Salvation Through Christ – Part 1- The Savior Is the Root
Many times throughout the year I think back to the time I really ‘got’ it. Actually, I think there were a series of ‘got it’ moments, but in particular, I’m talking about the time it was cemented in my heart just what Christ did for me.
One year, my ladies Bible study group back then decided to watch The Passion of the Christ the week before Easter. There were only 5 or 6 of us and some were baby Christians while others had known and accepted Christ as children. I was somewhere in the middle, but closer to baby-Christian.
As we watched the movie, whenever we were unsure if the movie was Biblically accurate, we paused the movie, opened our bibles and started searching the scriptures. Every time, the movie was accurate.
Being a very visual person, I remember the written Word coming to life as I watched, and then read how Christ died for ME so that I could live for eternity with Him. That experience was my ‘cemented in my heart’ moment and I’ll never forget it.
Every one of us comes to Christ differently, and I love to hear other people’s testimony. If you have never opened your heart to receive the gift of eternal life with Christ, I want to share with you what salvation through Christ is, and how to have it.
This has turned into a much longer study than I had anticipated, so we will cover it in a series of posts. Today is Salvation Through Christ – Part 1 – The Savior is the Root.
Salvation Meaning
C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity that we are born into a civil war between God and Satan. You can feel that war raging all around us, and its getting louder and louder.
In his military analogy, C.S. Lewis also said the Bible is our field manual as we fight this war. The first step to really understanding the Bible is salvation through Christ.
In the New Testament there are …….2 words……that are used for the word ‘salvation’. These words are both noun and adjective forms. From Strongs, let’s look at the meanings:
Greek 4991 sótéria (Noun form): welfare, prosperity, deliverance, preservation, salvation, safety.
Greek 4992 sótérios (Adjective form): saving, bringing salvation.
These two words come from the Greek word 4982 sózó, which means to ‘to deliver out of danger and into safety, and is used principally of God rescuing believers from the penalty and power of sin – and into His provisions (safety).
Sozo is also the root of 4990 which means ‘Savior’ as well as the root of 4991 and 4992
That’s sort of a lot to take in. Look up the links, and re-read it a few times if you need to. Really grasp the meaning of it all. I know I did!
The Root of Salvation is the Savior
Salvation is the act of the Savior (Christ) saving, and bringing salvation to those who believe in him. Having salvation means having Christ’s welfare, prosperity, deliverance, preservation, salvation and safety.
How amazing is that? I had never actually looked up the Greek definitions before. I have learned to never underestimate God’s written Word, but there are times when I’m totally in awe of how complete it is.
Here is a way to put it all into a sentence:
The Savior delivers, preserves, prospers, provides for our well-being (another way of saying welfare) and keeps us safe.
Through Christ Alone
Remember the definitions above? The root of salvation is the Savior – Christ. There are other scriptures that say that Christ is the way, the truth and the life:
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 3:36
36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 3:15-16
15 That whoever believes in Him (Jesus) should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
1 Timothy 2:5
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.
Salvation is through Christ.
Look back to CS Lewis’ military analogy. As this civil war we’ve been born into intensifies, everyone needs to understand how to find deliverance, preservation and safety – salvation.
Salvation is a Free Gift of God.
There is a price for this gift, but we can’t purchase it. Christ paid the sin price for you and me with His life. But we can’t buy it from God. Look at Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
BUT, we have to do something FIRST to get that salvation. This is not a passive participation war we are in. It requires specific actions from us. In Part 3 we will take a look at what we have to give up to be saved. (See NOTE below for the change made.)
I’ll give you a hint. Look at the Greek definition of faith:
Greek 4102 pístis: faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.
Is Jesus knocking on the door of your heart?
Revelation 3:20
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
You have to take action. Invite Him in.
Next time, we will look at what deeper at we have to give to have salvation. Stay tuned!
NOTE: I added a new Part 2 – The Civil War Between God & Satan since this post was originally published. Part 3 will continue on with what we have to give up to have salvation from Christ.
More in the Series —
Salvation Through Christ Part 2 – The Civil War Between God & Satan
Salvation Through Christ Part 3- Salvation Requirements – What You Give Up
Salvation Through Christ Part 4 – What You Get
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