Introduction: The Biblical Descriptions of Salvation

The Bible gives us at least 5 descriptions of salvation that we must not miss. In fact, the entire Bible centers around one theme: the salvation of the lost world through the Saviour of the world. Christ comes to redeem the people who are separated from God as a result of their sin. They are completely incapable of saving themselves since “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).

But through faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, sinners, once condemned to eternity in the lake of fire can now be redeemed and reborn as children of God. They are given eternal life and are guaranteed eternity with God in Heaven.

The above is the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is presented to us beautifully in the Bible so much so that it is impossible to miss it. What I want to do in this study is to show you how the Bible describes this our so-great salvation. The better you understand it, the more you will appreciate what Jesus Christ did for you.

My intent for this study is to reveal to the lost people the amazing gift offered to them and how they can receive it, to help the believers in Christ stand in their peace and assurance, and to glorify God for His great and excellent works.

How the Scripture Describes Our So-Great Salvation

The following are five of the biblical descriptions of salvation. As you read this section, I challenge you to try to figure out what is common to all the 5 descriptions.

1. The New Birth

We began to see this during the conversation of Jesus Christ with the Pharisee, named Nicodemus, “a ruler of the Jews.” “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3 (KJV).

And the Bible makes it clear that this birth is of God. It is not by blood relation or by the will of man. The new birth happens as a result of faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14; James 1:18). It is trusting in Him that gives us the privilege to become the children of God.

John 1:12-13 (KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

It is Impossible for Us to Give Birth to Ourselves

Just like you couldn’t contribute anything to your physical birth, you cannot contribute anything to your spiritual birth, not even with your best performance. If it was possible for religion to do it, Nicodemus would have had it before Christ came, but he never had it (1 Peter 1:23-25).

Let’s not forget as well how the Bible describes our state before the new birth – “dead in trespasses and sins” Ephesian 2:1. Therefore, we had to be quickened (made alive) by something or Someone outside of us.

1 Peter 1:3 (KJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

2. The New Creation

The definition of ‘creation’ is to make something out of nothing. This is completely outside of the human realm. Only God can make something out of nothing. And this is exactly what He did at regeneration when He made a dead sinner alive. Not just alive temporarily, but alive with eternal life.

Ephesians 2:10 (KJV) says “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” When a sinner believes, God recreates him with a new nature, a new heart and desire. The old man is dead and the new man is alive, yes, alive forever.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Salvation is not the cleaning up of the stains of sin, but a complete breakdown and rebuilding of the one who believes. Ephesians 4:24 says that the new man is “created [by God] in righteousness and true holiness.”

Colossians 3:10 (KJV) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

And just like new birth, we contribute nothing to our new creation. Titus 3:5 says it is “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

3. The Work of God

Salvation is ordained and initiated by God, accomplished by God, and preserved by God. Glory to the name of God! We did not call ourselves unto salvation, God called us. We did not go up to God to get salvation, God came down to us to give us salvation.

John 3:16-17 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Romans 8:29-30 (KJV) ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

We Play No Part in the Work

We have no part to play in the work of our salvation other than to simply accept the offer for the gift. Unfortunately, whether from history or now in our days, there are those who always believed that they must do something to earn salvation. But salvation was never meant to be by the sinner’s works since he has fallen short because of sin (Romans 3:23).

The gospel of John recorded some people who came to Jesus and asked about what they can do. The text continues to say “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29 (KJV).

The beauty of salvation is that not only are we confident that it is the work of God, we are also confident that God who began the work will finish it. This is powerful! If you understand that just a little bit, it will make a huge difference in your Christian life.

Philippians 1:6 (KJV) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

The above verse is only expressing confidence in the guaranteed realization of the blessings of salvation. The actual work has been done and completed by God.

Believers are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14), sanctified and kept the power of God the Father (1 Peter 1:3-5), and preserved in Jesus Christ (Jude 1).

Thank God for my salvation!

4. The Gift of God

The definition of a gift is “a present; any thing given or bestowed; any thing, the property of which is voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation” Webster 1828. By definition, you don’t work for a gift, you don’t pay for a gift, and you do not pay back for a gift.

The fact that salvation is the gift of God shouldn’t be hard to comprehend. On our own, we are incapable of saving ourselves, and too impoverished to afford the price of salvation. That is why it can only be by grace. Romans 11:6 says “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.”

God promised to save the world from the penalty of sin. The promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. All those who trust in Him (both Jews and Gentiles) will receive the promised gift.

Romans 4:16 (KJV) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.

The Bible spells this out a few times to help us comprehend it:

Romans 3:24 (KJV) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 2:8 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Have You Received this Gift?

All it takes for this gift to be yours is for you to accept it. This acceptance is simply through faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ. Admit your sins and believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and rose again. Trust in the blood that He shed for you, and you will be saved (Romans 5:16-19; Ephesians 2:7-10; Titus 3:5-7).

5. Eternal Life

What is eternal life? Eternal life is the abundant and endless life that Jesus Christ gives to those who believe and accept Him as their personal Savior and Lord. Those who possess this treasure will never die, but will live for ever in the presence of God. Listen to the words of Christ concerning this:

John 11:25-26 (KJV) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Salvation is eternal life, which means all those who are saved have it. The Bible in general, and the Gospel of John in particular, is written to tell people how to get eternal life. And the Epistle of John is written partly to tell the believers that they have eternal life. Listen to the following:

John 20:30-31 (KJV) And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

1 John 5:11-13 (KJV) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

When does a believer receive eternal life? Some people believe and teach that you must endure to the end to get eternal life. Others say you don’t get it until you die, hopefully without losing your salvation. But when it comes this, as with all other issues, I choose to go with what the Bible says.

John 5:24 (KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 3:36 (KJV) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

See also: John 3:16,36; 6:40,47; 8:51; 11:26; 12:44; 20:31; Mark 16:16; Romans 10:11-13; 1 Peter 1:21; 1 John 5:1,11-13.

Conclusion: The Implications of these Descriptions

Did you notice what is common to these five descriptions? Salvation cannot be accomplished by you or with your help. It is wholly the work of God.

In addition, because salvation is the work of God, it is permanent, irreversible, and incorruptible. God had settled the matters of our salvation from “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8; 17:8).

I hope this helps you think biblically about your salvation and rejoice in the completed work of Jesus Christ. True believers take comfort and find joy and peace in their salvation. They no longer worry about what happens when they die because they have the assurance of being with Christ after this life.

That, my dear reader, is not a denominational teaching or something made up by some famous pastors, it is the Word of God!

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (KJV) Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Philippians 1:20-21 (KJV) According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 ¶ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

John 14:1-3 (KJV) ¶ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (KJV) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

If you have trusted in Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, I hope you are truly encouraged by this study. I hope you would rejoice and enjoy the peace that Jesus Christ purchased for you with His precious blood.

But if you are not saved today, there is no reason to delay. You can believe today and be saved, even now. Remember, salvation is a gift, it costs you nothing because Christ has paid the full price. So believe that He shed His blood and died to pay the penalty for your sins. He was buried and rose again for your justification.

If you believe that with all your heart, God will forgive your sin and give you the gift of eternal life. And you too can immediately begin to work in the victory and peace that Christ gives to those who trust in Him.

Once again, I hope and pray that this study is a blessing to you.

Thank you for reading!