Salvation involves a change in the relationship between God and a person. Salvation includes God's adoption of believers into his family, his acceptance of them as righteous and his forgiveness of their sins. It also includes personal renewal and transformation through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Salvation as a change in status before God
Access to God
Romans 5:1–2 See also Ephesians 2:13; Hebrews 4:16
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Adoption into the family of God
John 1:12; Romans 8:22–24; Galatians 4:4–7
Forgiveness of sin
Acts 5:30–31 See also Psalm 32:1–2; Matthew 26:28; Acts 10:43, Acts 13:38; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:13
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
Heavenly citizenship
Philippians 3:20–21 See also Ephesians 2:19; Colossians 3:1–2; Hebrews 12:22–24
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
Inheritance from God
Romans 8:17 See also Colossians 1:12; Revelation 21:7
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ — if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Peace with God
Ephesians 2:13–17 See also Isaiah 53:5; John 16:33; Romans 5:1–2; Colossians 3:15
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
Righteousness in the sight of God
Romans 1:17 See also Isaiah 61:10; Romans 3:22, Romans 4:3–13, Romans 4:25–5:1 The idea of being righteous in the sight of God lies at the heart of Paul's doctrine of justification by faith; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:8–9; 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 11:7
For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Salvation as a change in a person's nature
Becoming a new creation
2 Corinthians 5:17 See also Romans 6:4; Galatians 6:14–15; Ephesians 2:15
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
Deliverance from God's righteous condemnation
Romans 8:1–2 See also Isaiah 50:8; Romans 5:15–17, Romans 8:33–39; Colossians 1:22
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.
Deliverance from the power of sin and evil
Galatians 1:3–4 See also Romans 6:14, Romans 7:21–25, Romans 8:2–4; 1 Peter 2:24; Revelation 1:5
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Inner personal renewal
1 John 1:7 See also Psalm 51:1–2, Psalm 51:7; Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 10:19–22
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
New birth
John 3:3–7 See also James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’
The presence of the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:10–11 See also Galatians 5:2–25
But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.