SALVATION IS SOTERIA

 

SALVATION IS SOTERIA

 

  Romans 1:16-17; Acts 4:10-12; 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 [soteria] 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 consequently does limit our sight and action; for 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 boundaries on our potential to maturely 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 [unearned, undeserved favor] 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 this is so in God’s service, having looked up the above references, read in context, then understanding soteria more fully we may sensibly expand our practice of Philippians 2:12, or opt to live a life framed small.

EBB4