Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  6000 Sin and salvation  »  6500 Salvation  »  6510 salvation  »  6511 salvation, nature of

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

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

Heavenly citizenship

Philippians 3:20-21 See also Ephesians 2:19; Colossians 3:1-2; Hebrews 12:22-24

Inheritance from God

Romans 8:17 See also Colossians 1:12; Revelation 21:7

Peace with God

Ephesians 2:13-17 See also Isaiah 53:5; John 16:33; Romans 5:1-2; Colossians 3:15

Righteousness in the sight of God

Romans 1:17 See also Isaiah 61:10; Romans 3:22; Romans 4:3-13,25-5:1 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

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

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

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

Inner personal renewal

1 John 1:7 See also Psalm 51:1-2,7; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 10:19-22

New birth

John 3:3-7 See also James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9

The presence of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:10-11 See also Galatians 5:2-25

See also

3230  Holy Spirit & regeneration
3278  Holy Spirit, indwelling
6124  condemnation
6606  access to God
6608  adoption
6644  eternal life
6652  forgiveness
6669  grace & salvation
6676  justification
6700  peace
6744  sanctification
8154  righteousness