The biblical definitions of Salvation

When the Bible speaks of salvation it could refer any of two things:
1) The election of people, deliverance from the power of sin, (1 Peter 3:21)
2) The deliverance from the punishment in the lake of fire (Rev 20:14-15.)


The Salvation from Sin:

People are elected for salvation, freeing them from the bondage of sin.

Mark 16:15-16 wrote:
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.


The Indoctrination

The one being saved should undergo indoctrination. And the preacher must be a duly commissioned minister, not self-appointed, and Jesus chose (John 15:16) them. Therefore, the word "Go ye" does not refer to just anybody but those he chose to preach. Because, a preacher is a fake preacher if he is not sent by Jesus to preach. Paul undermines the capability of a fake preacher to preach when he said "how can they preach if they are not sent as apostles?" (Romans 10:15)

Romans 10:14-15 wrote:
How will they thus call upon whom they do not believe? Or how will they believe in whom they did not listen to? Or how will they hear [about him] without someone preaching [to them.] Or how can they preach if they are not sent as apostles?...


The Principles of the Doctrine of Christ is explicitly written in the Bible. Some of which are: The Doctrine of Baptisms, The Foundation of Repentance from Dead Works, and Eternal Judgment.

Heb 6:1-2 wrote:
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.


The Baptism

Why did Jesus said that in order to be saved one must not only believe but should be baptized as well? Simply because baptism is a part of the Christian doctrine they preach and it requires work. This work once accomplished is the manifestation of one's belief in the "Doctrine of Baptisms" (Heb 6:2); James said "I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18) If one disbelieves in this required work of salvation, Jesus said, he shall be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

Faith shown by work (first is baptism) gives you salvation. Baptism is also the one that makes one who has undergone indoctrination free from the sense of sin before God. They were cleansed of all their sins.

1 Peter 3:21 wrote:
And baptism, of which this is an image, now gives you salvation, not by washing clean the flesh, but by making you free from the sense of sin before God, through the coming again of Jesus Christ from the dead;


They are both sanctified and justified (past tense) at the time they were baptized. The Bible did not say that sanctification is "page by page."

1 Cor 6:11 wrote:
... but you have been washed, you have been sanctified, you have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the spirit of our God.


True Repentance from Dead Works

Repentance from dead works is one of the laid doctrinal foundation of Christianity (Heb 6:1.) Jesus is the one who established it. Once a person is baptized, it should be with repenting heart, and he is made whole. Members of Christ's body is taught during indoctrination the foundation of repentance from dead works. They were taught to change the way they were living, have a new attitude, become a new person created to be like God, truly righteous and holy. Jesus said "Sin no more" (John 5:14; John 8:11.) Paul, reminding those indoctrinated and baptized members of the Church of Christ about this teaching of Jesus, said:

Eph 4:17-24 wrote:
You have certainly heard his message and have been taught his ways. The truth is in Jesus. You were taught to change the way you were living. The person you used to be will ruin you through desires that deceive you.
However, you were taught to have a new attitude.
You were also taught to become a new person created to be like God, truly righteous and holy.


True repentance must be accomplished by everyone. This Christian doctrine is not to be believed alone by the members but just like baptism it should be carried out. They should actually get rid of every sin. Faith without works is useless (James 2:20.)

Eph 4:25-32 wrote:
So then, get rid of lies. Speak the truth to each other, because we are all members of the same body.
Be angry without sinning. Don't go to bed angry.
Don't give the devil any opportunity {to work}.
Thieves must quit stealing and, instead, they must work hard. They should do something good with their hands so that they'll have something to share with those in need.
Don't say anything that would hurt {another person}. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.
Don't give God's Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you. He has put his seal on you for the day you will be set free {from the world of sin}.
Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred.
Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ.


They did not say "reduce your sinning," niether they say "slowly stop sinning." Because if they did, no one will be fully sancified on the day of judgment. No one will be truly righteous and holy, like God. Example, if you reduce your sinning to 5% each month, will it ever get to zero? No!

Jesus said "sin no more," Paul said get rid of every sin, Peter said cease from sinning.

One is already sanctified once baptized, thus if a person go back to sinning he becomes like a pig and a dog (2 Peter 2:22.) And dogs will be among those who will perish in the lake of fire (Rev 22:15.)

If one continues his sinning, the Bible said, the Holy Spirit will be upset. His repentance is fake and void. One should never fall away from Jesus' commands and never go back to sin. Why? Because there is no second repentance that can renew them again. "It is impossible," the Bible said.

Heb 6:4-6 wrote:
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.


The so-called christians of today are very open and not even ashamed to say they are deliberate sinners. It is true. And the reason why they can not cease from sin is because the indoctrination they received did not come from a duly recognized minister sent by God, but only from a self-appointed ones. The baptism they perform is void of power from God that can transform anyone to be truly righteous and holy. That's why even if they try hard they can't actuate the true repentance required for salvation. They can't get rid of sin.



The Salvation from the Eternal Judgment:

Now, it is required for the elect to remain holy until the end doing only what is good in order to be saved in the day of Judgment. Why? Because it is the works that will determine if one is saved or not. Even if you profess faith but you have bad works you'll be condemned. The function of faith ends when the reason for believing is already at hand. At the day of Judgment it is your works that will bring you to condemnation or salvation and not your Faith Alone.

Rev 20:14-15 wrote:
And all were judged according to their deeds. And Death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

And if any one was found who was not written in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire.


If one can not cease from sin, he will be cursed (2 Peter 2:14.) And cursed people will be thrown into the lake of fire (Matt 25:41-42) On the other hand, how about those baptized members who will remain faithful and holy (despite all the hardships in life) till the end?

Matt 24:13 wrote:
But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.


Therefore, there are two saving processes. A person is first saved into one body (Romans 12:5), through indoctrination and baptism (Mark 16:15) he was redeemed and became member of the flock or the Church of Christ (Acts 20:28). And in the end, if he remained free from the sense of sin, he will be saved into eternal life (Matt 24:13).

The first salvation requires FAITH, but the second salvation requires WORKS. (by JigsNep)