What does it mean to be saved?

All Questions, Salvation

What does it mean to be saved?

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Salvation,   All Questions

Last Updated

Jan 28, 2025

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Salvation in the scriptures is described as having a past, present, and future aspect, each integral to the Christian faith.

Have been saved – Past Tense. (Justification)

Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Being saved – Present Tense. (Sanctification)

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Will be saved – Future Tense. (Glorification)

1 Corinthians 3:15  (NKJV)

If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

So then, will we be saved? Or are we being saved? Or have we already been saved? The answer to all of these questions is Yes. You are being saved, and you will be saved if you have already been saved.

Once we trust in Christ, our salvation is made secure, as we have the promise of being sealed by the Holy Spirit till the day of our redemption.

Furthermore, there are a couple of things we have to keep in mind regarding our salvation.

(1) It is a gift.

If we do not understand this core concept, it messes up our entire understanding of salvation.

God blesses us with the gift of grace and does not expect us to work or earn it (as many have wrongly taught).

The bottom line is that we cannot pay for our salvation. We couldn’t do it before we got saved, and neither can we repay it after we get saved.

Romans 11:6 (NKJV)

And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

(2) It is eternal life.

Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 2:25 (NKJV)

And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

As a result of our sin, our actions have earned us death; however, by believing in His Son, Jesus Christ, God grants us eternal life.

This eternal life is forever and begins when you die to yourself and your ways and surrender to God.

(3) It is total forgiveness.

Psalm 103:12 (NKJV)

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Isaiah 43:25 (NKJV)

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake;
And I will not remember your sins.

Forgiveness is a complete release from the penalty of sin, where God clothes us with His righteousness. While we may still fall into sin at times, we have the assurance that we will not suffer the consequence and penalty of sin (which is death) but have everlasting life completely justified before God.    

Romans 3:24 (NKJV)

being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

(4) We have the righteousness of Jesus in our account.

Believers are made righteous before God because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross.

When Jesus died, His infinite righteousness was transferred into our account, and our sins were transferred to Him.

(6) Total Commitment

If you want to know if you are saved, ask who is in charge. He is either Lord of all or not your Lord at all. True salvation involves a life wholly committed to following Jesus.

A person who is saved will display a ‘total commitment’ to God, which is a clear sign that they are saved. Often, people attend church simply to get to Heaven, but never make Jesus their Lord.

Matthew 7:21 (NKJV)

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.

In the above verse, Jesus openly warns His followers that there will be people who will claim His name but are not truly seeking Him.

In conclusion, salvation encompasses being saved from sin’s penalty, power, and presence. It begins with faith, continues through a life committed to Christ, and culminates in eternal life with Him. This comprehensive understanding assures us that salvation is not just a past event but an ongoing journey of transformation and hope in Christ.

Salvation is God's gift that forgives our sins, transforms our lives, and leads us to eternal life.

I am saved, what’s next?

All Questions, Salvation

I am saved; What’s Next?

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Salvation,   All Questions

Last Updated

Feb 4, 2025

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People who trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be saved and have eternal life promised to them. But what happens next? Is there a reason why we are still here on earth? What are we supposed to do?

It is true that eternal life is a free gift from God (for those who believe), but it does not mean we are free from serving Him or learning more about Him.

Knowing Him and making Him known is the essence of our being.

We can serve Him by using our gifts, talents, skills, and opportunities to minister to people.

In Mathew 16:27, Jesus describes a judgement that will take place (for believers) in which each person will receive a reward based on the opportunities available to them.

Matthew 16:27 (NKJV)

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

What if you don’t know or are unsure of what your calling is? The answer can be found in Jesus’ words:

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

By focusing on God’s kingdom and serving for His glory, we will eventually come to understand His purpose for our lives. Often, what we are called to do is right in front of us (no matter how small or insignificant you might think the task is).

We must always be mindful of our unique gifts and opportunities that can be used to serve God’s purpose.

Lastly and most importantly, the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work in our lives transforms us daily into the image of Christ. Thus, we must devote time to His word and to prayer in order to accelerate our sanctification process.

In conclusion, salvation is the beginning of a journey of serving God and growing in faith. It involves actively seeking His kingdom, using our gifts for His glory, and allowing the Holy Spirit to mold us into the image of Christ. In this journey, every believer has a unique role and purpose, contributing to the broader mission of the Church.

Salvation is the start of a journey—seeking God, serving Him, and being transformed into the image of Christ.

Justification, Sanctification & Glorification?

All Questions, Salvation

Justification, Sanctification and Glorification?

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Salvation,   All Questions

Last Updated

Feb 8, 2025

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A quick overview of the 3 phases is as follows; 

Justification – we have been saved from the penalty of sin
Sanctification – we are being saved from the power of sin
Glorification – we will be saved from the presence of sin

Justification – Past tense – positional – Our position in Christ
Sanctification – Present tense -progressive – My condition is becoming like christ
Glorification – Future tense – Permanent – My expectation is to be like Christ.

The following are two pictures that would give you a quick overview of these three phases. 

Justification

When we are justified, we are completely forgiven for all sin and clothed positionally before God with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This happens when we hear the gospel and believe. 

It is a one-time event and is either a yes or no. In other words, you cannot be 30%, or 50%, or 90% justified, it is all or nothing. God forgives us completely.

It is a free gift given to all believers in Christ; we do not work for it. Our part is only to have faith; we do not have the ability to justify or save ourselves.

At the same moment that we are justified, we are also adopted into God’s family and become children of God. Justification, if real, will always lead to sanctification and glorification.

While we don’t work at all for our own justification, amazingly, God calls us to work with Him in leading others to justification. We do this by sharing the good news about Jesus, and through prayer and by the example of our lives. Only God can justify people, but He uses us in the process of sharing the gospel. When people hear the gospel and believe, they are justified by God.

When a person is justified, then the work of sanctification begins in that born again life.

It is the fruit that springs from the root of justification.

Click to view Bible verses on Justification

Romans 3:28 (ESV) For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Romans 5:1 (ESV)Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:1 (ESV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 2:16 (ESV) yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Sanctification

Sanctification is a life long progressive growth of a Christian by obedience to God through the power of the Spirit. It is the process of becoming more and more like Jesus!. Sanctification is a growth into righteousness while putting sin to death. You will grow in your sanctification process, but you will not be perfect in this life.  

Our sanctification is often a messy, we can have times when we take steps forward and yet have days when we fall, but over time by God’s grace we make progress.

Our sanctification is only possible by God’s grace and His power working in us. Our Spirit-enabled effort can make sanctification go forward more quickly, or a lack of effort can cause us to be stuck. Progress in sanctification is evidence that justification has occurred and gives us confidence in our salvation. But in sanctification, we still constantly need grace. And God gives us the grace we need in Christ!

A huge amount of the Bible is about sanctification. All of the verses teaching and urging us not to sin are related to sanctification, which includes commands to love others as God has loved us. 

The new birth is a radical change in the heart of a person, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17) If a person has no evidence of sanctification, then we have the right and the duty to question whether there has been a work of justification. Bishop JC Ryle boldly stated, “Tell me not of your justification unless you also have some marks of sanctification.” So, if you have been truly justified, you will be undergoing the process of sanctification right now.

Click to view Bible verses on Sanctification

Romans 6:19 (ESV) I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV) 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NIV) It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;

Glorification

Glorification; instantaneous transformation of the believers by the power of God into a perfectly moral and physical being eternally living in God’s presence in heaven.

It happens when we are resurrected in our new bodies, and it will last forever. All the effects of sin will be erased. We will be wholly sanctified, and no longer sin or even want to sin. Every one will be as loving, true, faithful, kind, good, and pure as Jesus Himself. 

Click to view Bible verses on Glorification

Romans 8:16-17 (ESV) The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs– heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV) For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

Philippians 3:21 (NIV) 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.

Revelation 21:4 (NIV) ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Philippians 1:6 (NIV) 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.

Conclusion:

God saves us by His grace. God gives us His Spirit to help us become more like Him. God will finish the good work that He has begun in everyone who believes. 

Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

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.

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.

Phillipians 1:6

can a christian be saved by works?

All Questions, Salvation

Can a christian be saved by works?

Category

Salvation,   All Questions

Last Updated

Feb 8, 2025

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People often believe that they can earn their way into heaven by doing good deeds, showing kindness, and giving to the poor.

However, is any “work” sufficient to save us? The answer is yes, but only the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. There is no amount of good work that a person could do to earn a place in heaven.

If Christians could earn salvation on the basis of good works, Jesus would have died for nothing.

Does this, however, mean we should disregard all good works? Definitely not. Good works are an important part of a Christian’s calling to serve others, just as Jesus did.

The theologian Augustine said it best, “we are not saved by faith plus works but rather saved by a faith that works.”

Martin Luther, the famous reformer of the Christian faith, also stated: “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone and, this is the evidence of our changed lives.”

But doesn’t James (2:17) say that “faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead” if so, how do we reconcile this.

To help explain this, we need to look at the distinction between works based salvation (every other religion) and actual salvation.

❖ Any works based salvation states:

WORKS (root) + FAITH = SALVATION

❖ But actual Salvation:

FAITH + SALVATION = WORKS (fruit)

Your faith alone in Jesus saves you and a life that is sanctified and regenerated by the Holy Spirit produces fruit of good works. We do not need works to complete our salvation but rather our works are an evidence of the working of God in our hearts.

When Jesus accomplished salvation. He did not say I did something now come and help me do the rest.

We cannot be saved by good works or stay saved by good works. But every Christian has been “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10) and is to bear “fruit in every good work” (Col. 1:10).

Works are not the source of the Christian life, but they are the marks of it.

In accepting Christ as our personal savior and acknowledging His finished work for us, we give Him access to our hearts and allowing the Spirit to change our affections for Christ to the point that we want to serve Him, live for Him, love Him, and do good for Him. As such, the acts we do are all empowered by His Holy Spirit.

To conclude, Christians are not saved by their ‘own’ works but only through the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Salvation is by faith alone in Christ, but true faith is never alone—it produces the fruit of good works.

What about those who have not heard about Jesus?

All Questions, Salvation

What about those who have never heard about Jesus?

Category

Salvation,   All Questions

Last Updated

Feb 8, 2025

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As stated in the Bible, salvation comes through faith alone in Jesus Christ. In light of this teaching of Scripture, many have questioned the eternal destiny of those who may not have heard the good news of Jesus. So how do we answer this?

In the Bible, God is described as a just God who will judge people on the basis of the light (knowledge and revelation of the truth) they would have received. This concept is central in Romans 1 & 2, which emphasizes God’s revelation of Himself through creation and conscience, making His existence known to all. God has given light to everyone, and those who respond will accordingly receive more light. But what is this light?

  • God has given us the ‘light’ of creation through which we know there is a wise and powerful God. Romans 1 speaks about how vast and intricate creation is, which can only be explained by a creator. 
  • God has given us the ‘light’ of conscience through which we know there is a moral God. Romans 2 speaks about how God’s law is written on our hearts and that we inherently know what is good and evil.

Thus, if the biblical account is true, the existence of God can be known by creation and conscience alone. Furthermore, God’s natural revelation of Himself is neither obscure nor selective, nor is it restricted to a few gifted and intelligent souls.

However, if a person rejects the general revelation available to affirm God’s existence, they would have no reason to believe in the gospel message.

It is not that God cannot reach us; He can. He is not far from us (whether in a busy city or a remote village); we need only truly seek Him. Throughout history, God has been able to bypass human mechanisms to speak to men and women. This may be via public proclaimers, dreams, visions, prophets in biblical times, and during our current age through television, media, blogs, etc. The advancements in technology have enabled more people than ever before to learn more about Jesus without even visiting a church.

Even during the New Testament era, Jesus commanded His disciples to preach the gospel to every nation. By the end of the first century, the message of Christ was preached in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Today, the Bible has been translated into every major language and made freely available by countless organizations. It is absurd to think that there would be people standing before God who would say, “If only I had more information, I would have believed.”

While we have established that there is ample evidence available to believe in God’s existence, it is also important to note that men are ultimately condemned to hell not because they do not live up to the light of the evidence provided but because of their rejection of Jesus Christ.

As Jesus stated in John 16:8-9, the Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgement, and the sin is related to their lack of belief in Him.

Therefore God, in His sovereign, predetermined grace, always reaches out to sinful mankind through the Holy Spirit. Scriptures tell us that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from their way and live (Ezek 33:11), and God does not desire for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). It is certain that God will bring all His elect to Himself by allowing them to hear the gospel.

Last but not least, if you are reading this today, guess what? You are not one of those who have not heard, you have heard, and you have the evidence of the gospel’s claim open to you about Jesus claiming to be God and His free gift of salvation for you.

So, what will you do with this information, and how will you share the gospel with those around you?

God has made Himself known through creation, conscience, and the gospel—those who reject His light are without excuse.

Is Baptism necessary for Salvation?

All Questions, Salvation

Is Baptism necessary for salvation?

Category

Salvation,   All Questions

Last Updated

Feb 8, 2025

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Baptism is mandatory for Christians once they accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. This act symbolizes dying from old sin and past life and being renewed to a new life with Christ.

Baptism is derived from the Greek word baptizmo, which means to dip, immerse, or plunge.

Christians, therefore, identify with Christ’s death and burial when they are baptized into the waters and with His resurrection when they emerge from the water.

The act of baptism is not necessary for salvation, but rather a good way of expressing what happens on the inside of us post salvation. It is similar to a wedding ring, which is an outward expression of an inward commitment.

The only means for salvation is through a simple, sincere, and humble faith in Jesus Christ’s finished work and through repentance of our sins.

Acts 16:31 (NKJV)

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

The act of baptism is also a beautiful act of obedience to God’s word, and every Christian should be baptized once they accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.

If you genuinely believe in Jesus Christ for your salvation, you should have no reason to stop you from obeying the act of water baptism.

Q. But didn’t Peter say that Baptism is essential to salvation?

Acts 2:38 (NKJV)

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This verse is often wrongly used by many groups to teach that baptism is essential for salvation. However, this isn’t what Peter is saying. In this context, Peter makes a clear distinction between baptism and the gospel.

This understanding is also aligned with Paul’s other statements where he reiterates that only the gospel will save sinners.

1 Corinthians 1:17 (NKJV)

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect

Romans 1:16 (NKJV)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

In conclusion, while baptism is highly significant in the Christian faith as a symbol of obedience, identification with Christ, and public declaration of faith, the predominant view among many Christian scholars and denominations is that it is not a prerequisite for salvation. Salvation is  by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Baptism is an act of obedience and public declaration of faith, but salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ alone.

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