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The joy of salvation is a profound experience and a central theme in the Christian faith. It refers to the deep sense of happiness, peace, and gratitude that believers experience as a result of their relationship with Jesus Christ and their assurance of eternal life. The joy of salvation is rooted in God’s love, mercy, and grace, and it permeates the life of a believer, shaping their identity, values, and relationships.

The Meaning of Salvation

Salvation is a foundational concept in the Bible, encompassing God’s plan to redeem and restore humanity to a right relationship with Himself through the person and work of Jesus Christ. The biblical understanding of salvation is multi-faceted and involves various aspects, such as forgiveness of sins, justification, sanctification, and glorification. To fully appreciate the meaning of salvation from a biblical perspective, it is essential to examine the key terms and concepts used throughout Scripture.

Old Testament Foundations

The Hebrew word for salvation in the Old Testament is “yeshu’ah,” which means deliverance, rescue, or salvation. The Old Testament provides numerous examples of God’s salvific work on behalf of His people, Israel. These events foreshadow the ultimate salvation that would come through Jesus Christ.

The Exodus: One of the most significant examples of salvation in the Old Testament is the Exodus, where God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12-14). This event demonstrated God’s power to save and His commitment to His covenant people. The Passover, which was instituted during the Exodus, became an annual reminder of God’s saving act and pointed to the future redemption through the Messiah (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The Judges: The period of the Judges in Israel’s history saw God raising up leaders to deliver His people from their enemies (Judges 2:16). These judges served as instruments of God’s salvation and foreshadowed the ultimate deliverance that would come through Christ.

The Prophets: The Old Testament prophets spoke of a future, comprehensive salvation for God’s people that would involve both spiritual and physical restoration (Isaiah 52:7-10; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:24-28). These prophecies anticipated the arrival of the Messiah, who would bring salvation not only to Israel but also to the whole world (Isaiah 49:6).

New Testament Fulfillment

The New Testament reveals the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Several Greek words in the New Testament are translated as “salvation” or “to save,” such as “soteria” (salvation), “sozo” (to save), and “soter” (Savior). These terms encapsulate the various dimensions of salvation accomplished by Jesus.

Forgiveness of sins: A crucial aspect of salvation is the forgiveness of sins, which means being pardoned and released from the guilt and consequences of sin (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13-14). Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross paid the penalty for sin, satisfying God’s justice and providing a basis for forgiveness (Romans 3:25-26; Hebrews 9:22).

Justification: Justification refers to the legal declaration of a sinner as righteous in God’s sight, based on faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-26; Galatians 2:16). When a person believes in Jesus, their sins are imputed to Christ, who bore their punishment on the cross, and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to the believer (2 Corinthians 5:21). This means that believers are declared righteous before God, not because of their own works or merit, but because of the righteousness of Christ credited to them.

Sanctification: Sanctification is the ongoing process of spiritual growth and transformation in the life of a believer, becoming increasingly conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). This process begins at the moment of salvation and continues throughout a believer’s life, involving both the work of the Holy Spirit and the believer’s active participation (Philippians 2:12-13; Galatians 5:16-25). Sanctification involves the progressive victory over sin and the cultivation of holiness, love, and other Christ-like virtues (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:5-17).

Glorification: Glorification is the final stage of salvation, in which believers are fully conformed to the image of Christ and freed from the presence and effects of sin (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; Philippians 3:20-21). This aspect of salvation takes place at the resurrection of the dead when Jesus returns, and believers receive their glorified, immortal bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Glorification signifies the complete redemption of the whole person—body, soul, and spirit—and the fulfillment of God’s purpose for humanity (Romans 8:18-23, 30).

The Role of Faith and Grace

Central to the biblical understanding of salvation is the role of faith and grace. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace, meaning that it is unearned and undeserved (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is not based on human works or merit but solely on God’s love, mercy, and kindness (Titus 3:4-7). Faith is the means by which an individual receives the gift of salvation (Romans 5:1). Faith involves trust, belief, and reliance upon Jesus Christ as the Savior and Lord, and it leads to a personal relationship with God (John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 16:31).

The Scope of Salvation

The biblical concept of salvation encompasses not only individual redemption but also cosmic redemption. Through Christ’s redemptive work, God is reconciling all things to Himself, both in heaven and on earth (Colossians 1:19-20). This includes the ultimate restoration of creation, which has been subjected to corruption and decay due to sin (Romans 8:19-22). The Bible envisions a future when God will create a new heaven and a renewed earth, where righteousness dwells, and there will be no more sin, suffering, or death (Revelation 21:4).

The Benefits of Salvation

The benefits of salvation are numerous and encompass various aspects of a believer’s life, both in the present and in the future. These benefits are grounded in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and are accessible to those who place their faith in Him. Some of the key benefits of salvation include:

Forgiveness of sins: One of the primary benefits of salvation is the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13-14). Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are pardoned from the guilt and consequences of their sins. This forgiveness is made possible by Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, which paid the penalty for sin and satisfied God’s justice.

Reconciliation with God: Salvation restores the broken relationship between God and humanity, enabling believers to enjoy a personal relationship with their Creator (Romans 5:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19). As a result, believers can experience God’s love, presence, and guidance in their lives.

Justification: Believers are declared righteous before God through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-26; Galatians 2:16). This legal declaration means that believers are no longer subject to God’s condemnation but instead stand justified in His sight, based on the righteousness of Christ imputed to them.

Adoption into God’s family: Salvation grants believers the status of being God’s children, with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that come with being part of His family (John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17). As God’s children, believers enjoy an intimate relationship with their Heavenly Father and are heirs to the eternal inheritance He has prepared for them.

Guiding of the Holy Spirit: At the moment of salvation, believers receive the Holy Spirit, who comes to guide them through the Word of God (1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the believer’s life, providing guidance, comfort, and empowerment for living a godly life. He also works to transform the believer into the image of Christ through the process of sanctification.

Sanctification: Salvation initiates the ongoing process of sanctification, through which believers grow spiritually and become increasingly conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). Sanctification involves the progressive victory over sin and the cultivation of holiness, love, and other Christ-like virtues.

Assurance of eternal life: Take note of the prophetic caution from the apostle Jude. He penned: “Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3, ASV) Why did Jude compose this? Because he understood that individual Christians might still lose the ‘salvation they share in common.’ This does not negate the assurance of salvation or the assurance of eternal life. Jude continued, stating: “Now I desire to put you in remembrance, though ye know all things once for all, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.” —Jude 5, ASV.

The admonition from Jude would be of no consequence if Christians did not confront a peril akin to that faced by those Israelites. Jude did not doubt the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice. Indeed, that sacrifice has delivered us from Adamic sin, and Jesus will safeguard those who place their trust in Him. None can pluck them from His grasp. Yet, we can forfeit that security. In what manner? By emulating the actions of numerous Israelites who were rescued from Egypt. We can consciously decide to defy God. —Deuteronomy 30:19, 20, ASV.

Christians exist in a state of salvation. They possess the prospect of eternal life due to their approved standing before God. Collectively, their deliverance from Adamic sin and all its ramifications is certain. However, on an individual basis, they will attain everlasting life only if they persist in adhering to all of God’s stipulations. Jesus underscored this when he compared himself to a vine and his followers to branches in that vine. He stated: “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit [God] taketh away… If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:2, 6; Hebrews 6:4-6, ASV) Those who lose faith in Jesus also forfeit eternal life.

Spiritual gifts: Salvation equips believers with spiritual gifts, which are supernatural abilities given by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of building up the body of Christ and advancing His kingdom (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Ephesians 4:7-12). These gifts enable believers to serve others and contribute to the mission of the church.

Access to God through prayer: As a result of salvation, believers have direct access to God through prayer (Hebrews 4:16; Ephesians 2:18). They can approach God with confidence, knowing that He hears their prayers and cares for their needs.

Hope and peace: Salvation provides believers with a living hope and a deep sense of peace, regardless of their circumstances (Romans 5:1-2; 1 Peter 1:3-4). This hope is anchored in the promise of eternal life, the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and the assurance that God is in control and working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).

Participation in God’s redemptive plan: Salvation invites believers to become active participants in God’s redemptive plan for the world (2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Matthew 28:18-20). As ambassadors of Christ, believers are called to share the Gospel with others, inviting them to experience the forgiveness, redemption, and transformation that are available through faith in Jesus.

In summary, the benefits of salvation are vast and encompass various aspects of the believer’s life, including forgiveness, reconciliation, justification, adoption, sanctification, eternal life, spiritual gifts, and participation in God’s redemptive plan.

The Biblical Assurance of Salvation

We will give the readers what we believe the Bible authors meant by their words when it comes to the assurance of salvation. Then, we will give the readers what C.S. Lewis taught when it comes to the assurance of salvation. Believers can have assurance of salvation, but they can also lose their salvation if they choose to turn away from God.

The Nature of Salvation in the Bible

To understand the Bible’s view of the assurance of salvation, it is essential to first grasp their concept of salvation itself. In biblical theology, salvation is a gift from God that is offered to all people through the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. God’s grace is extended to humanity, but it is up to each individual to choose whether or not to accept this grace through faith in Jesus. This means that salvation is not predetermined for a select group of people, as in Calvinism, but is available to all who choose to believe.

The Role of Human Free Will

Central to the biblical view is the belief in human free will. The Bible informs us that God has given humanity the ability to choose between good and evil, and this includes the choice to accept or reject the gift of salvation. The idea of free will is based on several biblical passages, such as Joshua 24:15, which states, “Choose this day whom you will serve,” and Revelation 3:20, where Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” These and other passages suggest that salvation is a choice that each person must make for themselves.

Conditional Security

The Bible teaches that the security of a believer’s salvation is conditional upon their continued faith in Jesus Christ. This means that while believers can have assurance of their salvation as long as they remain in the faith, they can also lose their salvation if they choose to turn away from God and reject the gift of grace they had once accepted. This view is based on several biblical passages that indicates that it is possible for a believer to fall away from the faith, such as Hebrews 6:4-6, which states, “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance.”

The Role of Sanctification

The Bible emphasizes the importance of sanctification in the life of the believer. Sanctification is the process by which a believer is gradually transformed to become more like Christ in their thoughts, attitudes, and actions. This process is ongoing throughout a believer’s life and is fueled by the work of the Holy Spirit and the believer’s active participation in spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. Sanctification is essential for maintaining one’s assurance of salvation, as it demonstrates a genuine faith and commitment to following Jesus.

The Bible teaches that a believer’s sanctification serves as evidence of their salvation, as it reveals the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This evidence provides a measure of assurance to the believer, but it is not absolute, as the possibility of falling away from the faith still exists.

The Role of Perseverance

While the Bible teaches that believers can lose their salvation if they choose to turn away from God, it also emphasizes the need for perseverance in the faith. The concept of perseverance is the idea that believers must continually strive to maintain their faith and commitment to Christ throughout their lives. This perseverance is supported by the grace of God, which empowers and enables believers to continue in their faith despite trials, temptations, and hardships.

There are several biblical passages that emphasize the need for perseverance, such as Matthew 24:13, which states, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved,” and Hebrews 10:36, which says, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised.” Philippians 2:12 says “As you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” These and other passages suggest that perseverance is an essential aspect of maintaining one’s assurance of salvation.

The Importance of Community

In the Bible, the community of believers plays a vital role in the assurance of salvation. The local church serves as a support system, providing encouragement, accountability, and spiritual nourishment for believers as they seek to grow in their faith and maintain their assurance of salvation. The church also plays a crucial role in helping those who may have strayed from the faith to return to a right relationship with God.

The Bible teaches that the regular gathering of believers for worship, prayer, and the study of Scripture is essential for the spiritual health of the individual believer and the corporate body of Christ. In this context, believers can find assurance and encouragement as they journey together in their pursuit of Christlikeness and the assurance of their salvation.

The Balance Between Assurance and Caution

Biblical theology seeks to strike a balance between providing believers with the assurance of their salvation while also cautioning them against taking their salvation for granted. Believers can have confidence in their salvation as long as they continue to abide in Christ and actively participate in the process of sanctification. However, they must also be vigilant against the possibility of falling away from the faith and losing their salvation.

This balance between assurance and caution serves to motivate believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to diligently pursue a deeper relationship with God. It also emphasizes the importance of relying on God’s grace for strength and perseverance, rather than trusting in one’s own efforts or abilities.

“Once Saved, Always Saved”

Does the Bible explicitly state, “Once saved, always saved”? No, it does not employ those exact words in any particular verse, but numerous sincere individuals believe this is the teaching of the Bible. It is accurate that many Bible passages indicate that salvation’s foundation is not one’s works but rather faith in Jesus Christ, along with God’s “grace” and compassion (Eph. 2:8, 9; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:4, 5). Furthermore, Jesus himself declared that “he that believeth on the Son hath eternal life.”—John 3:36, 1 John 5:13.

From such passages, it is frequently deduced that if one ‘has eternal life,’ he truly possesses it permanently; it cannot be lost, or, as many would assert: “Once saved, always saved.” However, does this interpretation completely convey the Scriptural perspective on attaining everlasting life?

Indeed, Christians concerned about their salvation may also want to contemplate Jesus’ proclamation that “he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matt. 10:22; 24:12, 13; Mark 13:13) And the apostle Paul makes similar remarks: “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.”—Heb. 3:14.

How can we reconcile these apparent inconsistencies? Surely, these servants of God were not contradicting themselves. Instead, were they not merely expressing the same comprehension from different perspectives? The apostle Paul offers the key to harmonizing these viewpoints.

Repeatedly, Paul likens the Christian’s course to a “race” that must be run to the finish. “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” he encouraged the Hebrews (12:1). To enter the race, sinners must take the necessary steps for salvation: hearing and accepting the Word of God, believing in Jesus Christ and his ransom sacrifice, repenting of their sins, and being baptized. In this manner, they are saved “from this crooked generation,” as Peter exhorted those gathered at Pentecost. Unbelievers are outside the race, having failed to enter by getting “saved.”—Acts 2:37-40; Acts 16:31-33; Rom. 10:13, 14.

Once entered in the race by being “saved,” a Christian takes “hold of the life which is life indeed.” But is it possible to lose that grip on life? Paul answers with this question: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize?” In the Christian race, Paul indicates the “one” who receives the prize is anyone who finishes the race. Therefore, Paul urges, “So run that you may obtain it.” Then, using himself as an example to make the point of his illustration, he continues: “I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.”—1 Tim. 6:19; 1 Cor. 9:24-27, ASV.

Evidently, the apostle, who surely was a “saved” Christian, believed that even he could be “rejected” from the race. Yet as long as he continued to ‘run that he might obtain’ the prize, thus remaining in the race, salvation was assured. This is why Christians who remain in the race can be said to ‘have everlasting life.’ But if they should ever quit the race, they are “rejected,” losing their hold on everlasting life.

Hence, Paul follows up his remarks on the Christian’s race by cautioning about the danger of overconfidence. Using the example of the Israelites who were saved through the Red Sea, yet fell to wrongdoing in the wilderness, he warned: “We [“saved” Christians] must not put the Lord to the test.” Then, driving his point home, he declared: “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Yes, it could happen, even to “saved” ones!—1 Cor. 10:1-12, ASV.

This is why, throughout his writings, Paul consistently emphasized his own need to stay in the race. For example, of his hoped-for reward of the resurrection, he said: “Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.” It was only after Paul neared the end of his life that he wrote: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” At this point in his life, he could finally say with confidence: “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day.”—Phil. 3:12-14; 2 Tim. 4:7-8, ASV.

Paul’s view of his own salvation, then, is consistent with Jesus’ comments mentioned earlier about ‘enduring to the end’ to be saved.—See also Revelation 2:10; 3:11, 12, ASV.

Indeed, Christians who genuinely value the salvation offered through Christ and God’s grace will avoid overconfidence. They will endeavor to stay in the race like Paul and the other early Christians, whom he exhorted to “work out [their] own salvation with fear and trembling.”—Phil. 2:12, ASV.

The foregoing helps us to see why Paul repeatedly entreated “saved” Christians to be on guard. Their everlasting salvation was still at stake. Addressing the obviously “saved” Hebrew Christians who had been “enlightened” and who had “endured a great conflict of sufferings,” he warns: “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins.” The sacrificial benefits that “saved” such persons, then, can be lost. Why? Because such a person “hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto [outraged, RSV] the Spirit of grace.”—Heb. 10:26-29, ASV.

Thus, according to the Arminian understanding, the assurance of salvation is not a guarantee that a believer will never lose their salvation. Instead, it is an assurance that God’s grace is always available and that salvation is secure as long as the believer remains faithful and continues to run the race with endurance. It is essential for believers to maintain their faith and commitment to Christ, being ever watchful of the dangers of complacency or overconfidence, which could lead to spiritual downfall.

In conclusion, the Arminian view of the assurance of salvation is based on the belief in human free will, conditional security, and the importance of sanctification in the life of the believer. Although believers can have assurance of their salvation as long as they remain in the faith, it is crucial to understand that they can also lose their salvation if they choose to turn away from God and reject the gift of grace they had once accepted. Therefore, maintaining faith and a close relationship with Christ is of utmost importance, as it is through this continued commitment that a believer can truly experience the assurance of salvation.

The Assurance of Salvation According to C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis, the renowned British author and Christian apologist, did not establish a specific theological framework like Calvinism or Arminianism. However, he did offer his thoughts on the assurance of salvation in some of his works. It is important to note that Lewis’s views do not represent a distinct theological perspective, but rather his personal understanding of Christian doctrine, which was primarily influenced by the Anglican tradition.

In his book “Mere Christianity,” Lewis highlights the transformative power of Christianity, suggesting that faith in Jesus Christ results in a changed life. He describes the process of becoming a Christian as moving from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness. According to Lewis, a genuine conversion experience leads to a life of discipleship, characterized by ongoing spiritual growth, love, and obedience to God.

Regarding the assurance of salvation, Lewis’s views seem to align with the concept that faith must be accompanied by works or actions that demonstrate genuine belief. He suggests that true faith in Christ leads to an ongoing process of sanctification, where the believer’s character is progressively transformed to be more like Christ. This process is not a means to earn salvation, but rather an evidence of the saving faith that has taken root in the believer’s heart.

In “The Problem of Pain,” Lewis further explores the idea of the believer’s ongoing spiritual journey. He acknowledges that Christians may experience doubts and struggles in their faith, but he argues that these challenges can ultimately strengthen their relationship with God. Lewis suggests that the assurance of salvation is not a one-time event, but rather a continual process of growing in faith and trust in God.

In summary, C.S. Lewis’s view on the assurance of salvation emphasizes the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ and the ongoing process of sanctification in a believer’s life. He proposes that assurance comes from an authentic relationship with God, marked by continual growth and the evidence of a changed life. However, it is crucial to remember that Lewis’s thoughts represent his personal understanding of Christian doctrine and not a distinct theological system.

For more on this subject, see JOHN CALVIN: A Solitary Quest for the Truth by Edward D. Andrews. ISBN-13: ‎ 979-8387684760

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).