What is Salvation?
Salvation is defined by Merriam-Webster as:
- Deliverance from the power and effects of sin
- Preservation from destruction or failure
Jesus came to take our place on the cross; to become the propitiation of our sins. (1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:10). He lived to be an example. He died to exemplify the greatest example of unconditional love. His sacrifice saved us from the punishment of eternal sin and gave us the opportunity to live an abundant life. (Isaiah 53:5, John 10:10-11).
Romans 10:9-10 states (9) “because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: (10) for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Salvation starts with what you say, proclaiming that Jesus is your personal savior and the forgiver of your sins. Next, you have to have faith (trust + belief) that He rose out of death by the power of God.
Because of God’s love for us, He allowed Jesus to die on the cross so that we could have everlasting life. (John 3; 16-17) Therefore, there is no way to repay. Nothing that we do i.e. pray, serve, sing, work, etc. can equate to the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. (Ephesians 2:8-10) Our responsibility is to use the gifts, talents, and abilities that He has given us to glorify Him.
Just because we have accepted the gift of salvation it doesn’t mean that we will no longer be tempted. Satan still desires to steal, kill, and destroy every child of God. (John 10:10) When we became saved, our soul became saved. However, our flesh did not. Therefore, the flesh still remembers every sin we ever committed. The key to not yielding to sin is to live by the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-14) We must repent of all our sins so as not to be entangled in a life of sin. (1 Peter 1:9, Galatians 5:1)