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| "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." |
Salvation in common everyday language could mean "the act of protecting something from loss or harm", like insurance in a catastrophic event might be our only "salvation". From a Biblical or Christian point of view, salvation is a deliverance from the power and penalties of sin or redemption.
For Christians whose guiding principles are founded in the Bible, the answer to this question can be found in one single passage of scripture, where we find in John 14:6:
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."Since I am a Baptist, some might feel that I am just a little biased, so let's take a look at what other religious denominations have to say about salvation.
Salvation, from the United Methodist Church:
"Based on this "Great Commission," our United Methodist Church has stated its purpose: "The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs". Through our congregation's various ministries we encourage one another to give our selves to Christ, to ground our lives in the living God."
How Southern Baptists feel about salvation:
"The fact that Jesus died for our sin, was buried, and then rose from the grave is foundational for Southern Baptists. He lives today and stands ready to give abundant and eternal life to all those who repent of sin and place their faith in Him."
Salvation, straight from the Vatican:
"It is only the Son of God who, by communicating his divine life, can make men share in his filial freedom. Jesus communicates divine love to each person. The liberation offered by Christ removes, in addition to sin, the obstacles preventing friendship and a covenant relationship with God."
Salvation from the Presbyterian view:
"Our knowledge of God and God's purpose for humanity comes from the Bible, particularly what is revealed in the New Testament through the life of Jesus Christ. Our salvation (justification) through Jesus is God's generous gift to us and not the result of our own accomplishments."
How does the Episcopal Church feel about salvation?
"The Messiah, or Christ, is Jesus of Nazareth, the only Son of God. The Messiah is one sent by God to free us from the power of sin, so that with the help of God we may live in harmony with God, within ourselves, with our neighbors, and with all creation."
Salvation, the Orthodox view:
"As the unique divine-human person, Jesus saves the world by teaching the absolute truth of God; by forgiving the evils of all men and the whole world; by suffering and dying in innocence, voluntarily and unjustly on the cross in order to be with all who suffer and die; by rising from the dead in a new and glorified form; by taking our humanity to God in order to make it divine forever; and by sending the Holy Spirit of God to men who believe so that they could teach and do the very things which Jesus Himself both taught and did...that they could, in a word, be sons of God in Him."According to the "Statistical Abstract of U. S. Populattion-2008, here is a breakdown of membership in Christian denominations in the United States as of 2001:
- Baptist - 33,830,000
- Catholic - 50,873,000
- Episcopalian - 3,451,000
- Methodist - 14,150,000
- Presbyterian - 5,596,000
Probably the most profound example of salvation, from a Christian's point of view, can be found in the book of Luke, where a thief on a cross next to Jesus spoke to him and asked for salvation. We find in Chapter 23, verses 42 and 43:
"And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise."I think all Christians would agree that Jesus is the only way to salvation, but I have no idea what a non-Christian would believe. Jesus was put to death because people didn't believe him or in him, but that was the plan that God had from the very beginning.
It was planned for Jesus to enter paradise, but unless we find the one who is the way to salvation, there will be no paradise. I think the answer is quite clear, but we must make our own decisions.
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