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{{Christianity}}

{{Christianity}}

'''Salvation''', in the Biblical and primary sense, is the free gift of God through the [[Propitiation|propitiatory]] death and [[resurrection]] of [[Jesus Christ]] in accordance with God's word. When a person humbles themselves before God ''(in genuine repentance of the evil in their heart)'' and accepts Jesus as his or her Lord and Savior (authority in every area of life), that person is given the gift of salvation. Salvation means being forgiven and reconciled with God, being ''saved from'' [[Hell]] and receiving the gift of eternal life, and a relationship with the Lord of [[Heaven]], which begins at the moment of conversion. But it is also more than just being ''saved from''; it also carries with it the idea of being ''saved out of'' the slave market of [[sin]].

'''Salvation''', in the primary Biblical sense, is the free gift of God through the [[Propitiation|propitiatory]] (sacrificial atoning) death of [[Jesus Christ]] and His [[resurrection]], in accordance with the Scriptures. When a person humbles themselves before God ''(in genuine repentance of the evil in their heart)'' and accepts Jesus as his or her Lord and Savior (authority in every area of life), that person is given the gift of salvation. Salvation means being forgiven and reconciled with God, being ''saved from'' [[Hell]] and receiving the gift of eternal life, and entering into a relationship with the Lord of [[Heaven]]. It is also more than just being ''saved from'' the consequences of sin; it also carries with it the idea of being ''saved out of'' the slave market of [[sin]].

==Terminology==

==Terminology==

Terms such as  ''saved'' or ''salvation'' are not restricted to the salvation of the soul, as God saves people daily from temporal evils, but its most supreme manifestation is in regards to the spiritual and eternal realm, that of the redemption of the soul, and which subject is theologically termed ''soteriology''.  

Terms such as  ''saved'' or ''salvation'' are not restricted to the salvation of the soul, as God saves people daily from temporal evils, but its most supreme manifestation is in relation to the spiritual and eternal realm, that of the redemption of the soul, and which subject is theologically termed ''soteriology''.  

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia explains,  

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia explains,  

==The gospel of the grace of God==

==The gospel of the grace of God==

The Biblical [[gospel]] ("good news") is most essentially the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1Cor. 15:1-4ff) This "word of truth" (Eph. 1:13) has the God of the Bible as it's object of faith, in which "the Father sent the Son, the Saviour of the world." (1Jn. 4:10) This message reveals that "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."  But whom men, "by wicked hands", nailed to a cross and killed, Christ suffering "once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened [resurrected alive] by the Spirit". And that Jesus Christ "showed Himself alive after His passion [suffering and death] by many infallible proofs, being seen of them [His apostles) forty days," as well as by over five hundred brethren at once. And "who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him."  It concludes that it is this Jesus "who is ordained of God to be the Judge of living and dead", and that "to Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 1:3; 2:23; 10:38,40,42,43; 1Cor. 15:6; 1Pet. 3:18,22)  

The Biblical [[gospel]] ("good news") is most essentially the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1Cor. 15:1-4ff) This "word of truth" (Eph. 1:13) has the God of the Bible as it's object of faith, as "the Father sent the Son, the Saviour of the world." (1Jn. 4:10) This message reveals that "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."  But whom men, "by wicked hands", nailed to a cross and killed, Christ suffering "once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened [resurrected alive] by the Spirit". And that Jesus Christ "showed Himself alive after His passion [suffering and death] by many infallible proofs, being seen of them [His apostles) forty days," as well as by over five hundred brethren at once. And "who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him."  It concludes that it is this Jesus "who is ordained of God to be the Judge of living and dead", and that "to Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 1:3; 2:23; 10:38,40,42,43; 1Cor. 15:6; 1Pet. 3:18,22)  

In addition to the living and true God of the Bible being the object of faith and obedience, the related key aspect of the Biblical gospel is that neither the sacrifices or good works of man (or church, etc.) can enable him to escape from his future just and eternal punishment in hell-fire, (Mk. 9:43-48; 25:41,46; Rv. 14:11; 20:10) or merit him eternal life with an infinitely holy and just God.(Rm. 4; Titus 3:5; 2Tim. 1:19) But that instead man must humble himself before God as a sinner, and cast all his faith on the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom God sent to be the perfect sacrifice for sin, and Savior of the world. (1Jn. 4:10,14) By so (truly) doing, one is choosing the Lord Jesus over sin, light over darkness. (Jn. 3:19-21) This faith decision is shown by being baptized in identification with the Lord Jesus.<ref>Dr. John Gill (1690-1771), Mt. 28:19</ref> (Mt. 28:19; Acts 2:41; 8:36,37; 10:47,48)  

In addition to the living and true God of the Bible being the object of faith and obedience, a primary aspect of the Biblical gospel is that neither the sacrifices or good works of man (or church, etc.) can enable him to escape from his future just and eternal punishment in hell-fire, (Mk. 9:43-48; 25:41,46; Rv. 14:11; 20:10) or merit him eternal life with an infinitely holy and just God.(Rm. 4; Titus 3:5; 2Tim. 1:19) But that instead man must humble himself before God as a sinner,  unable to justify himself, and then cast all his faith on the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom God sent to be the perfect sacrifice for sin, and Savior of the world. (1Jn. 4:10,14) By so (truly) doing, one is choosing the Lord Jesus over sin, light over darkness. (Jn. 3:19-21) This faith decision is shown by being baptized in identification with the Lord Jesus.<ref>Dr. John Gill (1690-1771), Mt. 28:19</ref> (Mt. 28:19; Acts 2:41; 8:36,37; 10:47,48)  

==False gospels==

==False gospels==

The issue of salvation has been subject to much confusion and false teaching down through the ages, and which issue the Bible treats with utmost concern. The apostle Paul warned, "If any preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." "The gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24) is seen to be made sufficiently manifest that a false gospel is discerned by way of contrast with it.<ref>Adam Clarke, LL.D., F.S.A., (1715-1832), Romans 1:6-9</ref> 

The gospel of salvation has been subject to some confusion and much false teaching down through the ages, and which issue the Bible treats with utmost concern. The apostle Paul warned, "If any preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."  

Matthew Henry comments here, "This will not justify our thundering out anathemas against those who differ from us in minor things. It is only against those who forge a new gospel, who overturn the foundation of the covenant of grace, by setting up the works of the law in the place of Christ's righteousness..."<ref>Matthew Henry (1662 - 1714), Gal 1:6-9</ref>

Matthew Henry comments here, "This will not justify our thundering out anathemas against those who differ from us in minor things. It is only against those who forge a new gospel, who overturn the foundation of the covenant of grace, by setting up the works of the law in the place of Christ's righteousness..."<ref>Matthew Henry (1662 - 1714), Gal 1:6-9</ref>

False religions are seen to be in foundational contrast to the apostolic gospel by their doctrine of salvation, and which is a manifestation of who or what they worship, in which, officially or by way of informal conveyance, they teach that one's own sacrifices and works (or those of their religion) can or must merit them salvation. <ref>Barnes, Rm. 3:20-25, Gal. 1:6-8</ref> Here the Bible is evidenced to most uniquely stand apart from thousands of beliefs, in that it declares that there is only One Way to be justified before God and gain eternal life with Him, that being through the risen Lord Jesus and His sinless shed blood. (Rm. 3:25) The Bible also declares that man's own works, by which he supposes he is justified before the one true Holy God, are as filthy rags.<ref>Barnes, Is. 64:6</ref> (Is. 64:6) There are different degrees of critical deviations from the gospel by which souls are saved, and in the West it is often seen that one may have an outward profession of faith in Jesus Christ but not the inward reality, not having experienced the new birth.<ref>[http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/rubornagain.html Are you born again? by J. C. RYLE - 1816-1900]</ref><ref>http://www.precious-testimonies.com/General/a-e/BornAgainIndex.htm PRECIOUS BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN TESTIMONIES]</ref> (Jn. 3:3-7; Acts 10:43-47; 15:7-9; Gal. 4:6)   

"The gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24) is shown to be made clear enough that a false gospel can be discerned by way of comparison with it.<ref>Adam Clarke, LL.D., F.S.A., (1715-1832), Romans 1:6-9</ref>  It is principally here that false religions are seen to be in foundational contrast to the apostolic gospel, and which manifests who or what they worship, in which, officially or by way of informal conveyance, they teach that one's own sacrifices and works (or those of their religion) can or must merit them salvation. <ref>Barnes, Rm. 3:20-25, Gal. 1:6-8</ref> The Bible also declares that man's own works, by which he supposes he is justified before the one true Holy God, are as filthy rags.<ref>Barnes, Is. 64:6</ref> (Is. 64:6) In this the Bible is particularly evidenced to most uniquely stand apart from thousands of beliefs, in that it declares that there is only One Way to be justified before God and gain eternal life with Him, that being through true faith in the risen Lord Jesus and His sinless shed blood. (Rm. 3:25) There are different degrees of critical deviations from the Biblical gospel in this regard, and in the West it is often seen that one may have an outward profession of faith in Jesus Christ but not the inward reality, not having experienced the new birth.<ref>[http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/rubornagain.html Are you born again? by J. C. RYLE - 1816-1900]</ref><ref>http://www.precious-testimonies.com/General/a-e/BornAgainIndex.htm PRECIOUS BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN TESTIMONIES]</ref> (Jn. 3:3-7; Acts 10:43-47; 15:7-9; Gal. 4:6)   

A false gospel, among others, found within that which is broadly called Christianity, is one that that holds that one is saved by faith, but that a Christian no longer being "under the law", (Rm. 6:14,15) means that the Christian is not bound to the moral laws of the Bible. This teaching is called antinomianism, of which there are different variations, but which basically enables "turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness",<ref>[http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/GO/gvcc/radio_trans/antinomianism.html Antinomianism, P. G. Mathew, M.A., M.Div., Th.M]</ref> (Jude 1:4) and which idea Paul, the "apostle of grace", expounded at length against, as does the Bible as whole. (Rm. cps. 6-8) Being freed from the law basically refers to the law not being a means of salvation, as well as not being bound to literal obedience as regards ceremonial aspects of it.<ref>Albert Barnes, (Mt. 5:18)</ref> (Gal. 4:10; Col. 2:16,17; Heb. 9:10)

Another false gospel, among others, found within that which is broadly called Christianity, is one that that holds that one is saved by faith, but that a Christian no longer being "under the law", (Rm. 6:14,15) means that the Christian is not bound to the moral laws of the Bible. This teaching is called antinomianism, of which there are different variations, but which basically enables "turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness",<ref>[http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/GO/gvcc/radio_trans/antinomianism.html Antinomianism, P. G. Mathew, M.A., M.Div., Th.M]</ref> (Jude 1:4) and which idea Paul, the "apostle of grace", expounded at length against, as does the Bible as whole. (Rm. cps. 6-8) Being freed from the law basically refers to the law not being a means of salvation, as well as not being bound to literal obedience as regards ceremonial aspects of it.<ref>Albert Barnes, (Mt. 5:18)</ref> (Gal. 4:10; Col. 2:16,17; Heb. 9:10)

Adam Clarke comments,

Adam Clarke comments,