INTRODUCTION:

What do you know of salvation? Who needs salvation? There seems to be much confusion concerning salvation. The denominations of the world teach different means of being saved or when one is saved or how one is saved, etc. God’s Plan of Salvation involves two parts, God’s part and man’s part. This study of the plan of salvation requires answering several questions, What is salvation, Who is involved in Salvation, When is salvation needed, Where is salvation found, Why is salvation needed, How is salvation obtained?

WHAT IS SALVATION?

The word salvation is found 158 times in the Bible (115 - Old Testament, 43 - New Testament). There are four Hebrew words translated salvation in the Old Testament. One Old Testament word (yeshuw’ah) [3444] which is translated salvation means "to save; bring salvation...deliverance, help; safety, welfare...deliverance." This word is used of the saving grace of God and of God himself, the author of salvation (Gen. 49:18; Ex. 14:13; 15:2; Deut. 32:15; I Sam. 2:1; 14:45; II Sam. 22:51, etc.). Another Old Testament word (yeh’shah or yesha) [3468] which is translated salvation means "liberty, deliverance, prosperity: – safety, salvation, saving" (II Sam. 22:3; 23:5; Psa. 18:2,35,46; 24:5; 25:5; 27:1,9; 50:23; 51:12; 69:3; 95:1; Isa. 17:10; 61:10; Mic. 7:7; Hab. 3:13,13,18). Another Old Testament word (yasha’) [3467]

which is translated salvation means "to be open, wide or free...to be safe...free or succor..." (Isa. 59:16; 63:5). Another Old Testament word (tesh-oo-aw) [8668] which is translated salvation means "deliverance, help, safety, salvation, victory" (I Sam. 11:13; 14:45; II Chron. 6:41; Psa. 37:39; 38:22; 40:10,16; 51:14; 119:41,81; 144:10; Isa. 45:17; Jer. 3:23).

There are three Greek words translated salvation in the New Testament. One word (soteria) [4991] which is translated salvation means "deliverance, preservation, salvation). This word is translated salvation 40 times (Luke 1:69,77; 19:9; John 4:22; Acts 4:12; 13:26,47; 16:17; Rom. 1:16; 10:10; 11:11; 13:11; II Cor. 1:6,6; 6:2,2; 7:10; Eph. 1:13; Phil. 1:19,28; 2:12; I Thess. 5:8,9; II Thess. 2:13; II Tim. 2:10; 3:15; Heb. 1:14; 2:3,10; 5:9; 6:9; 9:28; I Peter 1:5,9,10; II Peter 3:15; Jude 3; Rev. 7:10; 12:10; 19:1), that (one) be saved (Luke 1:71), deliver (Acts 7:25); Health (Acts 27:34), saving (Heb. 11:7) and that (one) be saved (Rom. 10:1). Another word (sote’rion) [4992a] which is translated salvation is found 4 times (Luke 2:30; 3:6; Acts 28:28; Eph. 6:17). Another word (sote’rios) [4992b] is translated "that brings salvation" one time (Titus 2:11).

Salvation is the forgiveness of sins. Salvation, forgiveness of sins, takes place in heaven, in the mind of God (Heb. 8:7-13; Jer. 31:31-34). Man knows he is in a saved condition by the testimony of God (I Cor. 2:10,11; Rom. 1:16).

Salvation is a change of relationship. When a child is born into the world, his spiritcomes from God, therefore he is sinless, safe (Ezek. 18:19,20; Matt. 18:3-6). This safe, sinless, condition changes when one sins (Rom. 3:23). When one sins he becomes a child of the devil, he is walking according to the course of this world and is taken captive by the devil (John 8:16,23,34,42,44-47; Rom. 6:16,17; Eph. 2:1-3; II Tim. 2:26). This change of relationship means the devil’s rule must be broken and a relationship with God developed (Gal. 3:26-29).

Salvation is redemption. One word (apolu’trosis) which is translated redemption means "a releasing effected by payment of ransom; redemption, deliverance, liberation procured by the payment of a ransom" This word is translated redemption 9 times in the New Testament (Luke 21:28; Rom. 3:24; 8:23; I Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1:7,14; 4:30; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:15) and deliverance (Heb. 11:35). Another word (lu’trosis) which is translated redemption means "a ransoming, redemption...deliverance...redemption from the penalty of sin (Heb. 9:12)." This word is translated redemption two times (Luke 2:38; Heb. 9:12) and redeem (Luke 1:68). There are three other Greek words translated redeem. One word (agorad’zo) which is translated redeem means "to frequent the market-place...to buy...figuratively: Christ is said to have purchased his disciples i.e. made them, as it were, his private property (I Cor. 6:20)." This word is translated buy 28 times and redeem 3 times (Rev. 5:9; 14:3,4). Another word (exagorad’zo) which is translated redeem means "to redeem i.e. by payment of a price to recover from the power of another, to ransom, buy off...to buy up...to buy up for one’s self, for one’s use." This word is translated redeem 4 times (Gal. 3:13; 4:5; Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5). Another word (lutro’o) which is translated redeem means "to release on receipt of ransom...to redeem, liberate by payment of ransom...to cause to be released to one’s self by payment of ransom, to redeem, to deliver." This word is translated redeem 3 times (Luke 24:21; Titus 2:14; I Peter 1:18).

Salvation is reconciliation. The word (katallage’) which is translated reconciliation means "exchange...adjustment of a difference, reconciliation, restoration to favor." This word is translated reconciliation 2 times (II Cor. 5:18,19), atonement (Rom. 5:11) and reconciling (Rom. 11:15). The word (hilas’komai) which is translated make reconciliation means "to render propitius to one’s self, to appease, conciliate to one’s to one’s self...to become propitious, be placated or appeased...make propitiation for." This word is translated make reconciliation for (Heb. 2:17) and be merciful (Luke 18:13).

Salvation is regeneration. The word (palinggenesi’a) which is translated regeneration means "new birth, reproduction, renewal, re-creation...moral renovation, regeneration, the production of a new life consecrated to God, a radical change of mind for the better...the restoration of a thing to its pristine state, its renovation..." This word is translated regeneration 2 times (Matt. 19:28; Titus 3:5). Regeneration means one has become a new creature (II Cor. 5:17), that one is walking in newness of life (Rom. 6:4), that one become a new man (Col. 3:9) and one becomes a new born babe in Christ (I Peter 2:1,2; Titus 3:8).

Larry Powers

continued next week 11/21/04