the Bible refers to the deliverance of human beings from the consequences of sin, which include death and separation from God. It involves the removal of sin and is both temporal and eternal. Temporal salvation refers to physical deliverance, while eternal salvation concerns spiritual deliverance. In the Christian doctrine of salvation, individuals are saved from the wrath of Gods judgment of sin, which has separated them from God, and the consequence of sin, which is death.
Salvation is described as a free gift from God, but it is said to be unattainable without obedience to Christ as King and good works prompted by faith, such as baptism, confession of sins, evangelizing, and promoting Gods Kingdom. The process of receiving salvation involves hearing the gospel, believing in the Lord Jesus, repentance, and calling on the name of the Lord.
Salvation is a process, not just a one-time event. It is the beginning of a lifelong process of being continually shaped into the people that God intends individuals to be. This involves becoming more and more like Christ in grateful thanksgiving for salvation.
The biblical writers speak of salvation as a multidimensional theme with spiritual and physical, individual and communal, objective and subjective, eternal and historical dimensions. It includes personal and national deliverance, escape from death, healing, freedom from sin, and participation in a new creation.
In summary, salvation in the Bible is the deliverance of human beings from the consequences of sin, both temporally and eternally, through faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His teachings. It is a process that involves continual shaping into the image of Christ and encompasses various dimensions of deliverance and spiritual transformation.
