#43 Salvation: The Levels of Analysis

—Who can be saved?—

In an objective and absolute sense, the answer is: nobody. Nobody can be saved, because with men it is impossible. When the disciples asked the Lord this exact question, He said:

“When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible;…” —Matthew 19:25-26a.

On this level of analysis, mankind is utterly hopeless and incapable of achieving any true sense of salvation.

Yet the answer does not end here. However, the means of achievement is redirected:

“...but with God all things are possible.” —Matthew 19:26b.

This now opens multiple new levels of analysis to examine in a relative sense; and CONTEXT is necessary.

. . . . . . .

—The salvific Q & A’s in the NT—

1. The Philippian jailor

Q. “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” —Acts 16:30

A. “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” —Acts 16:31

2. The rich young ruler

Q. “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” —Matthew 19:16

(Also recorded in Mark 10:17 and Luke 18:18)

A. “…but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” —Matt. 19:17b

3. A certain lawyer

Q. “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” —Luke 10:25

A. “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” —Luke 10:27-28

4. The multitude at Pentecost

Q. “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?” —Acts 2:37

A. “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.” —Acts 2:38

5. The Ethiopian eunuch

Q. “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” —Acts 8:36

A. “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” —Acts 8:37

So which is it? Keep all commandments? Love God and neighbor with all our hearts? Repent and be baptized? Believe on the Lord Jesus?

This is why we need to examine each passage and person in Context. There is a reason the Pharisees and Sadducees were told to “bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance”, yet Paul says: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” —Romans 10:9

. . . . . . .

—1. Condition of the Sinner—

In short, the answer to the salvific question is to Repent and Believe in the Lord Jesus, because “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9.

From the beginning of time until now, justification has been by faith alone, and it is of faith, that it might be by grace (Rom. 4:16).

However, without repentance, there is no remission of sins (Luke 13:3).

This is why the Repentant Jailor, who “came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas”, was told to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”, and the eunuch, who had just came from worshipping at the temple, was told “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.”

On the other hand, the unrepentant multitude was commanded to “bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” and the rich young ruler—who had great possessions and went away sorrowful—was told “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”

When the question of salvation is asked, we cannot answer the mocking and unrepentant skeptic the same way we answer one who has recognized the weight of their sins and seeks to be saved from those grave sins that separate them from their God.

. . . . . . .

—2. Which Part of Salvation?—

When the doctrine of salvation is collapsed unnecessarily, it can cause great and harmful confusion. Sometimes when Scripture speaks of salvation, it is an overall big picture. This is the salvation spoken of in Ephesians 2:8. Though other times it is spoken of more precisely, such as addressing that of justification, sanctification, or glorification, which are all part of salvation/deliverance as a whole.

[*These are only a few of many aspects concerning salvation]

Let’s break this down on a different level of analysis:

Regeneration — This is the new birth. This is an essential key missing in modern nominal Christianity. A person must be born again. Their spirit must be quickened/made alive by God the Holy Spirit. Without this quickening, Scripture states: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” —1 Corinthians 2:14. It is a grace of God: “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” —John 1:13

This is salvation.

Justification — This is being declared legally righteous before God. This is by faith alone (Romans 4:5). It is a grace of God: “…It is God that justifieth.” —Romans 8:33

This is salvation.

Sanctification — This is being set apart and progressively transformed into the image of the Son. This is growing in holiness and is an ongoing process. It is a grace of God: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” —1 Thessalonians 5:23

This is salvation.

Glorification — This is the final stage of salvation when God gives believers resurrected, incorruptible bodies. This is a grace of God: “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” —Romans 8:30

This is salvation.

. . . . . . .

—Who Saves?—

The Lord Jesus came to “save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21).

This is far from an exhaustive soteriological study. But it is our hope that it will prompt questions and make us hesitant before telling an unrepentant sinner that all they have to do is believe. Salvation is all of God, because with us it is impossible. We may can choose which sin we want to commit today, but we cannot save souls. Although, we can make a person twofold more the child of hell than ourselves (Matthew 23:15).

The gospel is good news not because of what we “can” do, but because of what Christ Jesus did.

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” —Romans 5:6

—————

*No AI was used in writing this post.