YOU need to read this article to understand what the Bible really says about salvation in it full Hebraic context. This will insure that YOU are truly saved and not just an unsaved false convert or a spiritual tare that will end up being cast into the lake of fire on Judgment Day.

The following information will also insure that you do not make false converts as you share the gospel messages with others.

This information is important to know because many Christian churches DO NOT preach the full Truth about salvation, but teach the unbiblical traditions of men, thus making millions if not billions of false converts who think they are saved but who are not saved according to biblical standards.

---

What is Salvation?

The dictionary defines the word salvation as “the deliverance from the power and effects of sin.” In a generic sense, salvation is “the preservation from harm, ruin or loss.” Relating the first definition, which is biblical in nature, to the second definition, which is generic in nature, we see that salvation is the deliverance or preservation from the power of sin, which causes harm, ruin or loss. Salvation and redemption are synonymous terms in biblical Hebraic thought. We will discuss the idea of redemption below. In the mean time, let us explore the ramifications and implications of salvation as it relates to the deliverance from the power of sin in a person’s life and how this relates to you.

So what is sin that it causes harm, ruin or loss, and what is being harmed or being lost such that each person needs deliverance? Very simply, Scripture (the Bible) defines sin as the violation of YHVH Elohim’s (the LORD God’s) commandments or his Torah-laws (1 John 3:4). What is YHVH Elohim’s Torah-law? Specifically it is the instructions, precepts or teaching of YHVH as found in the first five books of the Bible, which can then be expanded to include the entire Bible or Word of YHVH from Genesis to Revelation. The Word of Elohim commands all humans to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Creator as found in Scripture (Deut 8:3; Matt 4:4). Man is to hear and do the Words of YHVH (Deut 6:4), place YHVH’s words in his heart (Deut 6:6), teach them to his children (Deut 6:7), and to make them the basis for all that he does and thinks (Deut 6:8). The words or laws of YHVH Elohim can be summed up as loving YHVH and loving one’s neighbor (Deut 6:5; Lev 19:18; Mark 12:30; John 14:15). Love is the fulfilling of YHVH’s commandments or laws (Rom 12:8–10). The cornerstone of all of YHVH’s laws is the famous ten commandments as found in Exodus 20. They are:

• I am YHVH your Elohim.
• You shall have no other gods before me and you shall not worship idols.
• You shall not take my name in vain.
• Remember the Sabbath day to keep it set-apart or holy. 
• Honor you father and mother.
• You shall not murder.
• You shall not commit adultery
• You shall not steal.
• You shall not lie.
• You shall not covet your that which belongs to your neighbor.

The first five statements constitute loving YHVH Elohim, while the last five constitute loving one’s fellow man. These ten statements are but the beginning of YHVH’s laws as outlined in Scripture, which if man break, man is guilty of sin (1 John 3:4). There are 613 such laws in the Tanakh (Old Testament) and more than 1050 in the Testimony of Yeshua (New Testament). This may seem like a lot of laws for man to have to follow, but in reality, it is a small number of laws compared to the hundreds of law books that constitute the laws of most nations on earth. Whole law libraries are established to contain the laws of men!

Law and order or the rule of law form the basis of all areas of authority in the cosmos. There are five such realms of authority as outlined in Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians. They are: divine, family or parental, church, civil or governmental and that of employers. As civil governments have established laws to maintain order among the inhabitants of a society, and as all societies impose penalties upon its citizens for breaking those laws, the same is true of YHVH’s divine laws. The violation of all laws brings a consequence or penalty of one sort or another. Some penalties are serious than others. The punishment should fit the crime. If one violates the law of gravity, for example, and jumps off a cliff, the result is death. If one drinks poison or has an unhealthy lifestyle, the result will be sickness or a premature death. If one violates a speeding law, the penalty may be a fine. If an employee violates a company policy, he may get fired from his job. If child disobeys a parent, the child will be disciplined. If one mistreats one’s fellow man, there are negative relational consequences. If one murders someone, imprisonment or the death penalty will occur. Similarly, Scripture teaches that if one violates divine law (i.e. sin) the penalty is death (Ezek 18:4; Rom 6:23). 

The Bible also teaches that all humans have sinned (Rom 3:23). YHVH has imposed a death sentence upon everyone because sin results in harm, ruin or loss in one way or another. As a result, all humans need deliverance, redemption or salvation from the consequences of their sin. The Bible teaches that salvation is deliverance from that death, and that those who are saved will be granted eternal life or immortality because the death penalty has been lifted from them. Therefore, those who are saved from death, the result of sin, will be given immortality (Rom 6:23).

How can each person receive salvation from the wages or penalty of their own sin, which is death? Let’s now explore this concept.

Steps to Salvation

The Bible states that man has a sin problem (read Romans chapters 1 through 3), and that each person must take certain spiritual steps to rectify this problem. We  will now explore these steps.

One can have their past sins forgiven by placing their faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), the son of Elohim who took man’s sins upon himself and died in each person’s place to satisfy the divine and legal judgment against each person because of sin (i.e. the violation of the Creator’s laws), so that man could pass from death to life (John 3:16). What is sin? We sin when we break YHVH’s commandments as revealed in the Bible, the Word of Elohim (1 John 3:4; Rom 3:20). When a person turns away from committing sin and places their faith in Yeshua, Scripture promises that the person will experience forgiveness resulting in a glorious spiritual relationship with our Father in heaven leading to eternal or everlasting life (Rom 3:21–5; 6:23). 

After placing one’s faith in Elohim, one then needs the divine Spirit of Elohim living within them empower them to overcome the controlling influence of one’s sin-inclined flesh nature, and to change one’s sinful and ingrained ways and to now help one to walk in accordance with YHVH’s Torah-commands, which show humans how not to sin (Rom 6–8). 

When we place our faith in Yeshua we are now separated from the kingdom of this world spiritually and become part of a new  heavenly kingdom—a spiritual entity called the nation of Israel, the church or called out ones, the Israel of Elohim or the body of Messiah (Rom 9–11; Eph 2:11–19; Rom 7:4; 1 Cor 10:16; 12:27; Eph 4:12). When one becomes a citizen of YHVH’s heavenly kingdom, they will automatically want to spend time with like-minded believers in Yeshua (Heb 10:25; 1 Tim 3:15). The old adage that birds of a feather flock together is a trite one but apropos here. This is for the purpose of spiritual edification and encouragement (Eph 4:11–16).

Once one is saved from their sin and is now a member of the kingdom of heaven, one the Bible now enjoins one to live a godly or righteous life in accordance with the Word of Elohim as found therein. How can we know how to do this? We learn how to live righteously as we study YHVH’s divine Word regularly, so that we will know how to walk in accordance with the life-giving and blessed commands of our loving Creator (Eph 5:26; Rom 12–13). 

As a gratefully devoted member of the kingdom of heaven or family of Elohim, one will commit to being a follower or disciple of Yeshua the Messiah, one’s Savior, and to obeying the laws of heaven’s kingdom. This involves putting one’s love into action, by growing spiritually, so that one can become a spiritual river of life to others (John 7:37–38) by reaching out to those around them and helping others to find their way out of the same spiritual pit of sin, guilt and shame and death from which we have been delivered or saved (2 Tim 2:15; Rom 14–15). 

Exploring the Subsections of Salvation

The biblical idea of salvation is an over-arching concept that contains various subcomponents. There five components of salvation that include justification, redemption, reconciliation, sanctification and glorification. Let us now explore these various components of salvation, which when synergistically combined form a complete and glorious picture under the rubric of the gospel or good news message of YHVH Elohim’s plan of salvation for sinful human.

Justification 

The word justify according to Webster’s Dictionary means “to show to be just, right; to free from blame or guilt.” Justification is the process by which sinful humans beings are made acceptable to a righteous, holy or pure and sinless Elohim. Scripture reveals that justification is by grace or is a free gift from Elohim (Rom 3:24). This free gift is unlike all the other religions of the world where one is falsely promised immortal life through various human effort schemes. Elohim freely extends his grace, and it is each person’s responsibility to receive it by exercising believing faith. Salvation is not based on man’s works, for salvation cannot be earned; it is a free gift (Eph 2:8–10). 

Paul tells us that through Yeshua the Messiah Elohim is reconciling the world to himself and not imputing man’s sins (the violation of YHVH’s Torah commands) to him (2 Cor 5:19). This reconciliation covers all of one’s past sins (Rom 3:25; 2 Pet 1:9) which one has confessed, repented of and turned away from (Ps 32:5; Prov 28:13; 1 John 1:9).

When Elohim justifies a sinner, he charges the sin of that person to Yeshua (the Savior and Redeemer, 2 Cor 5:21). Justification is based on the righteous, Torah-obedient life of Yeshua and is a free gift to men that leads to eternal life (Rom 3:21–26; John 3:16) if a person stays faithful to YHVH his entire life (Matt 10:22; 24:13; Rom 2:7; Rev 2:7; 3:21).

Justification saves a person from the judgment or wrath of Elohim (Rom 5:9) against sin (i.e. the violation of his Torah, 1 John 3:4), and results in a sinner being at peace with his Creator (Rom 5:1), which then results in one obtaining access to divine grace (Rom 5:2). Grace is not only YHVH’s free and unmerited pardon from one’s sins, but it is also the free gift of his Holy Spirit living in one’s lives and divinely enabling one to walk in accordance with YHVH righteous standards. The result of the Spirit at work in a person’s life is the fruit of the Spirit as opposed to the works of the flesh (Gal 5:16–26).

Redemption 

Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines redemption as,

 [D]eliverance by payment of a price. In the [New Testament], redemption refers to salvation from sin, death, and the wrath of Elohim by Christ’s sacrifice. In the [Old Testament], the word redemption refers to redemption by a kinsman (Lev 25:24, 51–52; Ruth 4:6; Jer 32:7–8), a rescue or deliverance (Num 3:49), and ransom (Pss 111:9; 130:7). In the [New Testament] it refers to loosing (Luke 2:38; Heb 9:12) and loosing away (Luke 21:28; Rom 3:24; Eph 1:14). The [New Testament] emphasizes the tremendous cost of redemption: ‘the precious blood of [Messiah]’ (1 Pet. 1:18; Eph. 1:7), which is also called an atoning sacrifice, ‘a propitiation by His blood’ (Rom. 3:25). Believers are exhorted to remember the ‘price’ of their redemption as motivation to personal holiness (1 Cor 6:19–20; 1 Pet 1 :13–19) The Bible also emphasizes the result of redemption: freedom from sin and freedom to serve [Elohim] through [Yeshua the Messiah our Master].

A redeemer is one who redeems someone in need of redemption or salvation. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary: defines redeemer as,

• A redeemer is one who frees or delivers another from difficulty, danger, or bondage, usually by the payment of a ransom price. In the [Old Testament] the redeemer could function in several ways. He could buy back property (and even enslaved people) sold under duress (Lev 25:23–32). He (usually as owner, not as a relative) often redeemed from the Lord dedicated property and firstborn livestock (Lev 27:1–33; also Exod 21:28–30). 
• Boaz’s function as redeemer for Ruth (Ruth 3:13–4:10) is well known, as is Job’s resurrection hope in Elohim, his Redeemer (Job 19:25). Elohim Himself is the Redeemer of Israel, a fact mentioned 18 times—especially by the prophet Isaiah (Ps 78:35; Isa 41:14).
• In the [New Testament], [Messiah] is viewed as the ultimate Redeemer, although the Greek word for redeemer is not used. [Yeshua] gave His life ‘as a ransom for many’ (Mark 10:45). Thus, the apostle Paul speaks of believers as having ‘redemption through His blood’ (Eph 1:7).

The biblical concept of redemption involves three things. These include the exchange of one thing for something else and the use of power or authority to make it happen. The children of Israel, for example, were enslaved in Egypt and were powerless to free themselves. YHVH by right of his divine power and authority brought judgments upon the Israelites’ Egyptian slave masters, and through the shedding of the lamb’s blood at the first Passover redeemed Israel exchanged Israel’s slavery for freedom. This was a prophetic picture pointing to something at a higher spiritual level and an event that was yet to come. It is this: YHVH delivers, saves or redeems any sinful person who place their trust in the blood of Yeshua, the Lamb of Elohim, who paid the penalty of death for each person’s breaking Elohim’s laws when he died on the cross. At the same time, YHVH destroyed the devil’s death grip on sinful man. Several passages in the Testimony of Yeshua speak about this spiritual transaction.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Pet 1:18–19)

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify Elohim in your body, and in your spirit, which are Elohim’s. (1 Cor 6:20)

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. (Eph 1:19)

In Revelation 20:10 and 14, YHVH judges sin, death and Satan who have been men’s spiritual slave masters.

Reconciliation 

The word reconcile according to Webster’s Dictionary means “to make friendly again, to settle a quarrel, or to make something consistent.”

The following is the paraphrased definition of reconciliation from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary: Biblically, it is the process by which Elohim and man are brought together again. Elohim and each person were alienated from one another because of YHVH’s holiness and each person’s sinfulness. Though YHVH loves the sinner (Rom 5:8), it is impossible for him not to judge sin (Heb 10:27). Therefore in biblical reconciliation, both parties are affected. Through the sacrifice of Messiah, one’s sin is atoned for and YHVH’s wrath against that sin is appeased. As a result, a relationship of hostility and alienation is transformed into one of peace and fellowship between Elohim and each person. Man is reconciled to YHVH through the person and work of Yeshua the Messiah (2 Cor 5:18). Paul regarded the gospel as the “word of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:19). And knowing the terror of YHVH’s judgment Paul pleaded, implored, and persuaded his hearers to “be reconciled to YHVH” (2 Cor 5:20).

Sanctification

Sanctification is the process of YHVH’s grace by which the saint (i.e. the one who has been saved by Yeshua the Redeemer or Savior from sin’s death penalty) is supernaturally separated from an overwhelming innate tendency toward sinful thoughts, words and actions, and becomes dedicated to live according to YHVH’s righteous laws. This is accomplished by the Word of YHVH (John 17:7) and the Spirit of Elohim supernaturally that is at work in the life of the sanctified one or saint (Rom 8:3–4) resulting in sanctification. The consequences of sanctification in one’s life is godliness or holiness as well as the purification from the guilt and power of sin. We can further define sanctification in the following ways:

• Sanctification is spiritual separation from the world and being set apart for YHVH’s service.
• Sanctification is a process by which YHVH purifies the believer or saint and is based on the sacrificial death of Messiah the Savior (Eph 1:4; 5:25–27; Tit 2:14). The offering of Yeshua’s body (Heb 10:10) and blood (Heb 13:12) serves to purge one’s conscience from “dead works [of sin or the works of the flesh] to serve the living YHVH” (Heb 9:14). Because our cleansing from sin is made possible only by Messiah’s death and resurrection, we are “sanctified in Messiah Yeshua” (1 Cor 1:12; Acts 20:32; 1 Cor 1:30; 6:11).

Sanctification involves YHVH and man working together. This process includes several things:

• One is sanctified by our Father in heaven (Jude 1), Yeshua (Heb. 2:11) through the divine Spirit of YHVH Elohim at work in one’s life (2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2). 
• Moreover, each sanctified person is commanded to be perfectly holy (1 Thess 4:7). 
• We are to be sanctified completely (1 Thess 5:23). 
• Sanctification is a process that continues throughout one’s lifetime (Heb 10:14). 
• A follower of Yeshua is instructed to be holy (Lev 11:44; 1 Pet 1:15–16), to be perfect (Matt 5:48), and to present their bodies as slaves of holiness (Rom 6:19; 1 Thess 4:3-5). 
• The disciple of  Yeshua is commanded to be believe in Yeshua, since we are sanctified by faith in him (Acts 26:18). 
• Through the divine empowerment of the Spirit of Elohim, we must put to death the evil deeds of the body (Rom 8:13) (All of the above is excerpted from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 948).

Glorification

This is the nexus and apex of all things for the redeemed and obedient believer and disciple of Yeshua the Messiah. All of the previously listed subcomponents of salvation come together resulting in heaven granting immortality or eternal life to the spiritual sons and daughters of YHVH as member of his eternal kingdom (John 1:12; Rom 6:23; 1 Cor 15:50–57; 1 Thess 4:13–18; 1 John 3:1–2; Rev 20:4–6; 21:1–4; 22:12–14). 

Assurance of Salvation—You Can Know For Sure If You’re Saved

Once one has followed the biblical criteria for becoming saved or redeemed from sin, one does not have to wonder if one is saved or not. There are numerous scriptures that tell us that if after having met the requirements for receiving the free gift of salvation, as one continues to walk in faithful and loving obedience to Yeshua the Messiah, one can be certain that after death, eternal life will be one’s reward. Here are a few of those scriptures.

• 1 John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of Elohim; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of Elohim.” The word know (Gr. eido) means “to see, to know, to perceive with the mind, to understand, to know both by knowledge and inclination; to know intuitively as contrasted with the Greek word ginosko which means “to know experientially.”
• 1 John 3:1–2, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of Elohim: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of Elohim, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” The word now (Gr. nun) means “present, immediate.” The word to know (Gr. eido) which we define above.
• 1 John 4:17–18, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
• John 3:15–16, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For Elohim so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
• John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
• John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (see also verse 47).
• John 8:51, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.”
• 1 John 3:14, “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren.” The word death (Gr. thanatos) means “death, natural or temporal death, physical death; also eternal, spiritual or the second death.” By contrast, the word life (Gr. zoe) means “life in the spirit and soul as distinguished from bios or physical life.”
• Romans 10:9–10, “…thou shalt be saved.” The word saved (Gr. sozo) means “delivered, healed, preserved, made whole.”
• Romans 10:13 and Acts 2:21, Whoever shall call upon the name of YHVH shall be saved.
• Romans 1:16, The gospel of Messiah … is the power of YHVH unto salvation to everyone that believes.
• Ephesians 2:1–10, We are quickened and raised up together to seat in heavenly places with Messiah….
• 2 Timothy 1:9–10, Who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling.
• Mark 16:17, The Great Commission tells us that he that believes in Yeshua and is baptized shall be saved.

Many more Scriptures could be given to show that one can know if they have received the free gift of YHVH’s salvation. 

How Are We Saved?

The Christian church has come up with various formulas on how “to get a person saved.” These include such things as altar calls, processes of confirmation, the notion of baptismal regeneration and saying the sinner’s prayer. As well-meaning as such formulas may be, there are no examples these kinds of things in the Bible. Instead, the Scriptures give us general guidelines and examples to follow. What follows is a list of examples from the apostolic writers of how people were saved in early church era.

In Acts 2:14–37, for example, we read that Peter preached the gospel message and that the hearers were pricked in their hearts (verse 37). This resulted in a spontaneous, Holy Spirit-led response on the part of the hearers of the gospel or good news message of salvation. After this, the people were baptized for the remission of sins in the name of Yeshua and subsequently received the Holy Spirit (verse 38). All this happened on the same day (verse 41). When directed by the Holy Spirit, spiritual transformations can happen quickly!

A little later in Acts chapter three (verses 11 to 26), Peter preached another short sermon and then invited the people to “repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out.” This resulted in about 5000 people coming to faith in Yeshua (Acts 4:4).

Next in Acts 8:4–17, we find that the gospel was preached (in Samaria) and people believed it and were baptized. There were no altar calls, but only a spontaneous reaction to the preaching of the good news of the message of salvation through faith in Yeshua, who died on the cross in man’s place paying the death penalty price of man’s breaking the laws of Elohim.

A little later in Acts 8:26–38, the Ethiopian eunuch heard the message of salvation through Yeshua and asked to be baptized (verse 36). He was told to believe with all of his heart that Yeshua is the Son of YHVH (verse 37). Baptism occurred on the spot (verse 38).

Then in Acts 10:34–43, Peter preached the gospel to Cornelius and his family and friends. Peter declares that whoever believes on Yeshua shall receive remission (or cancellation of debt) from sins (verse 43). The Spirit of Elohim then fell on those who heard the gospel preached (verse 44). The gift of tongues occurred as a manifestation of the Spirit of Elohim (verse 46). In this case, baptism for the remission of sins occurs after receipt of Holy Spirit (verse 47).

Finally in Acts 16:30–33, we read that after the gospel was preached to the Philippian jailer, Paul immediately told him to believe on Messiah Yeshua and affirmed that he would be saved. In this case, baptism for the remission of sins occurred immediately.

The Scriptures clearly show that it does not matter which order one follows (there are no formulas to receive salvation) whether baptism occurs first followed by the receipt of the Holy or vice versa. The main thing is that one gets their heart right with Elohim, which involves repenting of sin, and putting one’s faith in Yeshua as their Savior or Redeemer and then becoming an obedient follower or disciple of Yeshua.

Paul describes the salvation process in the most simple terms in Romans chapter 10.

[I]f you confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua and believe in your heart that Elohim has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.… For whoever calls on the name of Yehovah shall be saved.” (Rom 10:9–13)

In Paul’s mind, there is more to salvation than just believing in the name of Yeshua. Anyone can believe anything for a moment, but this doesn’t necessarily mean anything in the long term! In the same chapter, Paul links belief in Yeshua to Torah-obedience. In verse five, for example, Paul quotes Moses who speaks about living a righteous life of Torah-obedience. What’s more, in quoting Moses from Deuteronomy 30:12–14 who is speaking about the Torah-law, Paul, interestingly, substitutes the name “Yeshua” for the word “Torah.” This proves that in Paul’s mind, belief in and obedience to Yeshua, the Living Word of Elohim who was made flesh (John 1:1, 14), is equivalent to belief in YHVH’s Torah-law, which is the Written Word of Elohim as revealed in Scripture. Therefore, when, in verses 9 to 13, Paul makes his well known declaration about “how to become saved,” he is linking belief in Yeshua directly with obedience to the Torah as the standard of righteousness to follow as evidence of one’s salvation. 

As further confirmation that faith in Yeshua the Messiah must be backed up by the good works of obedience to YHVH commandments, Paul declares that we are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8) the result of which is walking in good works (Eph 2:10). John echoes Paul’s understanding when in the book of Revelation, he defines the end time saints as those who keep the (Torah) commandments of Elohim and who also have the testimony or faith of Yeshua (believe in the gospel message, Rev 12:17; 14:12).