Scripture encourages us to embrace God’s offer to save us from any hurt after we die. We generally call this “salvation.” However, the Bible describes salvation as a delivering release from our bondage in this world, so that we can improve the quality of our life. Biblical salvation is for life in our day.
While the Bible declares our salvation can begin when we “confess and believe” in God and His way of life, (a) [see endnotes for Scriptures] it instructs us to progressively “work out your salvation,” (b) and salvation is for all “who endures to the end.” (c) So we ask – how is salvation an ongoing process?
Delivering Faith
While we can experience a waking moment that gives us an assurance of God’s forgiveness and a sense of release from His condemnation, there is more. God delivers in this life, so we can be free to live, worship, and prosper under His guidance. The Greek root of the word salvation comes from sozo. In the old world, sozo spoke of health. This is intended to include all aspects of this life.
The Old Testament example of salvation illustrates deliverance begins an ongoing process of adjustments that we are to apply and work-out in daily life. Some 430 years after Abram entered Canaan and 4 generations after his family of 70 entered Egypt, (d) God freed “a mixed multitude of 600,000 men” (e) from slavery. With their families, it was over 2 million people. The Exodus included everyone drawn to this God of miracles and life free of overlords.
To make “a distinction between Egypt (the world) and Israel (people of faith),” (f) God declared all the first-born in the land would die if the blood of a lamb was not applied to the doorpost of their dwelling. Everyone applying the blood became part of the family of faith, counted as children of Abraham. (g)
When God sent messages to Pharaoh about letting the people of faith go, He called them “My people,” (h) and said “Israel is My son, My firstborn.” (i) Remember, Israel is the name God gave to Jacob, after he had “striven with the presence of God and with men.” (j) The name Israel means “who strives with El – God.” These people were as Jacob, striving with life conditions and wanting God’s blessing!
Their life in servitude had conditioned them however to think as slaves and depend on overlords for basic needs. Their enslaving perceptions needed to transition out of a dependency mindset. As free people, they had to learn to be responsible for their productivity and manage what they produced. (k)
During the first two years of their wilderness journey, God provided abundant evidence that they could count on His support. The Eternal One miraculously provided water out of a rock, dropped bread from the sky, and brought quail in the evening. (l) He even illustrated they could be victorious in warfare. (m)
Never-the-less, they maintained a servant mindset and accepted God as their new provider. That first generation failed to adjust what they believed about salvation and died in their fruitless wilderness. (n)
God delivers in this life, so we can be free to live, worship, and prosper under His guidance.
God’s Intent
Following their deliverance, God spoke clear words that everyone heard. (o) While they heard God’s instruction, old perceptions kept them from accepting the new reality. Rather than personally respond to God’s abiding presence, they appointed Moses to mediate their interaction. (p)
What hindered their willingness to interact with God and enter into the fuller provisions of salvation?
- They believed God only speaks to special people, not to everyone.
- They were thankful for God’s help but shunned personal interaction with His Presence.
- Old perceptions kept them from receiving fresh insight and becoming personally responsible.
Deliverance begins a process of 
helping us become godly and productive people. So, how do we participate in the process? Well, God really wants everyone to be free ‘and’ be more productive. However, our current perceptions can complicate our ability to accept fresh light and clearer understanding of Him. His desire that we be mature people of faith can be stalled or delayed by previous understandings.
Truly, “God is in our midst” (q) as an enabling source of maturing growth. He wants to ease our growth by leading and guiding us through more of salvation’s freeing provisions. The New Testament reiterates the transforming aspects of salvation that we are intended to experience during this life.
This is why Scripture says “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (r) The renewing process helps us uproot inappropriate thoughts and desires so we can freely live this life in the manner God intends. As we seek to be released from the enslaving ideas of secular and religious overlords, our response to God’s guidance enables us to transform into better images and likenesses of His heart.
Deliverance begins a process of helping us become godly and productive people.
Understanding Salvation
Many passages in Scripture relate to the ongoing benefits of following God’s guidance. We are reminded that under our Eternal Father’s care, we can maintain a positive sense of well-being even during difficult times. This is true for us personally and as gathered people in fellowships and nations.
Despite our Bible translations, no one is “saved” as if salvation is already accomplished. Salvation is an engaging and ongoing process. We are in delivering and empowering cycles, learning how to walk and stay on the path of life. Salvation’s provision is experienced day by day.
Salvation is never accomplished with one swooping confession or action. Saving moments come to us as new beginnings, to help us transition from old into new thoughts, perceptions, and outlooks. God invites us to be transformed into His superior character, attitude and personality (CAP) traits.
In most cases, the New Testament Greek translated ‘be’ actually means ‘be-being’, as a present tense verb: “It shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord is being saved.” (s) Having been “justified by His blood, we are being saved.” (t) Additionally: “The one who endures to the end, is being saved.” (u) Scripture is clear; salvation is more than a one-time event that happens in a moment.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be-being transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (v)
Salvation is a life-long process of bringing us into clearer modes of thinking and activity. We want to realize we are all in processes of development, learning to think, feel, and act as God’s children instead of living as spiritually dead people. (w) Everyone can receive the fresh insight God desires to share.
How well are we receiving God’s enlightening perceptions and living in the provisions of salvation? Are we waiting for a future event or season? Do we negate spiritual sensitivities and ignore what God is saying and doing today? Let us be-being seekers that partake of God’s salvation, every day!
Salvation’s provision is experienced day by day.
a) Romans 10:9-13; b) Philippians 2:12-13; c) Matthew 24:13; d) Exodus 12:41; 1 Chronicles 6:1-3; Galatians 3:16-17; e) Exodus 12:37-38; Numbers 1:18, 26; f) Exodus 11:1; g) Romans 4:13-16; h) Exodus 8: 23; 9:17; i) Exodus 4:22; j) Genesis 32:24, 27-28; Hosea 12:3-4; k) Exodus 13:17; l) Exodus 17:6; 16:4; 16:13; m) Exodus 16:12; 17:6; 17:8-12; n) Numbers 14:3-4, 28-34; o) Deuteronomy 4:10-12; p) Exodus 20:18-22; q) Matthew 18:20; 28:20; Hebrews 13:5-8; John 8:12; r) Genesis 1:27; Colossians 1:15; s) Acts 2:21; t) Romans 5:9; u) Mark 13:13; v) Romans 12:2; w) Matthew 8:22; Luke 9:60
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
When We Arise And Shine author