“…Work out your own salvation, with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12,13
In the letter of Paul to the Philippian believers, he makes it ever so clear that “salvation” in and of itself is an accomplished fact. To begin to understand this, and live by it, we begin with a biblical definition. What does the word “salvation” mean? The word is derived from a Greek root word, meaning “to save.” Paul, to the Ephesian believers, writes that we are “saved” …”by grace…through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (2:8) Saved from what?
The first thing that fallen, sinful man is saved from is “wrath,” the wrath of God. This wrath of God is a settled, unchanging attitude of mind by God in opposition to all that is of sin. The Apostle Paul explained this in writing the Roman believers: “For the wrath of God IS revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness…” (1:18) Jesus spoke of this same wrath when He said: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (Jn. 3:36) David made it clear that this settled attitude of God has always existed, even before one’s birth: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Ps. 51:5) So, the first thing that salvation IS, is God’s working to deliver us from His wrath. This is imperative because God cannot change or deny Himself, for he is always holy and perfectly righteous. Only by His intervention, according to His perfect way, can an individual be saved, or delivered from the wrath of God. Part of the good news of the gospel is that the sword of God’s wrath was completely put at rest forever when Christ died.
The second thing man is saved from is “sin.” What is sin? Isaiah gives us, not only its definition, but sin’s most perfect, and entire remedy, all expressed in one verse of Scripture: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (53:6) Sin’s essence and manifestation is an attitude of mind and heart whereby one thinks, speaks, and acts in a manner independently of God. Isaiah calls it, “turning to his own way.” It is the constant resolved attitude of one’s sinful self naturally choosing by obligation to act independently of God. The basic reason is trust in himself, not in God. Every act and attitude, word or deed, every thought and action which is not the result of faith in God is sin. Man is born in sin, a prisoner to its principle and power, a slave to its desires and will. Nothing can break the hold of sin, the enslaving principle to sin, but Christ by His Spirit. Therefore, the salvation of God in Christ is one where the power of sin as a law, and settled attitude and will, is broken, its shackles severed, and the soul unchained. How can this be? There was, and is, but one way, Christ taking not only our sins upon Him, and enduring the wrath of God for them, but declaring by His resurrection that every semblance and evidence of sin had been dealt with entirely on Calvary, setting the sinner free.
The third thing man is saved from is Satan, that prince of the power of the air, angel of light, deceiver of the nations, and god of this world. He is that one who holds captive the souls of men dominating over them by “…blinding the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2 Cor. 4:4) God’s sole remedy is “…the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Dear Father, Be our salvation today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.