Question: "What is salvation? What is the Christian meaning of salvation?" (John 14:6 and Acts 4:12)

Salvation is a gift from God.

I am very much aware that Salvation is deliverance from danger or suffering. To save is to deliver or protect. The word carries the idea of victory, health, or preservation. Sometimes, the Bible uses the words saved or salvation to refer to temporal, physical deliverance, such as Paul's deliverance from prison (Philippians 1:19). There are many Salvation stories recorded in the Bible and plenty outside the Bible.

More often, the word "salvation" concerns an eternal, spiritual deliverance. When Paul told the Philippians' jailer what he must do to be saved, he was referring to the jailer's eternal destiny (Acts 16:30-31). Jesus equated being saved with entering the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24-25).

What are we saved from? In the Christian belief of salvation, we are saved from "wrath," that is, from God's judgment of sin (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9). Our sin has separated us from God, and the consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:2). Biblical salvation refers to our deliverance from the consequence of sin and therefore involves the removal of sin.

Who does the saving? Only God can remove sin and deliver us from sin's penalty (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5).

How does God save? In the Christian faith of salvation, God has rescued us through Christ (John 3:17). Specifically, it was Jesus' death on the cross and subsequent resurrection that achieved our salvation (Romans 5:10; Ephesians 1:7). Scripture is clear that salvation is the gracious, undeserved gift of God Ephesians 2:5, 8 and is only available through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).

How do we receive salvation? We are saved by faith. First, we must hear the gospel - the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection (Ephesians 1:13). Then, we must believe - fully trust the Lord Jesus (Romans 1:16). This involves repentance, a changing of mind about sin and Christ (Acts 3:19), and calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:9-10, 13).

A definition of the Christian faith of salvation would be "The deliverance, by the grace of God, from eternal punishment for sin which is granted to those who accept by faith God's conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus." Salvation is available in Jesus alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) and is dependent on God alone for provision, assurance, and security.

What does it mean for salvation to be a gift from God?

This is where the rubber meets to road. The word gift is an important one in the Bible, and it is good that we understand its definition and implications.

In the New Testament, there are several Greek words translated "gift." Some of these words are used in contexts other than God's gift of salvation, such as the common gift-giving of celebrants (Revelation 11:10), the things received from fathers (Matthew 7:11), offerings to a ministry (Philippians 4:17), and the gifts of the magi in (Matthew 2:11).

However, when it comes to the matter of our salvation, the New Testament writers use different Greek words - words that emphasize the gracious and absolutely free quality of the gift. Here are the two words most commonly used for the gift of salvation:

1. Dorea, meaning "a free gift." This word lays particular stress on the gratuitous nature of the gift - it is something given above and beyond what is expected or deserved. Every New Testament occurrence of this word is related to a spiritual gift from God. It is what Jesus offers to the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:10. It is called the "free gift" in Romans 5:15. It is the "unspeakable or indescribable gift" in 2 Corinthians 9:15. This gracious gift is identified as the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38; 8:30; and 11:17.

The adverb form of this word is Dorean, translated "freely" in Matthew 10:8; 2 Corinthians 11:7; Revelation 21:6; 22:17. In Romans 3:24, immediately following God's pronouncement of our guilt, we have this use of Dorean: "Being justified FREELY by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." The gift of salvation is free, and the motive for the gift is nothing more than the grace of the Giver.

2. Charisma, meaning "a gift of grace." This word is used to define salvation in Romans 5:15-16. Also, in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT charisma of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." This same word is used in conjunction with the gifts of the Spirit received after salvation in Romans 12:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Peter 4:10.

Obviously, if something is a "gift of grace," it cannot be earned. To work for something is to deserve it, and that would produce an obligation - a gift of debt, as it were. That is why works destroy grace (Romans 4:1-5; 11:5-6).

When presenting salvation, the New Testament writers carefully chose words that emphasize grace and freedom. As a result, the Bible could not be more clear - salvation is absolutely free, the true gift of God in Christ, and our only responsibility is to receive the gift by faith (John 1:12; 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).

When I look back, I thank God for my parents for sending me to school. Winston Churchill in his story, 'My Early Life, slightly adapted' said:
'When I look back on my early years, I cannot but return my sincere thanks to the high gods for the gift of existence. All the days were good and each day was better than the other. Ups and downs, risks and journey's, but always the sense of motion, and the illusion of hope. Come on now, all you young people. You are needed more than ever to take your places in life's fighting line. Twenty to twenty-five! These are the years! Don't be content with things as they are.'

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7: 7-8).

Reflect on these seven questions:

What is Salvation?
Salvation from what?
Who does the saving?
How does God save?
How do we receive salvation?
What does it mean for salvation to be a gift from God?
Are you saved?

I found my salvation story in Mark 8:38. I know that it is both objective and subjective truth.

A prayer. O God, give us a vision of what must be done, a determination to receive salvation and win through, and courage to overcome all obstacles until we reach the goal.

Amen.

Modicum


Vision 2009. Isaiah 55:11

'So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.' The paradigm of the power of God's word

Every Day with Jesus in a mission-shaped church
Daily prayer and reading of the Bible
Regular worship together
Receiving of Holy Communion
Praise of God and listening to God.

1. Disciple people of all ages in a mission- shaped church.
2. Providing ways for people to explore the Christian faith in a mission-shaped church.
3. Make commitments to our Lord Jesus Christ in Baptism and confirmation in a mission-shaped church.
4. Encouraging development of gifts, abilities, and vocations so that people grow to maturity in a mission shaped church.
5. Support Christian families in discipling children and young people to be followers of Jesus Christ in a mission-shaped church.