Understanding Salvation
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If you died today, are you going to heaven?
If you believe so, why are you so sure?
Beginning to Understand Salvation
What we’re talking about here is salvation. This is a term you will hear a lot within the Christian faith. It is used in many different forms, including when one asks you if you are “saved.”
In our lesson on the Holy Spirit, we mentioned that one of His primary roles is to “seal” the believer. In other words, the Holy Spirit dwelling within the believer is proof that he or she is saved.
Getting saved. Being saved. Earning our eternal reward. Going to heaven. These are all phrases that we use as part of salvation, but we want you to have a very clear picture on exactly what salvation is.
What Was Your Destination
Prior to your acceptance of Jesus, your destiny was death and eternal separation from God. The Bible declares that all are destined to die (Hebrews 9:27). The reason for our separation is because of our sinful nature. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
We have all done things that are wrong, missing the mark with God. As a result of our sin, we have earned a wage. We have earned a debt. As described to you a few months ago, all sin is reconciled as a debt. If you stole something, you paid the person for the items you stole. If you broke the arm of another, you compensated him for his injury and lost wages.
The same is true of your sin before God. You earned a wage for violating God’s law. Romans 6:23 tells us that your wage is death. Your sin made it so that you would die one day and be eternally separated from God.
One of the mistakes that many people make is that they think that they are a good person, and that has secured their place in heaven. Did you believe before or do you believe now that being a good person is securing your place in heaven?
If you do, you are not alone. However, the Bible makes it clear that your good works are nothing in comparison to the amount of sin you have committed. In fact, Isaiah 64:6 describes your righteous acts this way: “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.”
A “polluted garment” in this context is the rag that a woman used to control her blood flow during menstruation. I am sure that most would agree that this rag is pretty disgusting. That is what your righteous acts look like in comparison to your sin and what they look like in comparison to the righteous acts of God.
In Romans 3:10, Paul explains it a little different. Here he writes: “None is righteous, no, not one.” There is not a single one of us who is good apart from God.
Knowing this, do you still believe that some can earn their way to heaven simply by being “good?”
Salvation Is a Gift from God
So how does one earn salvation?
The truth is that there is just one way to gain everlasting life with God – acceptance of the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. However, this is not something that you earn. Instead, it is a free gift given by God. Ephesians 2:8-9 explains, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
You did nothing to “earn” your way to heaven. This was God’s faith in the things that He did that forgave your sins, giving you an eternal resting place with Him.
What is important to understand is that God did all the work. Romans 3:20 tells us that no human being was justified in his own site. In other words. There was nothing that we did to earn our salvation. Later, in verse 24, Paul writes that all are “justified by his grace as a gift.” Our ability to claim salvation came as a gift from God. We cannot say that we did anything to earn this gift.
John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God so loved you that He gave His Son to pay the penalty for your sins so that you could have eternal life. It was an incredible gift from God to free you from the burden of your sin.
How Is One Saved?
How does one become saved?
Before we talk specifically about what salvation is, let’s answer this question.
There are many places in the Bible where someone is seeking salvation. In Acts 16:30-31, Paul is teaching the jailer where he was held in Philippi. The jailer asks Paul what he must do to be saved. Paul tells him that he must “believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”
This seems pretty simple, but you may be wondering what it means to “believe” in Jesus? This seems like a pretty simple question, but it is both complicated and simpler than many think. You will likely come across Christians who have a lot of rituals and things that one must do to call himself or herself “saved.” Then there is the reality that some believe that there was a Jesus who walked on the earth, but that He was not God or they believe that He did not do all the miraculous things that are claimed in the Bible. Is that person still saved when they simply believe that Jesus existed?
One of the best section of verses to describe belief in Jesus is in Romans 10:9-10. Here it reads, “9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
So, how does Paul tell us that a person is saved?
What do you think it means to declare that Jesus is Lord?
Why do you think it is important to believe and confess that Jesus was raised from the dead?
One of the important things to understand about Christianity is that it is essential that a Christian declares the truth of his or her faith. We must believe that Jesus is the Creator of all things and is Lord of everything that is happening. In other words, He is in charge!
He also died on the cross for our sins and was raised from the dead, and now He sits on the throne of judgment. Jesus paid the cost for our sins so that we no longer have a debt, and He defeated death by rising from the dead. We can now be assured of our own place in heaven because death will only be a temporary thing for us as well.
This may seem fairly simple, but the complicated part for many is that the Bible provides a lot of detail about who Jesus is and what He did while He was on earth. All these things are part of Him being Lord. He not only defeated death, but cured people of illnesses and injuries. That is part of being Lord. He walked on water. That is part of being Lord. He created everything in the universe. That is part of being Lord. Believing that Jesus is Lord is believing that everything that is said about Him in the Bible is true.
Do you believe that everything that the Bible says about Jesus is true?
Are there areas that you find hard to believe? If so, what fuels your unbelief?
Why do you believe in what the Bible says?
Do you believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and that you will be as well?
What Is Salvation?
So, what is salvation?
This is the thing that every Christian is looking for. In fact, it would be accurate to say that most are searching for this, but only some are choosing to accept the sacrifice that Jesus made as the means of their salvation.
Salvation is actually quite a few things, starting with that it is God’s grace. Salvation is freedom from your sin because of the sacrifice that Jesus made. His grace saved you from the eternal debt you had – death. It is delivering you from the penalty for your sin and eternal death and, instead, giving you eternal life.
This is the essence of John 3:16. It is assurance that if you believe that Jesus is Lord and that He was raised from the dead, that you will never perish but have eternal life.
Salvation is freedom, something you will talk about in the next lesson. It is hope. It is hope for an incredible future, especially eternally. It is hoped that God has completely taken away all of your guilt and shame and giving you a life of freedom, peace, and love. It is hope that when you fall, God is there to love you and pick you up.
It is also hope in the future after death. You know that when you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior that your place with Him is secured for eternity. Once again, that is the role of the Holy Spirit, to seal you for Jesus.
Ultimately, salvation is knowing that your debt for the sins that you committed is completely paid and that you will rest with God in Heaven one day. In John 14:2-3, Jesus tells us: 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
His Father’s house is heaven, and there are many rooms there, which means that there is plenty of space for you. You have a spot that is your own in heaven when you believe and accept Jesus as Lord. That is your salvation.
What You Do to Be Saved
Do you know that you have an eternal resting place with God?
If you don’t know that, then maybe it is time to commit yourself to Jesus right now. You can do this in your group or just say these words with a friend or on your own. The important thing is the commitment you are making to Jesus. To do this, there are just three things that you need to profess:
- You accept the sacrifice that Jesus paid for your sins on the cross.
- You believe that He is God and want Him to be Lord of your Life.
- You believe that He was raised from the dead.
These three simple elements will change your life. Understand that you cannot save yourself. No matter how many good deeds you do, those are just “polluted garments.” They are worthless. They are not saving you. The sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, the recognition that He is God and Lord, and the belief that He is risen from the dead is what changes your life and gives you salvation. This is how you can quickly change your life.
Live Like You’re Saved!
Are you saved by Jesus and do you know that you have salvation?
If your answer to that is question is yes, then the next thing is to start living your life like that. For many, this is the most confusing part because many Christians will discuss the Christian life with very different ideas.
First, keep in mind that you once you accepted Jesus, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit. That means that the Holy Spirit is now living inside of you. Follow His prodding and your Advocate will teach and guide you.
Once you are saved, you should live like a follower of Jesus. You may wonder what a follower looks like, but just consider what a follower of anything looks like. You seek to emulate that person. This is true for Jesus as well. You should follow His teachings, and you can find those in the Bible. That not only means following the Law of God, but also showing love and compassion for others.
Living a life for Jesus is summed up by the two greatest commands. Matthew 12:30-31 tells us: 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.
Love God and follow the teachings of the Bible. Don’t break the commandments and live a life dedicated to the ways of God. You should show love for others, being merciful and compassionate. You should follow the teachings of the Holy Spirit and seek His will.
It is also about admitting your mistakes. You may be saved from the punishment for your sins, but you are still going to sin. You are going to make mistakes. Confess those sins and accept when others correct you. Forgive the mistakes that others make and don’t hold grudges. You were saved by Jesus, so now live like Him.
Do you want to live like you are saved?
What are the biggest challenges you think you will face in living like Jesus?
What are the ways you could show great love and compassion for others?
Memory Verse: Romans 10:9-10 – 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Bible Passages for the Week:
Monday – Acts 2:38
Tuesday – Acts 4:12
Wednesday – Matthew 7:21
Thursday – Titus 3:5
Friday – Ephesians 2:8-9
Saturday – Pick a passage from Scripture that teaches you about salvation.
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© 2025 Dr. Robert Pannier, Hope CDA, All Rights Reserved
