{"id":4991,"date":"2014-07-11T08:28:59","date_gmt":"2014-07-11T15:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/?p=4991"},"modified":"2014-07-18T07:50:24","modified_gmt":"2014-07-18T14:50:24","slug":"salvation-what-is-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/2014\/07\/11\/salvation-what-is-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Salvation \u2014 What Is It and Do You Have It?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is Salvation?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The dictionary defines the word salvation <\/i>as \u201cthe deliverance from the power and effects of sin.\u201d In a general sense, salvation is \u201cpreservation from harm, ruin or loss.\u201d 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<\/i> and redemption<\/i> are synonymous terms in biblical Hebraic thought. We will discuss the idea of redemption<\/i> below.<\/p>\n

So what is sin<\/i> that it causes harm, ruin or loss, and what is being harmed or being lost such that we need deliverance? Very simply, Scripture (the Bible) defines sin <\/i>as the violation of YHVH Elohim\u2019s (the LORD God\u2019s) Torah-laws (1 John 3:4). What is YHVH Elohim\u2019s Torah-law? 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. Man is commanded to live by every<\/i><\/b> word found in Scripture (Deut 8:3; Matt 4:4). Man is to hear and do the Words of YHVH (Deut 6:4), place YHVH\u2019s 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\u2019s neighbor (Deut 6:5; Lev 19:18; Mark 12:30; John 14:15). The cornerstone of those laws is found in the well-known ten commandments as found in Exodus 20. They are\u2026<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. I am YHVH your Elohim.<\/li>\n
  2. You shall have no other gods before me.<\/li>\n
  3. You shall not take my name in vain.<\/li>\n
  4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it set-apart.<\/li>\n
  5. Honor you father and mother.<\/li>\n
  6. You shall not murder.<\/li>\n
  7. You shall not commit adultery<\/li>\n
  8. You shall not steal.<\/li>\n
  9. You shall not lie.<\/li>\n
  10. You shall not covet your that which belongs to your neighbor.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The first five statements constitute loving YHVH Elohim, while the last five constitute loving one\u2019s fellow man. These ten statements are but the beginning of YHVH\u2019s laws as outlined in Scripture, which if man break, man is guilty of sin. 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 nothing compared to the hundreds of law books that constitute the laws of most nations on earth. Whole law libraries are established to contain them all!<\/p>\n

    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\u2019s divine laws. Scripture teaches that the results of breaking Elohim\u2019s laws (i.e., sin) is death (Ezek 18:4; Rom 6:23), and that all humans have sinned (Rom 3:23). Because YHVH has imposed a death sentence upon every one because of sin, eternal death is the harm, ruin or loss<\/i>, from which man needs deliverance, redemption or salvation. 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).<\/p>\n

    How can man receive salvation from the wages or penalty of his sin, which is death? Let\u2019s now explore this concept.<\/p>\n

    Steps to Salvation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    The Bible states that man has a sin problem (read Romans chapters 1 through 3), and that man must take certain spiritual steps to rectify this problem. Here are these steps:<\/p>\n

    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\u2019s sins upon himself and died in place of man to satisfy the divine and legal judgment against sin (i.e., the violation of the Creator\u2019s laws), so that man could pass from death to life (John 3:16). What is sin? We sin when we break YHVH\u2019s commandments as revealed in the Bible, the Word of Elohim (1 John 3:4). When men turn away from committing sin and place their faith in Yeshua, Scripture promises that man will experience forgiveness resulting in a glorious spiritual relationship with our Father in heaven leading to eternal or everlasting life (Rom 3:21\u20135; 6:23).<\/p>\n

    Next, we need the divine Spirit of Elohim living within us to overcome the power of our sin-inclined flesh nature and to change our sinful ways and to walk in accordance with YHVH\u2019s Torah-commands, which show us how not to sin (Rom 6\u20138).<\/p>\n

    When we place our faith in Yeshua we are separated from this world spiritually and become part of a new kingdom \u2014 a spiritual body called redeemed Israel or the church (Rom 9\u201311; Eph 2:11\u201319). As such, we need to spend time with like-minded believers in Yeshua (Heb 10:25; 1 Tim 3:15).<\/p>\n

    We need to live a godly or righteous life in accordance with the Word of Elohim. How can we know how to do this? We learn how to live righteously as we study YHVH\u2019s divine Word regularly, so we will know how to walk in accordance with the life-giving and blessed commands of our loving Creator (Eph 5:26; Rom 12\u201313).<\/p>\n

    We need to commit to being a follower or disciple of Yeshua and to put our love into action, by growing spiritually so that we can help others to find their way out of the same spiritual pit of sin and death from which we have been delivered or saved (2 Tim 2:15; Rom 14\u201315).<\/p>\n

    Subsections of Salvation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    The biblical idea of salvation is an over-arching concept that has subcomponents.\u00a0 Let\u2019s explore these various parts, which when synergistically combined form the whole picture of salvation.<\/p>\n

    Justification\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The word justify <\/i>according to Webster\u2019s Dictionary,<\/i> means \u201cto show to be just, right; to free from blame or guilt.\u201d Justification is the process by which sinful humans beings are made acceptable to a righteous and sinless Elohim. Justification is by grace or is a free gift (Rom 3:24) unlike all the other religions of the world where one has to work to receive immortal life. Elohim extends his grace, and it is man\u2019s responsibility to receive it by exercise believing faith. Salvation is not based on man\u2019s works, for he cannot earn it (Eph 2:8\u201310).<\/p>\n

    Paul tells us that through Yeshua Elohim is reconciling the world to himself and not imputing man\u2019s sins (violation of Torah) to him (2 Cor. 5:19). This reconciling covers all our past sins (Rom 3:25) which we have confessed, repented of and turned away from (Ps 32:5; Prov 28:13; 1 John 1:9).<\/p>\n

    When Elohim justifies a man, he charges the sin of that man 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 and will led to eternal life (Rom 3:21\u201326; John 3:16) if a man stays faithful to YHVH his entire life (Matt 10:22; 24:13; Rom 2:7; Rev 2:7; 3:21).<\/p>\n

    Justification saves us 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 our being at peace with him (Rom 5:1) resulting in our obtaining access to his grace (Rom 5:2). Grace is not only YHVH free and unmerited pardon from our sins, but it\u2019s also the free gift of his Holy Spirit living in our lives and divinely enabling us to walk in accordance with YHVH righteous standards henceforth.<\/p>\n

    Redemption\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Nelson\u2019s Illustrated Bible Dictionary <\/i>defines redemption<\/i> as,<\/p>\n

    \u00a0[D]eliverance by payment of a price. In the NT, redemption refers to salvation from sin, death, and the wrath of Elohim by Christ\u2019s sacrifice. In the OT, the word redemption refers to redemption by a kinsman (Lev 25:24, 51\u201352; Ruth 4:6; Jer 32:7\u20138), a rescue or deliverance (Num. 3:49), and ransom (Ps. 111:9; 130:7). In the NT it refers to loosing (Luke 2:38; Heb 9:12) and loosing away (Luke 21:28; Rom 3:24; Eph 1:14). The NT emphasizes the tremendous cost of redemption: \u2018the precious blood of [Messiah]\u2019 (1 Pet. 1:18;\u00a0 Eph. 1:7), which is also called an atoning sacrifice, \u2018a propitiation by His blood\u2019 (Rom. 3:25). Believers are exhorted to remember the \u2018price\u2019 of their redemption as motivation to personal holiness (1 Cor 6:19\u201320; 1 Pet 1 :13\u201319) The Bible also emphasizes the result of redemption: freedom from sin and freedom to serve Elohim through [Yeshua the Messiah our Master].<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    A redeemer is one who redeems someone in need of redemption or salvation. Nelson\u2019s Illustrated Bible Dictionary<\/i>: defines redeemer<\/i> as,<\/p>\n

    A redeemer is one who frees or delivers another from difficulty, danger, or bondage, usually by the payment of a ransom price. In the OT 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\u201330).<\/p>\n

    Boaz\u2019s function as redeemer for Ruth (Ruth 3:13\u20134:10) is well known, as is Job\u2019s resurrection hope in Elohim, his Redeemer (Job 19:25). Elohim Himself is the Redeemer of Israel, a fact mentioned 18 times \u2014 especially by the prophet Isaiah (Ps 78:35; Isa 41:14).<\/p>\n

    In the NT, [Messiah] is viewed as the ultimate Redeemer, although the Greek word for redeemer is not used. [Yeshua] gave His life \u2018as a ransom for many\u2019 (Mark 10:45). Thus, the apostle Paul speaks of believers as having \u2018redemption through His blood\u2019 (Eph 1:7).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    The biblical concept of redemption involves three things. It involves 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 Egyptian slave masters, and through the shedding of the lamb\u2019s blood redeemed Israel exchanged Israel\u2019s 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 men who place their trust in the blood of Yeshua, the Lamb of Elohim who paid the penalty of death for man\u2019s breaking Elohim\u2019s laws by allowing himself to die on the cross. At the same time, YHVH destroyed the devil\u2019s death grip on sinful man. Several passages in the Testimony of Yeshua speak about this spiritual transaction.<\/p>\n