"THE VALUE OF THE SOUL" (III)

Another Old Testament word (tesh-oo-aw) which is translated "salvation" means "deliverance, help, safety, salvation, victory" 1 Sam. 11:13; 14:45; II Chr. 6:41; Psa. 37:39; 38:22; 40:10,16; 51:14; 119:41,81; 144:10; Isa. 45:17; Jer. 3:23) (Wilson 366). There are three Greek words translated salvation in the New Testament. One word (soteria) which is translated "salvation" means "deliverance, preservation, salvation" (Zodhiates 1732). This word is translated salvation forty times in the New Testament. Another word (sote’rion) which is translated "salvation" is found four times (Luke 2:30; 3:6; Acts 28:28; Eph. 6:17) (Smith 336). Another word translated "salvation" means "that which brings salvation." This word is found one time in the New Testament (Tit. 2:11) (Smith 336).

What then is salvation according to the Bible? Salvation is forgiveness of sins. Salvation takes place in heaven (Heb. 8:7-13; Jer. 31:31-34). Man knows he is in a saved condition by the testimony of the Lord (1 Cor. 2:10-11; Rom. 1:16). Salvation is a change of relationship. When a child is born into the world, his spirit comes from God, therefore, he is sinless, safe (Ezek. 18:19,20; Matt. 18:3-6). The 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. 2:1-3,12; 2 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 (Luke 21:28; Rom. 3:24; 8:23; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1:7,14; 4:30; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:15). Salvation is reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-19; Rom. 5:11; 11:15; Heb. 2:17). Salvation is regeneration (Matt. 19:28; Tit. 3:5). Regeneration means one has become a new creature (1 Cor. 5:17), that one has become a new man (Col. 3:9) and one has become a new born babe in Christ (1 Pet. 2:1-2; Tit. 3:8). Salvation is justification. One New Testament word (dikai’oma) which is translated "justification" means "that which has been deemed right so as to have the force of law...what has been established and ordained by law, an ordinance...a righteous act or deed" (Thayer 151). This word is translated "justification" (Rom. 5:16), "righteousness" (Rom. 2:26; 5:18; 8:4; Rev. 19:8), "ordinance" (Luke 1:6; Heb. 9:1,10) and "judgment" (Rom. 1:32; Rev. 15:4). Another word (dikai’osis) which is translated "justification" means "the act of God’s declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to Him; adjudging to be righteous" (Thayer 151). This word is translated "justification" two times (Rom. 4:25; 5:18). Salvation is conversion (Acts 15:3; Matt. 13:15; Mark 4:12; Luke 22:32; John 12:40; Acts 3:19; 28:27). Salvation is sanctification (1 Cor. 1:30; 1 Thess. 4:3-4; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2; Rom. 6:19,22; 1 Thess. 4:7; 1 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 12:14). The Old Testament defines the word sanctify as to be set apart (Ex. 13:2,12).

Who is involved in salvation? God the Father is involved in the salvation of the soulof man. God planned for man’s salvation before the world began (1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:3-5; 3:8-11). Jesus is involved in the salvation of man. He humbly submitted to God’s plan and vicariously suffered and died to make possible man’s redemption (John 6:38,51; 10:17-18; Matt. 26:26-28; Heb. 2:9; 9:14; 10:5-18; 12:2). The Holy Spirit is involved in the salvation of man. The Holy Spirit revealed and confirmed the Word, thus setting into motion the law of Christ by which obedience through God’s grace men are saved (John 14:15-18,25-26; 16:13-15; Acts 1:4-8; Mark 16:17-20; Acts 2:1-18,32-38; Heb. 2:3-4). The Holy Spirit does not work directly upon the heart of man. He works through the Word of God to reach the human heart. The Scriptures teach that in conviction and conversion of sinners and in leading those who are converted in their Christian duties, the Holy Spirit operates upon the human heart of man only through the written word of God. Man is involved in the salvation of his soul. Man must obey the plan of salvation (Acts 2:40; 8:37; Rom. 8:13; 10:10; 13:4; II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 3:29; Col. 1:28; 3:1; 1 Thess. 3:8; 2 Thess. 3:14; 2 Tim. 2:11; Heb. 2:3; James 1:23-26; 1 John 1:7-10; 2:3).

When is salvation of the soul needed? One needs to save his soul today (2 Cor. 6:2). Salvation of the soul is needed before one dies (Luke 16:19-31). Salvation is needed before the return of the Lord (Matt. 24:36; 2 Pet. 3:9-10; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).

Where is salvation found? Salvation is in Christ (2 Tim. 2:10). Why is salvation needed? Salvation is needed because everyone of accountable age has sinned (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). Salvation is needed because at one time everyone of accountable age is separated from God by sin (Isa. 59:1-2; Eph. 2:1-3,12; Rom. 5:8-9). Salvation is needed because one day everyone will stand before the judgment seat and give an account of himself (2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 25:31-46; 2 Thess. 1:7-9).

How is a soul to obtain salvation? The Bible says that a soul is saved by grace (Tit. 2:11-14; Eph. 2:8-9; Matt. 11:28-30), by faith (Rom. 10:17; 5:1-2), by the blood of Christ (Rom. 5:9-10), by hope (Rom. 8:24), by the gospel of Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 1:16-17), by mercy (Tit. 3:5), by works (James 2:17-25) and by water (1 Pet. 3:21; Acts 2:38; 22:16). A soul is not saved by any one of these alone. A soul is saved by being obedient to the Gospel of Christ (Rom. 6:16-18). That means one must hear the gospel (Rom. 10:17; Acts 15:7), believe the gospel (John 8:24; Mark 16:16), repent of sin (Luke 13:3), confess that Jesus is the Son of God (Matt. 10:32-33; Acts 8:37) and be baptized for the remission of sin. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). Paul defines what baptism is, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:3-4).

continued next week