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We would have less confusion and greater clarity in our theology if we would start seeing salvation as a multi-faceted diamond of God's grace.  The Bible teaches many things regarding salvation, and all of them should be brought together into one united whole. The Bible teaches that:

1.  Salvation is a Person -- Jesus (Yeshua) -- whose name means "JEHOVAH-SAVIOUR". If that Person does not live in you, then you are not saved. Christ is our peace, He is our justification, He is our righteousness, He is our redemption, He is our salvation, He is our eternal life, He is our resurrection and our life, He is our joy, and He is our peace.  Everything else is "vanity". Also, He is our Lord, He is our Saviour, He is our God, He is our King, He is our Shepherd, He is our Intercessor, He is our High Priest, He is our Mediator, He is indeed everything, since the believer is in Him ,and He is in the believer. That's why all contention about our good works and our faithfulness is meaningless.  We are nothing and He is everything!

2. Salvation is forgiveness of sins -- the moment we believe that Jesus of Nazareth is truly the Son of God who died for our sins, the moment we repent and receive Him into our hearts, our sins are forgiven.  On what grounds? On the grounds that God laid upon Christ "the iniquity of us all" and He, the Lamb of God "took away" our sins -- cancelled the sin-debt.

3. Salvation is redemption through Christ's blood -- we are purchased from the slave-market of sin through the blood of the Lamb, washed in that blood, and made "whiter than snow". Satan has no power over the blood-bought and blood-washed child of God.

4. Salvation is justification in the eyes of the righteous Judge -- we are justified by God's grace through faith in Christ and His righteousness as well as His finished work on the cross.  The moment we believe, God declares us or pronounces us "NOT GUILTY!" Unbelievable but true!

5. Salvation is imputed righteousness -- At that same moment we are clothed in the garments of salvation and robed in the righteousness of Christ. Therefore God pronounces us "PERFECT!"  Unbelievable but true! Thus we become a "royal priesthood" and "a holy nation".

6. Salvation is the new birth -- our dead spirits are "quickened" or made alive by the power of the Holy Spirit, and thus we become "sons of God", "heirs of God" and "joint-heirs with Christ". This is "the new man" who is created in righteousness and empowered to be holy. Just as a human child cannot be "unborn" a child of God cannot be "unborn".

7. Salvation is eternal life -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit come to dwell within the believer, therefore it is "GOD that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure". Just as eternal life is "life eternal", nothing we do can terminate this, not even our sins, since they were already "taken away" at the cross.

8. Salvation is a "gift" of God -- no sinner can earn or merit this gift, therefore salvation by any good work whatsoever is impossible.  since "all our righteousnesses are as FILTHY RAGS", it is God's own righteousness which is given to us as a "gift".  If only men would understand this, they would not strive about words!  The parable of the Prodigal Son illustrates exactly what God does when He saves us -- He puts a rich robe upon us, a ring on our finger, shoes on our feet, and a feast to celebrate our repentance!

9. Salvation is God's power within us -- The power to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil is given to every believer through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Those who yield themselves completely to God and His written Word become "overcomers" even unto death.

10. Salvation is the assurance of heaven --  The moment we are saved, we are fit for heaven. If we would die that very moment, we would be with Christ in heaven.  Proof?  The repentant thief on the cross, who did absolutely nothing except put his faith in Christ.

11. Salvation is the receiving of spiritual gifts -- God saves us for a purpose, and empowers us through one or more spiritual gifts so that we may serve Him and the saints.

12. Salvation is separation -- God separates us unto Himself, therefore we separate ourselves from all that is worldly, unholy and ungodly.

13.  Salvation is the ability to praise and worship God "in the Spirit" -- only those who are truly children of God can worship in spirit and in truth.

14. Salvation is the ability to discern the Truth -- the indwelling Holy Spirit becomes the Divine Teacher of every believer. THus we are all "taught of God".

15.  Salvation is the ability to obey God's commandments --  The indwelling Holy Spirit enables the believer to love God with all his heart and love his neighbour as himself.  The Holy Spirit also enables us to even love our enemies and pray for them.  This is supernatural love, Divine love, the love of God -- "agape".  We are not saved by keeping His commandments but we are saved in order to do His will, which is summarized in one word "LOVE". The Decalogue is now "LOVE".

16. Salvation is ultimately God's infinite grace to poor, hell-bound sinners who deserve nothing but God's wrath, yet receive all His riches, all His blessings, and all His promises through the infinite merits of His only begotten and well-beloved Son! Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable [indescribable] Gift!

Good stuff, but I would disagree semantically. While some of the things you said are salvation, some of them are, some of them are thing that come with salvation, and thru salvation; others come after salvation, with the help of Christ.

In a word DELIVERANCE. From at least the following:sin, hell, ourselves, death, poverty, satan, the world, etc., etc.

aw