In the letter to the Romans we find the apostle Paul’s clearest and most detailed explanation of the Gospel message. After his customary salutation, Paul explains his unabashed passion for taking the Good News of Christ to the ends of the earth: “it is the power of God to Salvation for everyone who believes” (Rom.1:16). The Greek word for Salvation used by Paul literally means “deliverance” or “preservation.” In a spiritual context, the idea is rescue from the power and dominion of sin. Paul’s fervor for preaching the Gospel was rooted in its power “to free” or “to rescue” people from the tragic consequences of their own sin.

Paul and the other the New Testament writers portray Jesus Christ, on the basis of His sacrificial death on the Cross in the place of sinners, as the Author and Provider of Salvation (Rom.3:24-25; 5:21; Acts 4:12; Heb. 12:2). This spiritual deliverance is graciously and lovingly offered by God to all people, but only those who repent and trust in Jesus will experience its blessings (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8, 9; Heb. 2:3).

What exactly are those blessings? Some Bible teachers summarize them as Salvation from the penalty of sin, Salvation from the power of sin, and Salvation from the presence of sin. Theologians use the terms Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification.

Justification is the divine act of declaring sinners to be righteous on account of their faith in Jesus. He paid for their sins completely and finally on the Cross, and through faith in Him their sins can be forgiven (Rom.3:21; 4:5; 5:1). Closely related to justification is regeneration, in which the Spirit of God indwells a repentant sinner and imparts eternal life to his or her spiritually dead soul (Eph. 2:1–5).

Sanctification is the process in which God develops the new life of the believer and gradually brings it to perfection (Rom.6:11; Phil. 1:6). Sanctification is also the living proof of the power of the Holy Spirit indwells in the new Christian's life (Rom. 8:9-10; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:22-24; Gal. 5:16-26).

Glorification is the ultimate Salvation of the whole person. This occurs when we are face to face with our Savior in His coming kingdom. At that time, God will completely mold us into the image of Christ (Rom.8:29, 30; Phil. 3:21). Then we will be able to enjoy complete fellowship with God, singing His praises forever.

Other benefits of Salvation include Reconciliation and Adoption. When our sins are forgiven, we move from a position of being God’s enemies to being His beloved children (John 1:12; Gal. 4:4, 5; Eph. 1:5).

Is it any wonder that the apostle Paul was so excited about the Gospel and its power to save? The more we consider the marvelous truth of Salvation, the more enthusiastic we will be, thankful to God and eager to share with others the hope that is in us (1Pet. 3:15).

-- ... Study Bible

Salvation: Man’s Greatest Possession
Justification (Past Tense)	Sanctification (Present Tense)	Glorification (Future Tense)
Saved immediately from sin’s penalty	Saved progressively from sin’s power	Saved ultimately from sin’s presence
-- Ephesians 2:8-10 "8 For by Grace you have been saved through Faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the Gift of God. 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

-- John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

-- 1 Timothy 1:15-16
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners -- of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life.

The central theme of the Christian Gospel is Salvation. The Gospel proclaims that as God saved Israel from Egypt and the psalmist from death (Ex. 15:2; Ps. 116:6), so He will save all who trust Christ from sin and its consequences. This Salvation from sin and death is wholly God’s work. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). “Salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2:9).

The Hebrew words that express the idea of Salvation in the Old Testament have the general sense of deliverance from physical danger or moral distress (Ps. 85:8-9; Is. 62:11). In such passages the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) uses Greek words that mean to save from death or dangers, as well as to preserve or to heal. New Testament passages that speak of Salvation use all these ideas to explain the acts of God on behalf of the lost.

Salvation delivers the believer from the wrath of God, the dominion of sin, and the power of death (Rom. 1:18; 3:9; 5:21; 1Thess. 5:9). God liberates sinners from the natural condition of being mastered by the world, the flesh, and the devil (John 8:23-24; Rom. 8:7-8; 1John 5:19). He frees believers from the fears that a sinful life generates (Rom. 8:15; 2Tim. 1:7; Heb. 2:14-15), and from the vicious habits that enslaved them (Eph. 4:17–24; 1 Thess. 4:3–8; Titus 2:11–3:6).

Salvation brings not only the promise of spiritual wholeness and peace, but also of physical healing (Matt. 9:21-22; Mark 10:52; James 5:15). Although Christians have already received Salvation, they will experience the benefits of Salvation in their fullness only when Christ returns at the end of the age (Heb. 9:28; 1Pet. 1:3–5).

Salvation is accomplished through what Christ did in history and by what He continues to do in believers by the Holy Spirit. The basis for our Salvation is Jesus’ death on the cross (“The Atonement” at Rom. 3:25) and the righteousness He achieved for us in His active obedience. It is realized in our lives as Christ lives in us (John 15:4; 17:26; Col. 1:27) and we live in Christ, united with Him in His death and risen life (Rom. 6:3–10; Col. 2:12, 20; 3:1). This vital union, sustained by the Spirit through faith and formed in our new birth, presupposes our eternal election in Christ (Eph. 1:4–6). Jesus was foreordained to represent us and to bear our sins as our substitute (1 Pet. 1:18–20; Matt. 1:21). We were chosen to be effectually called, conformed to His image, and glorified by the Spirit’s power (Rom. 8:11, 29-30).

-- ... Study Bible.

-- Psalms 69:13
But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of Your favor;
in Your great love, O God, answer me with Your sure Salvation.

-- Romans 10:9-10
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Deliverance from the power of sin; redemption.

In the Old Testament, the word “Salvation” sometimes refers to deliverance from danger (Jer. 15:20), deliverance of the weak from an oppressor (Ps. 35:9–10), the healing of sickness (Is. 38:20), and deliverance from blood guilt and its consequences (Ps. 51:14). It may also refer to national deliverance from military threat (Ex. 14:13) or release from captivity (Ps. 14:7). But Salvation finds its deepest meaning in the spiritual realm of life. Our universal need for Salvation is one of the clearest teachings of the Bible (Romans 8:19-22).

The need for Salvation goes back to the removal of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). After the Fall, the lives of people were marked by strife and difficulty. Increasingly, corruption and violence dominated their world (Gen. 6:11–13). When God destroyed the world with the Flood, He also performed the first act of Salvation by saving Noah and his family. These eight people became the basis of another chance for mankind. The Salvation of Noah and his family was viewed by the apostle Peter as a pattern of the full Salvation we receive in Christ (1Pet. 3:18–22).

The central Old Testament experience of Salvation is the Exodus (Ex. 12:40–14:31). Much of Israel’s worship of God was a renewal of this mighty experience that brought them from Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land (Ex. 13:3–16). The mighty saving power of God was demonstrated dramatically as the Israelites formed a holy nation of priestly servants of the Lord (Ex. 19:4–6). The Exodus became a pattern of Salvation by which God’s future deeds of redemption would be understood.

But just as the Exodus symbolized their Salvation, the Captivity of the Israelites in Babylon was a disastrous return to bondage. The people responded to this plight with expectations of a new and better Exodus (Is. 43:14–16) in which God would forgive their sins and restore their hearts to faithfulness (Jer. 31:31–34).

This hope for a new Exodus merged with expectation of a full realization of the rule of God (Ezek. 36:22–38). Since God was Lord and had shown Himself to be righteous and faithful, He must one day overpower His enemies and perfect the life of His people. This hope is expressed through the concept of the “day of the Lord” as described by the Old Testament prophets (Joel 2:1–11; Amos 9:11–15). But this hope also focused on the role of the Anointed King and the coming of the Messiah (Psalm 2).

Even Israel’s return from the Captivity, however, failed to fulfill all their hopes (Hag. 2:3). So a new understanding arose: the full realization of God’s purpose of Salvation would involve the coming of a completely new age (Is. 65:17–25). This doctrine of Salvation reached its fulfillment in the death of Christ on our behalf. Jesus’ mission was to save the world from sin and the wrath of God (Matt. 1:21; John 12:47; Rom. 5:9). During His earthly ministry, Salvation was brought to us by His presence and the power of faith (Luke 19:9–10). Now, our Salvation is based on His death and resurrection (John 10:25-27; Rom. 5:6-21; 10:9-10;...).

The Salvation that comes through Christ may be described in three tenses: past, present, and future. When people believe in Christ, they are saved (Acts 16:31). But we are also in the process of being saved from the power of sin (John 3:3-7; Rom. 8:13-17; Phil. 2:12-13). Finally, we shall be saved from the very presence of sin (Rom.13:11; Titus 2:11-15). God releases into our lives today the power of Christ’s resurrection (Rom. 6:4) and allows us a foretaste of our future life as His children (2Cor.1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14). Our experience of Salvation will be complete when Christ returns (Heb. 9:28) and the kingdom of God is fully revealed (Matt. 13:41–43; Rev.20:11-15).

-- ... Bible Dictionary

-- Exodus 15:2
The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my Salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him.

-- Psalms 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my Salvation, my stronghold.

-- Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

-- Luke 3:6
And all mankind will see God's Salvation.

-- Ephesians 1:13-14
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession -- to the praise of His glory.

-- 1 Peter 1:8-9
8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the Salvation of your souls.

-- Hebrews 9:27-28
27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring Salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

-- 1 Timothy 4:9-11
9 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance.
10 For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
11 These are the things you must insist on and teach.

Salvation: Justification

-- Romans 4:25
He was delivered over to death for our sins
and was raised to life for our justification.

-- Romans 5:1-2, 8-9, 18-21
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
+ 8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him!

+ 18 Therefore, as through one man's (Adam) offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through One Man's (Jesus Christ) righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One Man the many will be made righteous. 20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

-- Romans 3:19-24
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

-- Romans 4:2-5
2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about -- but not before God. 3 What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." (Gen. 15:6). 4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." (Ps. 32:1-2).

-- Romans 6:14
For sin shall not be your master,
because you are not under law, but under grace.

-- Romans 7:6
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

-- Romans 8:1-2
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

-- Acts 13:38-39
38 Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

-- Galatians 2:16
Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

-- Ephesians 2:4-7
4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

-- Titus 3:4-7
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

-- James 2:12-13
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

---

Salvation: Sanctification

-- John 17:17
Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth.

-- Acts 20:32
Now I commit you to God and to the Word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

-- 1 Corinthians 6:11, 19-20
11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

-- Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

-- Colossians 3:9-10
9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

-- 1 John 1:6-10
6 If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
+ 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word has no place in our lives.

-- Philippians 1:3-6
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

-- 2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

-- 1 Peter 5:10-11
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

-- 1 Peter 1:15-16
15 But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (Lev. 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7).

-- Hebrews 12:14
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy;
without holiness no one will see the Lord.

---

Salvation: Glorification

-- John 17:20-23
20 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their Message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.
+ 22 I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are One: 23 I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.

-- Romans 8:28-30
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 29 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; those he called, He also justified; those he justified, He also glorified.

-- Philippians 3:20-21
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.

-- 1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.

---

Salvation: Reconciliation and Adoption

-- John 1:12-13
12 Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God -- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

-- 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!

18 All this is from God, who Reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the Ministry of Reconciliation: 19 that God was Reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the Message of Reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be Reconciled to God. 21 God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

-- Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive Adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

-- Ephesians 1:2-6
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined us to be Adopted as His children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will -- 6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.

---

Salvation through Jesus Christ

-- John 3:12-17
12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the One who came from heaven -- the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.

++ 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

-- John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me."

-- Acts 2:21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

-- Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

-- Acts 16:30-31
30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved -- you and your household."

-- Hebrews 7:23-27
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest meets our need -- One who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself.

-- 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.

-- 1 Timothy 2:1-6
1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
+ 4 Who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 Who gave Himself as a ransom for all men -- the testimony given in its proper time.

-- 1 John 5:11-13
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Prayer To Receive Christ

"O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. Forgive me. I want to turn from my sin. I receive Jesus Christ as my Savior; I confess Him as my Lord. From now I want to follow Him. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

(+ How To Receive Christ +)