Salvation

Salvation is one of the key concepts of God’s revelation to humanity. The biblical idea of salvation involves three notions. First is the rescue from danger, harm, or even death of an individual, group, or nation. Most specifically salvation is the rescue from sin and death. Second is the renewing of the spirit. Scripture explains that humanity fell from the original condition of moral purity into the state of sin. God’s salvation always renews the spirit of a person to lead a life that is morally pleasing to Him. Third is the restoration of a right relationship with God. One of the effects of sin is separation from God. The written word of God makes clear that salvation restores one’s relationship with God, as Rom. 5:10 says, “For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” In both the OT and NT God’s salvation includes rescue, renewal, and restoration and is accomplished through the person and work of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Old Testament. The OT gives many examples of a type of physical salvation to teach about the more important spiritual salvation. This teaching about salvation begins in the first three chapters of Genesis. The first two chapters tell how God created the heavens and the earth, the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the animals of the land, and the first man and woman. All that God created was very good Gen. 1:31. Chapter three explains how sin entered into God’s created order and God’s promise of salvation through the seed of the woman Gen. 3:15. Even though male and female were created in the image of God, now God’s image is marred in all mankind. The results of sin include death and separation from God.
The eroding of human nature into godlessness is clearly evident in the story of Noah. Since God is holy, He cannot abide with or condone that which is unholy. God’s judgment against sin and sinners is real and demonstrated by a worldwide flood. However, God revealed His grace and mercy by providing an ark of salvation for Noah and his family Gen. 6-9. This is a living picture of the salvation God brought about for sinners in and through Jesus.
The Lord made a covenant with Abraham promising to bless all the nations of the earth through him Gen. 12:1-3. This promise is another illustration of God’s intent to provide salvation. Later in Israel’s history Moses led the nation out of bondage into the promised land. God proved Himself stronger than the false gods of Egypt, wiser than the wisdom of Pharaoh, and more powerful than the Egyptian army. God provided salvation for His people.
Moses further instructed God’s people in the need of blood sacrifices to atone for sin. The book of Leviticus gives the proper method and means of sacrifices and chapter 16 explains the Day of Atonement. The high priest enters the holy of hollies with the blood of a bull to make atonement first for himself and then for the people. The lesson further illustrated God’s holiness and the need for a sacrifice to experience His salvation.
While much of the OT deals with the salvation of the nation of Israel, the Psalms focus more on the salvation of the individual and the prophets extend God’s plan of salvation to the nations Ps. 13; 18; 51; Isa. 2:2-4; Mic. 4:1-4; Zach. 8:20-23. The OT lays the foundation for a biblical understanding of salvation. God is holy and cannot tolerate sin, human beings are fallen and sinful creatures, God initiates and provides a way of salvation, and finally people respond to God’s offer of salvation. God is always the One who saves and redeems His people, and redemption usually comes with a blood sacrifice.
New Testament.  Salvation  by grace alone through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ is the dominant theme. Salvation begins with the initiating love of God John 3:16; Eph. 1:3-6. God’s eternal purpose is to save sinners through Jesus’ atoning death on the cross. Thus, Christology is a vital component of the NT and relates directly to the doctrine of salvation. Specifically Jesus’ nature as the God-man and His substitution death on the cross are the key elements. The NT cannot be properly understood apart from a right view of who Jesus is and what Jesus did. As John says, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name” John 20:30-31 .
All the NT writers witness to the importance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for salvation Rom. 1:6; 1 Cor. 15:3-11; 1 Pet. 2:21-25). The preaching of both Peter and Paul in the book of Acts further attests to the centrality of the atonement and resurrection as the Gospel message Acts 2:14-39; 3:11-26; 10:34-48; 13:26-43; 17:22-34; 24:2-21. In the NT salvation is found in no other name but the name of Jesus Acts 4:12.
The NT identifies several other key doctrines or elements as part of a complete understanding of salvation. One is the work of the Holy Spirit in convicting of sin and bringing about the new birth. In the Gospel of John, Jesus explains that the ministry of the Holy Spirit involves conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment John 16:5-11. Earlier in John’s Gospel Jesus has a conversation with Nicodemus in which Jesus instructs the Pharisee on the necessity of the new birth John 3:3-8. Paul calls this new birth regeneration Titus 3:5. He writes of the work of the
At the moment of conversion, the sinner becomes a saint, not free from actual sin in this life but Holy Spirit in convicting and convincing persons of their sin and need for a Savior in terms of “calling” Rom. 11:29; 1 Cor. 1:26.
“Conversion” is often the term used to describe when someone actually receives salvation. This is the point when a person repents and believes. Faith and repentance are the conditions of salvation, according to the  Mark 1:15. Repentance means turning from self and sin to God and holiness while faith is believing the historic facts about Jesus and trusting Him alone to forgive one of sins and to grant eternal salvation Heb. 11:1-6. The promise of salvation is eternal life with Jesus in heaven John 3:16; 1 John 2:25.
The NT teaches that believing in the gospel results in justification before God. The doctrine of justification by faith is central to Pauline theology and has been very influential in the history of the Church. In Romans, Galatians, and Philippians Paul discusses justification by faith alone at length Rom. 3:21–5:21; Gal. 3:1–4:31; Phil. 3:2-16. The essential point in relation to salvation is that at the moment of conversion the sinner is declared not guilty before God through the blood of Jesus. By trusting in Jesus alone for salvation, the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to the sinner so that God now treats the sinner in light of the righteousness of Jesus Rom. 3:21-26 free from the death penalty of sin. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit actually indwells the sinner at the moment of conversion. A lifelong process of growth in Christ-likeness now begins and is called “sanctification.” Since salvation is a gift of God, the believer can never lose the gift of salvation. This is a testimony to the fullness of God’s grace. The Christian’s eternal future is secure because, not only does God initiate salvation, He also preserves the Christian through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a free gift from God that rescues the believer from sin and its consequences, renews the believer to a holy life, and restores the believer to a right relationship with God for all eternity.