Bibledelve.com Bible study through questioning, seeking, growing, and immersion in truth and wisdom. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet."
email questions

Salvation (going to heaven)

H3444 = yeshû‛âh = Feminine passive participle of H3467; something saved, that is, (abstractly) deliverance; hence aid, victory, prosperity: - deliverance, health, help (-ing), salvation, save, saving (health), welfare.

Gen 49:18 I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.

There is physical salvation.

Exo 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

G4991 = sōtēria = Feminine of a derivative of G4990 as (properly abstract) noun; rescue or safety (physically or morally): - deliver, health, salvation, save, saving.

Act 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Act 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

How were Jews saved before Jesus?

Lev 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

Eze 20:11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

Luk 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Luk 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

Luk 10:27 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.

Luk 10:28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

The law was able to impart a type of righteousness.

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

When Jesus came, righteousness was found by faith.

Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Those that died with faith and the righteousness of the law will be resurrected.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Those that died with faith in Jesus are with God and come with him at the rapture.

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

The righteousness found in the law may have been sufficient to reserve those of Israel to the resurrection. The entrance to the kingdom will require the righteousness of faith.

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

There may be an implicit integration of faith and works for those under the law. For why else would someone keep the law unless they trusted God.

Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Abraham is cited as an example of one who had obtained righteousness by faith before the law. We have little information about the fate of those between Adam and Abraham, like Job. We also have little information about the fate of those who had never heard of God.

Works without faith seems to garner only an earthly benefit.

Mat 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

For those who have not heard about God or Jesus, we know that there is an accountability that results from nature.

Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

We are also told that sin is not imputed where there is ignorance.

Rom 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

The bible is silent as to whether or not the general revelation of Christ in creation is sufficient to be the basis for saving faith. The bible is also silent as to whether or not the judgment of works at the great white throne judgment has any allowance for a path to eternal life. (there does seem to be an implication that what are judged are works without faith)

Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

We know that salvation is available in Christ without works.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The use of the past tense for “saved” indicates that we have already received eternal life.

Traditional understanding has those in heaven contrasted with those in hell. It may be that salvation refers to two groups, those who inherit the kingdom and those who are part of the body of Christ.

Redemption may have more to do with Israel than general salvation.

G1805 = exagorazō = From G1537 and G59; to buy up, that is, ransom; figuratively to rescue from loss (improve opportunity): - redeem.

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

G3084 = lutroō = From G3083; to ransom (literally or figuratively): - redeem.

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

The idea of redemption was integral in the law of Moses for Israel.

Lev 25:47 And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family:

Lev 25:48 After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:

Hallmarks of salvation.

2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

2Co 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

2Co 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Another indicator of salvation is our relation to the world.

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

From what are we saved?

Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

What is life eternal.

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

What is it we are saved to.

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

The image of “pearly gates” and “streets of gold” lose their pedestrian context when considering the glory of God.

Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.