What is true salvation? There are countless questions about the topic of salvation. Too many, salvation can be seen as just a concept. Which can make it hard to explain to people what salvation is.
In order to do this we have to look more closely at what salvation is using the scriptures. This is the only way we can get an accurate answer to this question.
It’s only natural that there are going to be questions about salvation.
The most popular question, is what is required to attain salvation? Within this question there are other sub questions that need to be answered too…
Such as what is Grace and Redemption? And does the Holy Spirit have anything to do with our salvation.
I’ll be answering all of these questions and more within this article.
What Is Salvation?
Many Christians claim that when they begin to believe in Jesus Christ they receive salvation.
They claim that once you’re saved, you’re always saved, no matter what you do, and that all of this is made possible because they believe in “Jesus Christ”.
We have to ask ourselves, do the biblical scriptures actually say this? We can start by having a look at the word “Salvation” which is used interchangeably with the word “saved”…
Let’s look at the dictionary definition of salvation:
“preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss”
The dictionary definition let’s us know that salvation is present when we are being delivered from something, which is usually some type of harm, ruin or loss.
In this case we are saved from death when we believe what the scriptures have said about the Messiah’s death and resurrection, and then we practice keeping the laws of the Most High, because this is the requirement for the ultimate salvation i.e. the Kingdon of heaven.
What The Bible Says About Salvation?
In the Book of Ephesians, we can read that we are “saved” through Grace from the Most High and Faith (Faith in the Messiah’s death and resurrection, Romans 10:9).
In the book of Romans being “saved” is explained more specifically.
Romans 10:9
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
It tells us what to do, to be “saved”. And what we have to have faith in to to be saved i.e. the Messiah.
We Are Not Saved Through Works
The scriptures specifically say that we are not saved through works alone:
Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Many close the book here and decide to base their Salvation and faith on a feeling…
But we can also read other scriptures which tell us that, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:14-26).
James 2:26
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
This lets us know that salvation can be received through faith, but once you receive it there is a responsibility to do the works of the scriptures, more specifically the keeping of the Commandments. (John 14:15).
John 14:15
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Above the messiah tells us that our love for should mean we keep his commandments, which were given to him by the Most High (John 12:49).
Hebrews 10:26-29
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
The knowledge of truth is the receiving of salvation.
This is spoken of in the scriptures above, they also tells us that neglecting the law of the Most High given through Moses (which sadly, many say is done away with), will result in punishment.
This further reiterates that being saved is a major step in keeping the faith, but continually practicing and keeping the Father’s commandments is necessary.
“Willful sin” (sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4)) will lead to destruction so it’s important to keep the Commandments after you have been “saved”.
Instant salvation is definitely possible without having to keep the commandments, but this is not the norm.
Here’s an example,
Luke 23:32-43
32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
…it is seen in the above scriptures, when the Messiah was crucified and one of the sinner (A thief) beside him believed in him and the Messiah said to him
“Today shalt thou be with me in paradise”.
It’s important to note that this thief confessed his sins and then believed in the Messiah.
This man being crucified had no chance to keep the commandments of the Most High, which shows us that salvation can be instant if you believe in the Messiah.
The 3 Steps True Salvation Requires (Romans 10:9)?
The Bible tells us, that there are three steps to acquire salvation
1. Step One
The first step is to to make a confession with your mouth that you believe in the Yahusha (Wrongly called Jesus, read my article here about the real names of the Father & Son) Hamashiach (The Messiah/Saviour).
2. Step Two
The second step is to believe in your mind (heart) that the Most High raised his son Yahusha from the dead.
3. Step Three
And the third step, after you have received salvation, is to keep the Commandments of the Most High, which the Messiah demonstrated to us (John 14:15)
Now you are read for Baptism just like the Messiah was Baptised, read this article: What Does The bible Say About Baptism: Definitive Guide
Are We Just Sinners Saved By Grace?
The scriptures first of all tell us that we are all Sinners. This is understood universally by most Believers…
If you’re coming into the faith for the first time this is something that you need to understand.
To understand what sin is we can use the scriptures.
1 John 3:4
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
In the scriptures we’re told that the transgression of the law is sin.
The law can be found in Exodus chapter 20
…here we can see the 10 Commandments which are a summary of the laws, a constitution if you like?
If you have ever been guilty of any of these laws, then you are a sinner!
The rest of the law can be found in the books that are called the “law of Moses” these are the five books that begin the scriptures, they are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy.
Throughout these books there are many different teachings, which expand upon the 10 Commandments and give us more insight about the things that we should and should not do.
Again, if you have broken any of these, like most of us have, then it puts us in transgression (disobedience) of the law, of the Most High.
The Breaking of the laws happens even if we are unaware of the law(s) that we are breaking.
Leviticus 5:17
17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.
The Israelites, were given a sacrificial law in the past, which covered them for any laws they broke. When the Messiah came and died, he became and eternal sacrifice for Israel and all the other nations on the earth (Daniel 9:27, Acts 10:34-36).
The eternal sacrifice of the messiah is what gives us “Grace” but we must believe in him (i.e. the commandments he came to uphold), his “Death” and “Resurrection”.
When we believe this we receive “Grace” which covers us from past sins and unwillful sins.
Grace is given to us so that we can now begin to practice the moral laws, since there is no more requirement of sacrifice, which was the offering of animals blood to cover our sins, which is the old “Grace”, of the past.
We are told the blood of bulls and goats could never cover us from our sins, because it had to be done continually (Hebrews 10:11).
The Messiahs sacrifice now means that it is up to the individual to sincerely keep the commandments of the Most High…
In the past Israel could and were guilty of using the sacrifice of animals as an insincere gesture to atone for their sins.
What Is The Role Of The Holy Spirit In Salvation?
The Holy Spirit is very relevant in the process of salvation.
We will receive salvation when we believe in the Messiah, and the Messiah came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17).
He preached the keeping of the Commandments which is what the Most High sent him to do (John 12:49).
John 14:26
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
He revealed to us, that he would send the comforter (John 14:16), which is the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).
The Holy Spirit “brings all things to our Remembrance“, i.e the Commandments of the Most High the Law and the Prophets, and what the Messiah taught us.
From this we understand that to aid us in “salvation” at some point we must receive the Holy Spirit, because it is by the Spirit we are directed towards salvation ultimately.
What Is The Difference Between Salvation And Redemption?
Many people talk about Redemption and sometimes confuse this with Salvation. So here I’ll make these two terms clear to you.
As defined already above, we know that Salvation begins when we believe in Messiah’s message (which was given to him by the Most High), death and resurrection, then carry out the commandments.
Let’s first look at the dictionary definition of redemption:
Redemption is the action of being saved from sin error or evil.
This should automatically make you understand redemption with more clarity.
The Redeemer here is the Messiah, when he shed his blood and was sacrificed, he saved us from our sins, whether we understood we were Sinners or not.
Redemption is currently what covers Israel, as well as the whole world, and every other nations in it.
So to summarise Redemption has taken place for the whole world. When we contrast that with Salvation, salvation is the willing act of believing that we have been redeemed by the Messiah because of he’s sacrificed.
Hebrews 9:15
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
So, the whole world has been redeemed but the whole world doesn’t have salvation until they accept they have been redeemed.
Conclusion
So, what is true Salvation?
Hopefully the Three Steps to Salvation have made salvation clearer to you. It is true that you are saved the moment that you believe in the massage death and Resurrection and what he came to do.
This is not to be taken for granted though, it’s important to keep the Commandments of the Most High once you have become saved. Infact this is the only way to determine that you are saved.
This really should not be difficult to understand, if you have truly accepted the Messiah’s message.
Receiving the Holy Spirit will happen once you believe the Messiah’s message sincerely, so you will have little problem understanding that the laws and Commandments are in full effect.
It can be concluded, that we are all Sinners saved by grace. That Grace being the sacrifice that the Messiah gave of himself to reconcile us with the Most High.
Drop your questions below…
Shalom! and shared it with somebody that needs it.