Salvation is a continuum. Merriam-Webster defines a continuum as “a coherent whole characterized as a collection, sequence, or progression of values or elements varying by minute degrees.”[1] Many Christians think of Salvation only as a description of their moment of first believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and their avoidance of the lower parts of Hades after their death. However, Salvation also includes our spiritual growth and our experience of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit in the Kingdom of God (Rom. 14:17). Salvation also includes things like the return of Jesus Christ to Planet Earth (Heb. 9:28). It is correct to say that we have been saved; we are being saved (if we are seeking His Kingdom), and we will be saved in the future.
Of course, the central character in the great story and subject matter of Salvation is Jesus, whose name means “Jehovah is salvation” or “whose help is Jehovah.”[2] Our experience of Salvation is all focused on our new life “en” Christ. The Greek preposition en is defined as “by, with, and in.”[3] We experience soul salvation only in Christ.
When thinking about “being saved” or “salvation,” it is helpful to consider that the Bible authors wrote about us being saved from a broad range of things. They also wrote about us being saved into an experience of security, well-being, and blessedness. In the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, we read, “Whereas the verb “to save” [often] has reference to some physical or spiritual peril, the noun “salvation” pertains to the positive effects of God’s saving action. In general, one is saved from bondage and brought to a state of well-being or blessedness.”[4]
The New Testament authors wrote about people being saved from all of the following: our enemies (Luke 1:71); God’s wrath (a/k/a “fire”) (Rom. 5:9; Jude 1:23); our sins (Matt. 1:21); drowning (Matt. 8:25); sickness or disease (Matt. 9:21); demon possession (Luke 8:36); blindness (Luke 18:42); a perverse generation (Acts 2:40); prison (Phil. 1:19); or death and Hades (Heb. 5:7). The foregoing is not a complete list. On the other hand, we also experience salvation when we are transported to Paradise in Heaven at the moment of our death (2 Tim. 4:18), and as stated above, we will experience salvation when Jesus returns to Planet Earth at the time of His Second Coming (Heb. 9:28). Further, it is very important to know that if we obey Jesus and enter into the Kingdom of God in this life, we will also experience salvation. As stated above, Salvation in the Kingdom of God is described as “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).
At Luke 13:22-30, we read the following:
And He [Jesus] was passing through one city and village after another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem.
And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He [Jesus] said to them,
“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I will tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
“Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin standing outside and knocking on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ and He [Jesus] then will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’
Then you will begin saying, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence and You taught in our streets!’
And yet He will say, ‘I do not know where you are from; leave Me all you evildoers.’
“In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves being thrown out.
“And they will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.”
As stated above, we are “being saved” if we seek first the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness (Matt. 6:33). Seeking God’s will must be our highest priority. We have the freedom (free will) to choose God’s will or our own will, and we will be held accountable for the decisions we make in this life. Believing in Jesus, avoiding the lower parts of Hades, and going to Heaven after we die is a wide gate or door. However, entering into the Kingdom of God is a narrow door (Luke 13: 24). Jesus taught us that we must do His will in order to enter into the Kingdom of God (Matt. 7:21). Jesus said that not seeking His will is the practice of lawlessness (Matt. 7:23). Those who do not enter into the Kingdom of God are described as “evildoers” (Luke 13:27). Of course, in this life, we will never reach a state of sinless perfection. Occasionally and/or periodically, we must acknowledge our sins to God (1 John 1:9). When we do so, He will always cleanse and restore us (1 John 1:9).
If we seek to serve God with a clear conscience, we will experience a sense of well-being and blessedness, which is Salvation. We must seek to serve God in the totality of our being, meaning in the meditations of our hearts (which includes our attitudes), the words of our mouths, and our actions (Ps. 19:14). Practicing the Christian spiritual life and Kingdom living can be described as walking by the Spirit, wherein the Word is a light to our feet, trusting in Christ Jesus, while having no confidence in our inherent capacity to live this new, supernatural way of being. We are a new type of creature with a new way of being. Kingdom living is possible only by the grace of God. The Apostle Paul described the experience of Salvation in the Kingdom of God as being “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). If we want to experience Salvation to the fullest and utmost in this life, we must consistently obey God and reside in the Kingdom of God.
If we enter into Kingdom living in this life, we will inherit the Kingdom of God in our next life, as well. We will uniquely share in the life of God, the glory of God, and the rule of God in eternity. The faithful servants of God (to include Abraham, Issac, and Jacob) will share in a unique fellowship with each other and the Trinity, along with experiencing many fantastic blessings. However, unbelievers and unfaithful believers will not experience the many special blessings set aside by God for his faithful servants. Unbelievers and unfaithful believers will experience a “weeping and gnashing of teeth,” which is an image of extreme disappointment.
Faithful Christians have been saved in the past. If we are seeking first the Kingdom of God, we are presently being saved, and further, we should anticipate being saved in the future. Salvation describes one’s experience of security, well-being, and blessedness that results from serving God with a clear conscience. If we fail to serve God with a clear conscience, we will miss out on many fantastic blessings in this life and the next.
For more information about Salvation, listen to this 3-part class I taught on “Biblical Imagery: Salvation” at Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church:
Biblical Imagery: Salvation Part 1 (youtube.com)
Biblical Imagery: Salvation Part 2 (youtube.com)
Biblical Imagery: Salvation Part 3 and The Kingdom of God. (youtube.com)
[1] “Continuum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continuum. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.
[2] “G2424 – iēsous – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 12 Mar, 2024. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2424/kjv/tr/0-1/>.
[3] “G1722 – en – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 12 Mar, 2024. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1722/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/>.
[4] “Salvation.” Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, edited by Leland Ryken, et al, InterVarsity Press, 1998, p. 753.