In the Bible the entire work of God by which He rescues man from his sinful state and freely gives him the infinite riches of His grace, both now in the glorious heavenly future to come is what is known as salvation. It is always a work of God for man, never a work of man for God.1
Man’s condition apart from God is pitiful indeed. Helplessly dead in sin, he is unable to free himself. Added to this was the condemnation of a Just God against whom he had sinned. In the sinner there is no hope, but only the blackness eternal night.2
For a human race that could not help itself, God did something wonderful. At just the right time God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin, lived a completely sinless life, and died a sacrificial death on our behalf. After three days in the tomb, He came forth with power to offer a full and free SALVATION to all who will come unto God the Father by FAITH in Him.3
Now the fact that Christ died does not save men, but rather provides a way in which a Holy God is able at great cost to save men in a manner consistent with His Holiness. This is the Good News that is to be proclaimed to the entire world.4
The conditions by which God saves men are the simplest possible. Men are simply asked to believe, or the other term is "to have faith". This is the exact opposite of doing anything. As a matter of fact, everything has been done and the sinner is merely asked to freely receive the matchless gift of salvation.5 God’s salvation is accomplished instantaneously the moment one believes in Christ.
Salvation also makes us "heirs" 6, "accepted" 7, the "righteousness of God" 8, "made near" 9, and "sons of God".10 These are all parts of the marvelous miracle that is our salvation.
More than that, the new believer is made a "citizen of heaven" 11, a "new creature" 12, a "member of the family and household of God" 13, made "complete in Christ" 14, and now possesses "every spiritual blessing".15
Still more of the wonder of God’s salvation is seen in its three tenses: Salvation is something which was wholly and completely accomplished for us in the past.16 There is also the present tense to salvation. Because of the work of the Christ on the cross, the believer is here and now being saved from the power of sin in his life.17 And this is not all, for the believer is still to be saved from the presence of sin in the future. We then shall be in Christ’s presence and in His likeness.18
The important matter of daily victory over sin in the Christian’s life is also included in this great salvation. While all these are to be fully accomplished in and for the believer the moment he trusts his Savior, there is still the problem of overcoming sin in daily living. This is completely available in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God (see # 9 Who is the Holy Spirit? in this series) who has come to complete the victory.19
1. Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Peter 1:18-19
2. Romans 3:10-18, Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:12
3. Galatians 4:4-5, 1 Peter 2:24
4. Mark 16:15, Matthew 11:28
5. John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10
6. Colossians 1:12
7. Ephesians 1:6
8. 2 Corinthians 5:21
9. Ephesians 2:13
10. John 1:12
11. Philippians 3:20
12. 2 Corinthians 5:17
13. Ephesians 2:19
14. Colossians 1:13
15. Ephesians 1:3
16. John 10:28-30
17. Philippians 2:12-13, Galatians 2:20
18. 1 Peter 1:4-5, 1 John 3:2, Philippians 1:6
19. Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:4, Ephesians 5:18-20
