Salvation is a key concept in Christianity and the Bible that refers to the forgiveness of sins and deliverance from their consequences through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a free gift from God that we can receive by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Centuries ago, Martin Luther and the Reformation addressed issues within the Catholic Church and attempted to focus believers on Christ rather than an institution.
Among the doctrines they espoused was teaching Christians to be saved by grace alone. The Reformers cited the following, among other Bible verses:
“For by grace have ye been saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves, but the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” – Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 9 in the Bible
People often confuse mercy and grace. Both include grace and love that we do not deserve. However, mercy is God’s grace in not giving us the punishment we deserve. Grace is God’s grace in giving us the power to live with Him. Both are blessings and we don’t deserve either.
The next sentence in Ephesians 2:10 explains this further: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” ” Our works did not save us. The work of God saved us. The gift of grace leads us to do good works initiated by God. To be able to walk with Him, we need mercy (forgiveness of sin, removal of punishment) and grace (power to do what God has prepared for us).
1. Understanding our need for God’s transforming grace according to the Bible
God is truth, and by accepting our absolute need for Him, we align ourselves with our Father. This recognition of our own helplessness and dependence on God opens the door to His transforming work within us. Jesus himself emphasizes the importance of understanding our need for salvation. In John chapter 15 verse 5, Christ declares:
“I am the rose and you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
There is no middle ground. Either we bear fruit with God as our source, or we bear nothing.
When we admit our need for God’s saving grace, we humble ourselves before Him and admit that we cannot save ourselves through our own efforts or merits. This humility aligns us with the truth of our condition as mortal beings in need of redemption. In Luke chapter 18 verse 13, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the publican to show the power of understanding our need for mercy. Acknowledging his guilt, the tax collector cries out: “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Jesus concludes: “I tell you that this man, and not the other, went to the presence of God justified. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Holy book
2. Unlocking God’s grace and restoration through repentance and confession
Repentance and confession play central roles in unlocking God’s grace in our lives. Through repentance, we turn from sin and move toward following God and walking in His ways. And by confessing, we confess our sins before God and ask for His forgiveness and cleansing. These actions pave the way for reconciliation with God and restoration of our relationship with Him.
Confession acknowledges the truth of our sin and deserving of God’s wrath. In 1 John chapter 1 verse 9, the apostle John writes: “If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God responds to our humble confession with forgiveness and cleansing.
The Bible emphasizes repentance to receive God’s forgiveness. In the Acts of the Apostles chapter 3 verse 19, Peter preaches:
“So repent and return to God so that your sins will be erased, so that the days of renewal will come from God.”
Repentance becomes a transformative experience where God forgives and transforms us. He bestows His grace on us and empowers us to follow Him and obey Him. Repentance and confession together create a pathway to experience the fullness of God’s saving grace. They show our willingness to acknowledge our need for God’s forgiveness, our commitment to turn from sin, and our desire to restore our relationship with Him.
3. Faith in Jesus unlocks God’s saving grace
When we repent, we place our faith and trust in the person of Jesus. Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 9 teach us that we are saved by grace “through faith.” Faith, which is also a gift, provides the means of salvation through which grace works. This faith and trust in Jesus opens the power of God’s saving grace in our lives.
Faith includes putting our trust and confidence in Jesus Christ, believing in his sacrificial death and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sins. In John chapter 3 verse 16, Jesus himself declares:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Only through faith in Jesus, the Son of God, can we experience salvation from spiritual death to eternal life. Trusting Christ involves surrendering our lives to His Lordship and relying on His power and guidance in all areas of our lives. Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 and 6 commands:
Trust in God with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Know him in all your ways, he will make your paths straight.
4. The power of fasting to deepen our dependence on God according to the Bible
Some religious exercises help us remember our complete dependence on God’s grace and provision. Throughout the Bible and among great men and women of God, fasting is established as a valuable exercise in humbling our hearts before God. In Matthew chapter 6 verses 16 to 18, Jesus talks about the importance of fasting and says:
“And when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites who cover themselves because they want to appear to the people that they are fasting. I tell you correctly that they have received their reward in full. But you, when you fast, arm your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be visible to people, but to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Fasting for God, not for fame or attention, brings both visible and hidden rewards. Fasting means abstaining from food or certain activities for a period of time in order to focus on prayer, spiritual reflection and seeking God’s presence. This is a way of denying the desires of the self and approaching God in dependence and humility. Furthermore, through fasting, we declare that only God sustains us and gives us strength (Matthew 4:4).
Today in the article : Ways to Unlock the Power of Saving Grace We reviewed useful information about the Bible and the way of Jesus. If you wish, you can view other articles of Ali Vahidi about Christianity
