Salvation is deliverance from danger or suffering. To save is to deliver or protect. The word carries the idea of victory, health, or preservation. Sometimes, the Bible uses the words saved or salvation to refer to temporal, physical deliverance, such as Paul’s deliverance from prison (Philippians 1:19).
More often, the word salvation concerns an eternal, spiritual deliverance. When Paul told the Philippian jailer what he must do to be saved, he was referring to the jailer’s eternal destiny (Acts 16:30-31). Jesus equated being saved with entering the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24-25).
What are we saved from? In the Christian doctrine of salvation, we are saved from “wrath”; that is, from God’s judgment of sin (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9). Our sin has separated us from God, and the consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Biblical salvation refers to our deliverance from the consequence of sin and therefore involves the removal of sin.
Who does the saving? Only God can remove sin and deliver us from sin’s penalty (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5).
How does God save? In the Christian doctrine of salvation, God has rescued us through Christ (John 3:17). Specifically, it was Jesus’ death on the cross and subsequent resurrection that achieved our salvation (Romans 5:10; Ephesians 1:7). Scripture is clear that salvation is the gracious, undeserved gift of God (Ephesians 2:5, 8) and is only available through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).
How do we receive salvation? We are saved by faith. First, we must hear the gospel—the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection (Ephesians 1:13). Then, we must believe—fully trust the Lord Jesus (Romans 1:16). This involves repentance, a changing of mind about sin and Christ (Acts 3:19), and calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:9-10, 13).
A definition of the Christian doctrine of salvation would be “The spiritual, eternal deliverance which God immediately grants to those who accept His conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.” Salvation is available in Jesus alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), and is dependant on God alone for provision, assurance, and security.
Gender: Male Location: al-Jumhuuriyya al-Yamaniyya
What if you died prior to Jesus? Or you're legitimately insane and the voices have convinced you that someone else is God? Or if missionaries never find you? Or you die at birth? Or an evangelical tells you that God hates you?
Don't get me wrong, I think salvation is a wonderful concept but the limited way that some people people present it seems to leave a great number of innocent people unsaved.
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In the Heaven I'm headed to/ There's a place for preachers, thieves and prostitutes/ Saints and soldiers, beggars, kings and renegades
You presented excellent questions; I had questions very similar to yours in the beginning of my Christian theology studies. In the end, I located a website that I have found to be very useful; I still utilize it today. I hope the hyperlinks I provided help bring resolution to your questions; the website has always served to be a great source of information regarding Christian theology. It virtually answers all questions that come to mind.
What happened to those who believed in God before Jesus?
I like that God saves us from God's wrath. The irony is priceless. It's like a drunk parent attacking his children, but with enough inner awareness to yell "jump left" as he punches right and hopes we avoid.
You must remember that while God is eternally loving, he is also eternally just. When Adam and Eve betrayed his command in the Garden of Eden; His eternally just self would not allow it to go unpunished. This is why he sent Christ, Himself in human form, as a sacrifice to appease that original sin.
The manner in which God provides salvation preserves man's free will--the freedom to make choices. We are not robots; and God saves us from ourselves--our own defiance. This is an important part of Christian theology; you professed to be Catholic. You should understand this; at minimum, you should know enough not to be jovial. If you think salvation of this manner is silly (or hard to swallow) keep it to youself, please. There is nothing wrong with having a different opinion on matters, but please be respectful. You certainly do a lot of name calling on this forum, and it really needs to stop. Please, there is no other way.
According to Christian theology, God saves mankind through His Son (Jesus the Christ) from eternal seperation from God Himself (hell). But mankind cannot receive salvation on one's own merit; it's impossible. Hence, Jesus the Christ. Salvation is a gift from God; simply realize that you are a sinner, repent, and ask for God's forgiveness--in Jesus' name of course. If your heart is true, you will be blessed with the Holy Spirit (adding conviction in your life) to serve God. You will be "born again." You will not be perfect, but sin will no longer be the corner stone of your life; sin will be an exception. Even Mother Theresa sinned, but she was (and is) saved. God's redemptive plan is simple.
Last edited by ushomefree on Jan 11th, 2008 at 04:45 AM
Gender: Male Location: al-Jumhuuriyya al-Yamaniyya
Thank you.
The first section essentially allows the claim that "all religions are a path to god". If we are tasked with interpreting which of the recent revelations are part of God's message wouldn't that make all religions equally valid? Islam and Mormonism, for example, both claim to be expansions of God's word.
I like the answer provided for the questions about the mentally ill.
The answer to never having heard of God poses the same problem as the first one. If it is possible for people in the middle of nowhere to see God in nature and be saved why be Christian?
The question about children seems to contradict itself to seem more empathetic.
It starts with:
"The Bible tells us that even if an infant or child has not committed personal sin, all people, including infants and children, are guilty before God because of inherited and imputed sin." but then discusses an age of accountability. The two concepts aren't compatible, either babies are sinful in the eyes of God or God can recognize their innocence.
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Sig by JasonK4
In the Heaven I'm headed to/ There's a place for preachers, thieves and prostitutes/ Saints and soldiers, beggars, kings and renegades
Psalm 51:5 reads, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me."
Problem: David claimed that he was "conceived" in sin in this mother's womb. However, he could not have actually sinned at the moment of conception, since he had no moral consciousness or free will which are necessary for moral acts (see Isa. 7:15; John 9:41).
Solution: This text does not support the view that a human embryo is merely a potential human being, as opposed to an actual human being. This is evident for several reasons.
First, even if it were teaching that humans are potential sinners from conception, it does not follow that they are potential humans.
Second, in whatever sense the unborn are declared sinner from the point of conception, it reveals, nevertheless, that they are human, that is, they are part fo the fallen human race. For it is only by virtue of being part of the Adamic human race that we are conceived in sin.
[Note: This commentary was provided from the book entitled, "When Critics Ask," authored by Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe.]
I referenced KMC member profiles, and, to my delight, noticed that some have attached pictures; it was nice to put a face to the posts. I decided, in return, to post this picture of Anjali--my girlfriend--and I.
Attachment: kmc.jpg
This has been downloaded 31 time(s).
A gift is something acquired without compensation. Some effort or some actions are required by the believer in order to achieve deliverance. It is not a gift, otherwise there would be no need for a prophet to communicate the message of salvation to humanity.
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You only live once. But if you live it right, once is enough.
Make poverty history.
Stop aids, keep the promise.
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Jan 11th, 2008 03:05 AM
I play guitar, sing & write songs. Listen to my music 
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