Text verses: Acts 4:10-13

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Webster’s Dictionary defines salvation as (1) “the saving of a person from sin or its consequences especially in the life after death”; (b) “the saving from danger, difficulty, or evil”; (c) “something that saves.”

The Greek word for “salvation” is “sōtēria”; which “denotes deliverance, preservation, salvation. Salvation is used in the New Testament (a) of material and temporal deliverance from danger and apprehension… (b) of the spiritual and eternal deliverance granted immediately by God to those who receive His conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, in whom alone it is to be obtained… (c) of the present experience of God’s power to deliver from the bondage of sin…” (See Vine’s Expository Dictionary for more.)

Salvation, whether it be a temporal salvation, or an after-death salvation, can be summed up in the word “deliverance.”

Old-time theologians used the words, “perseverance” and “preservation” to describe the salvation of the saints temporally:

1) Perseverance having to do with endurance in this life of the saint in the Service of God.
2) Preservation having to do with the security of the saint as he perseveres in the Salvation of God in this life.

However, preservation not only applies to the saint in this earthly life, but applies to the eternal security in Christ of the saint after this life.

The question to be answered is: How does one receive the salvation of their soul in Christ in this life, and in the life after death?

When one listens to the Christian preachers today, there seems to be much confusion as to:

1) The origin of salvation.
2) The how to receive the salvation of their souls from the penalty of sin, its punishment, its presence, and its power over a person.
3) The goal of salvation, now and in eternity (or after one’s death).

The Bible, God’s preserved written Word, has the answer. However, the Bible’s definition – description, and the purpose and plan of – is not the problem today. But the problem lies with the interpreter of the Bible.

Jonah the prophet says, “Salvation is of the LORD” (Jonah 2:9b). Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created…” There should be no problem, for God is described in His written Word as the Creator, Controller, and Consummator of all things (Colossians 1:16). When you read the Book of Genesis, you find quickly man’s fall into sin – thus man’s need of a Savior. And God quickly reveals that Salvation was purposed by God in a blood sacrifice, the innocent for the guilty.

This Salvation would be revealed to be in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Salvation was God’s Plan and Purpose; of God’s Design. And it was an Eternal Purpose in Christ even before the world began. It was not, is not, and shall not ever be based on man’s merits. But it has, is, and shall always be based on God’s Grace, Mercy, and Love.

To understand that Salvation is of God, and through God, for His People – it seems to be best understood on three levels:

I. Past: Before Time Began

II. Present: In Time

III. Future: After Death

Therefore, in summary you have an Eternal Salvation, a Time Salvation, and a Future Salvation.

The following brief outline will help to put Salvation in perspective:

I. Eternal Salvation (Before Time Began)

A. Salvation as God Sees Us (Our Position)

II. Time Salvation (In Time Present)

B. Salvation as We See Us (Our Perception)

C. Salvation as Others See Us (Our Practice)

1. In Sanctification (Our Witness)

2. In Sustainment (In Security; In Preservation)

III. Future Salvation (After Death; Future; No Time; Eternity)

D. Salvation as We Shall Be (Our Perfection)

Over the next few days, each of our posts will take a closer look into one of these areas of Salvation. It is the hope of this author that at the end of this series, you will be able to say:

Yes, Salvation is of the Lord. He is the Origin, and Cause, and Performer, and Sustainer of His Salvation. All Glory and Honor goes to the Lamb of God, even our Father, and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!