Salvation is foundational to being a Christian. Because of this, it’s crucial to know what salvation is and how you can be certain you have it.
The dictionary says salvation means to protect, or save, from harm, risk, loss, or destruction. This is where the term saved comes from.
Many people struggle with not feeling saved. Does this mean these people are not saved? Must a person feel saved to be saved? Is salvation a feeling?
Let’s look at what the Bible has to say about salvation and feeling saved.
What Is Salvation?
The Bible speaks of varying kinds of salvation using five different words. The New Testament uses the word sótéria (#4991) and the Old Testament uses the other four, the primary being yeshuah (#3444).
These words reveal salvation as: Welfare, prosperity, deliverance, preservation, salvation, safety, victory, aid, help, security, and saving.
This is evidence that God saves us in multiple ways. He saved the children of Israel from their enemies and delivered them from Egypt opening the Red Sea.
He protected Moses as a baby, preserved the nation of Israel through Esther, and kept the disciples of Jesus safe in the storm.
The list goes on and on leading us to the greatest salvation — the eternal kind.
What Is Eternal Salvation and How Do We Get It?
The Bible calls eternal salvation so great a salvation in the book of Hebrews. This great salvation was secured for us by the work of Jesus the Christ alone.
Because this great salvation was planned from the beginning of time the Bible goes to quite a depth to elaborate on all Jesus did and why.
Simply put, Jesus saved us from our sins, and we need to put our trust in him.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them (John 3:36).
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).
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 (John 3:16).
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Eternal salvation is the gift of Jesus for us to receive.
Salvation Is a Gift
For God so loved that he gave. We can’t earn it. He has done all that needs doing to secure this gift for us. This salvation is not only for eternity but also for life transformation right now.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10, ESV).
Jesus truly is the greatest gift God has bestowed on humanity.
A Better Question
In asking what is salvation?, we come up with a definition of a thing. This is good to a point.
To better understand what biblical salvation is, we need to ask who is salvation? because salvation is a person.
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation (Isaiah 12:2).
Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! (Psalm 38:22).
The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him (Exodus 15:2).
The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation (Psalm 118:14).
Because salvation is a person it cannot be a feeling.
Better Than Feeling
Our emotions are a wonderful gift from God but poor evidence of salvation. Countless times God has delivered people when they were afraid.
The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24, NLT).
What makes the difference that brings salvation is when a person chooses to trust God. This is called faith.
It is a wonderful thing to feel saved, but God is bigger than our feelings. It’s a much better thing to know you are saved than to just feel it.
If you struggle with doubting your salvation, memorize the following verse and dig into the biblical elaboration on all Jesus has done and why.
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 (1 John 5:13).
For further reading:
What Does it Mean That the ‘Gift of God Is Eternal Life’?
What Is the Significance of ‘For God So Loved the World’?
Why Did Jesus Have to Suffer So Badly?
What Does it Mean That God Is Our Abba Father?
How Can I Get to Know God Better?
Why Is the Gate of Salvation Narrow?
What Is the Purpose of Jesus Interceding for Us in Heaven?
Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/fizkes
Danielle Bernock is an international, award-winning author, coach, and speaker who helps people embrace their value and heal their souls through the power of the love of God. She’s written Emerging With Wings, A Bird Named Payn, Love’s Manifesto, Because You Matter, and hosts the Victorious Souls Podcast. A long-time follower of Christ, Danielle lives with her husband in Michigan near her adult children and grandchildren. For more information or to connect with Danielle https://www.daniellebernock.com/
