SALVATION IS SOTERIA

SALVATION IS SOTERIA
Monday, July 17, 2017
Romans [MKJV] 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation [soteria] to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Acts 4:10-12 be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in this name does this man stand before you whole. This is the Stone which you builders have counted worthless, and He has become the Head of the Corner. And there is salvation in no other One; for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, cultivate your own salvation [sotria] with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Ask Christians what the word “salvation” means. Summarizing what I usually hear in response: Going to heaven; Eternal life with God; Not going to hell; Saved from my sins. Forgiven. Redemption.
All wonderfully true definitions, but each alone incomplete and with effect of lacking knowing the true magnitude of God’s salvation that limits our sight and action; what we truly believe in our heart of hearts makes for how we live. When we don’t see salvation framed with God’s enormity we think smaller than possible, doing so setting boundary on our potential to worship God and support others in godliness. (Pr.23:7; Rom.12:1-3)
Salvation is not limited to “Going to heaven when I die or am raptured.”, but is frontier place; salvation is the initial position of commencement.
To aid you in gaining salvation knowledge, I share from Scofield’s study notes:
“Salvation” The Hebrew, and (Greek, "sōtēria", meaning "safety", "preservation", "healing", and "soundness"). Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes: as justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness, sanctification, and glorification. Salvation is in three tenses:
(1) The believer has been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin (Luk_7:50); (1Co_1:18); (2Co_2:15); (Eph_2:5); (Eph_2:8); (2Ti_1:9) and is safe.
(2) the believer is being saved from the habit and dominion of sin (Rom_6:14); (Phi_1:19); (Phi_2:12); (Phi_2:13); (2Th_2:13); (Rom_8:2); (Gal_2:19); (Gal_2:20); (2Co_3:18).
(3) The believer is to be saved in the sense of entire conformity to Christ. (Rom_13:11); (Heb_10:36); (1Pe_1:5); (1Jo_3:2).
Salvation is by grace through faith, is a free gift, and wholly without works; (Rom_3:27); (Rom_3:28); (Rom_4:1-8); (Rom_6:23); (Eph_2:8).
The divine order is: first, salvation, then, works; (Eph_2:9); (Eph_2:10); (Tit_3:5-8).
As ever is so in God’s service, having looked up the above references, read in context, and understanding soteria more fully we may sensibly expand our practice of Philippians 2:12, or opt to live framed small.
EBB4