"Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me." (Micah 7:7)
"Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it." (Isaiah 45:8)
On the New Testament side, the scriptures attest that we shall "with joy ... draw water out of the wells of salvation." (Isaiah 12:3) We will see the promise from the prophets from afore ... when we witness the Lord God of the old becoming our Saviour. After the kindness and mercy of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7; I Timothy 3:16)
In the gospel according to Luke, salvation is referred to five times. The first is in prophesy " ... and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David." (Luke 1:69); "... to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins ..." (Luke 1:77) " ... for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." (Luke 2:30) "... and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." (Luke 3:6) And Jesus said unto him, "This day is salvation come to this house, for so much as he also is a son of Abraham." (Luke 19:9)
This is the turning point between the two dispensations -- the old and the new. As we learn from Jesus speaking to the woman at the well in John 4, there comes a day when we shall worship Him in Spirit and in truth. This day is now. The prophesied Messiah has come to save the sins of His people. Thus, the dispensation in which we live now is the dispensation of grace, wherein our Lord God and Saviour declares peace and good will toward men.
At the well, Jesus saith unto her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour comes, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him." (John 4:21-23)
Moving into the book of Acts -- we see the apostles put into action the words of Jesus. Herein, there are five references to salvation. In the first scripture, we see that there is only ONE NAME whereby we must be saved -- the Name of JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. In the second and third, an insight that the Word of this salvation was sent to the children of the stock of Abraham as well as the Gentiles. The fourth scripture clarifies that the apostles were indeed servants of the Most High God --which were chosen to shew unto us the way of salvation. In the last, further clarification that the salvation message is sent unto those among the Gentiles who will hear the gospel.
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
"Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you fears God, to you is the Word of this salvation sent." (Acts 13:26)
"For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, "I have set Thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that Thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth." (Acts 13:47)
" ... the same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, "These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation." (Acts 16:17)
"Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it." (Acts 28:28)
In Romans, we learn not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ -- for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes (including the Jew and the Greek). (Romans 1:16) But what is salvation? Romans 10:10 states, "For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
In another place, we learn the difference between godly sorrow and the sorrow of the world. That is, "godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death." (II Corinthians 7:10)
"For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men ..." (Titus 2:11) "After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7)
"(For He saith, "I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation). (II Corinthians 6:2)
"... that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:12-14)
"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation ... for God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," (I Thessalonians 5:8-9)
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12)
Important to note also that because of the fall of the Israelites, salvation is come unto the Gentiles, and as the scripture states -- "for to provoke them to jealousy." (Romans 11:11)
In terms of comfort -- "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." (Romans 13:11) "And whether we be afflicted, [it is] for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation." (II Corinthians 1:6)
"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:" (II Thessalonians 2:13)
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints ..." (Ephesians 6:16-18) "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ ..." (Philippians 1:19) " ... and in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God." (Philippians 1:28)
"Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (II Timothy 2:10)
And did you know -- salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus makes you wise?
"...and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (II Timothy 3:15)
That salvation prepares us?
" ... who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1:5) " ... receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you." (I Peter 1:9-10)
"For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2:10) " ... and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." (Hebrews 5:9; Acts 20:28; I Timothy 3:16; John 1:10-11; Isaiah 9:6)
That we have a hope because of our salvation!
"... is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." (Revelation 12:10)
So, why is salvation so important?"For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [Him]; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will?" (Hebrews 2:2-4)
And just in case you don't know how to become saved, here's Peter's instruction (standing with the eleven) on the day of Pentecost, when the first 3,000 souls were saved into the New Testament body of Christ church.
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:36-41)
"Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God!" (Revelation 19:1)
Stand in the offering plate.
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