Salvation: What Biblical Assurance Are There?

C Mc

Get back to the basics.

We talk about many things. Do we know the answers to the fundamentals?

1. What is salvation?
2. Is there an option?
3. Who's offering it?
4. Is salvation important?
5. Why does a man need salvation?
6. What are the terms for one to accept and have the assurance of biblical salvation?
7. Through what church is salvation offered?

Let's not become so deep in our exposition on issues and overlook the main thing in Scripture. CM

Dave_L

@C_M_ said:

Get back to the basics.

We talk about many things. Do we know the answers to the fundamentals?

1. What is salvation? The resurrection of the dead human spirit into eternal life, beginning in time, followed by heaven upon death of the body. And culminating in the resurrection of the dead human body on the last day, into the New Heavens and earth.

2. Is there an option? No. God gave certain sinners to Christ to redeem, and they belong to Christ forever.

3. Who's offering it? Salvation is not offered. It is announced (preached) as the good news for those who believe followed by the command to repent and be baptized.

4. Is salvation important? There is nothing more important because it is the life of God shared by people.

5. Why does a man need salvation? Only hatred, death and misery exist for those without it.

6. What are the terms for one to accept and have the assurance of biblical salvation? There are no conditions or terms one can meet to obtain salvation. Those to whom God grants salvation will believe and want salvation. Those to whom God leaves in their state of misery will not.

7. Through what church is salvation offered? Churches are the result of saved people meeting to worship and learn about God. They can exist where two or more meet in Jesus' name. Buildings are optional.

Let's not become so deep in our exposition on issues and overlook the main thing in Scripture. CM

C Mc

Consider the following:

SPECIAL TOPIC: GREEK VERB TENSES USED FOR SALVATION

Salvation is not a product, but a relationship. It is not finished when one trusts Christ; it has only begun! It is not a fire insurance policy, nor a ticket to heaven but a personal relationship with Jesus that issues in daily Christlikeness.

SALVATION AS A COMPLETED ACTION (AORIST TENSE)
—Acts 15:11
—Romans 8:24
—2 Timothy 1:9
—Titus 3:5
—Romans 13:11 (combines the AORIST with a FUTURE orientation)

SALVATION AS A STATE OF BEING (PERFECT TENSE)
—Ephesians 2:5, 8

SALVATION AS A CONTINUING PROCESS (PRESENT TENSE)
—1 Corinthians 1:18; 15:2
—2 Corinthians 2:15
—1 Peter 3:21; 4:18

SALVATION AS A FUTURE CONSUMMATION (FUTURE in VERB TENSE or context)
—Romans 5:9, 10; 10:9, 13; 11:26; 13:11
—1 Corinthians 3:15; 5:5
—Philippians 1:28;
—1 Thessalonians 5:8–9; Hebrews 1:14; 9:28
—(Implied in Matt. 10:22, 24:13; Mark 13:13; 1 Pet. 1:5)

Therefore, salvation begins with an initial faith decision (cf. John 1:12; 3:16), but this must issue in a process of lifestyle faith (cf. Ro. 8:29; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4; 2:10) which will one day be consummated in sight (cf, 1 John 3:2). This final state is called glorification. This can be illustrated as

1. Initial salvation—justification (saved from the penalty of sin)
2. Progressive salvation—sanctification (saved from the power of sin)
3. Final salvation—glorification (saved from the presence of sin).

SOURCE:

-- Utley, R. J. (1999). The Superiority of the New Covenant: Hebrews (Vol. Volume 10). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International. Pg 23. Truth found truth shared. CM

C Mc

See the following once again:

Rom. 10:9-11 (compare Titus 3:5-7; Eph. 2:8- 10), spells out how are we saved. Paul restates the point. Faith is the means of salvation because it is a response to God's free grace.

The Revised Standard Version translates Romans 10:10: "For man believes with his heart and so is justified."

The Greek translates literally: "For he believes in his heart unto righteousness."

Faith in Christ results in righteousness of heart. As Paul has already said, faith in Christ results in the law's being written on the heart.

Righteousness of heart is perfect conformity to the will of God as expressed in His law. Salvation (justification) is the gift of the righteousness of Christ to the heart of the believer. CM