Gifted with Salvation

Have you just been saved? Get used to being saved. It is a whole new way of life. When the Lord put in scripture three times that everyone who calls on His name would be saved, He wasn’t wasting the ink.[1] He knows He will have to save us often. Like toddlers who need a lot of looking after so do we: From reminders that come in the nick of time, to deliverance from oppressive feelings, to helping with problems at work, at home, with finances, etc. Make sure you know how to call His number![2]

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25

All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

How Great Is this Salvation?

The Lord is unstinting with His gifts! Salvation is the gift that goes on giving. Increasingly, as you go along you will experience wonder at the magnitude of His love and of His power at saving you through your faith in Christ. Let's hope that you will always be able to keep your heart fired-up by fanning the flames of gratitude over what Jesus did for you at the cross.

Such thoughts as these are the source of a truly endless capacity to take fresh joy at the realization of how great a salvation we are receiving. Let exclamations of  "Jesus, You saved me from hell. You are saving me for heaven!" propel your heart into gratitude in times of worship. Use it to re-adjust your perspective over current troubles you may be facing: "Well, at least I'm only going through hell. Thank God, I'm not going to hell!" Keep in mind, though, that this is only the beginning...

Everything Between Heaven and Hell

The gift of salvation also covers everything thing between heaven and hell. Salvation is not just about rescuing us from hell and giving us safe passage to heaven—as eternally important as that is. In every situation we may face where earth experience is less than heavenly, God wants to bring His salvation.[3] And He desires to work through you to do it.[4] Sure, He will work for you, rescuing you in countless ways in which you call upon His Name or when others are calling out to Him on your behalf, but it doesn't end there.

Because we do get things wrong so often, saving us will always entail outside rescue from time to time. Still, the greater part of the long-term rescue He intends is teaching us to walk in His ways, so that (among other blessings) we won't need to be bailed out nearly as often.[5] Teaching us His ways as we come to Him for guidance is the “painless” form of saving us. It saves us from the disasters that follow whenever we go our own way away from Him. However, even when we initiate a disaster by misuse of our free will, He will kindly use the pain of what follows to help save us from ever wanting to go that wrong way again. He works to save us coming and going!

Next "Free Gift" to Open

Gifted with Sanctification  Maybe you didn't ask for this, but your prayer to be saved has now enrolled you in a life-long process of being "sanctified." Yes, that is a $5.00 church word if ever there was one, but it means something you won't want to miss. It means that we are washed clean. We are being cleansed of wrong thoughts, mistaken beliefs, sinful practices—all kinds of things that get in the way of the peace-filled, grace-full way of life set before us.

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Salvation Scriptures

Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know. Jeremiah 33:3 WEB

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." Acts 16:31

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:9-13

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Revelation 12:10-11