Is salvation a process, or a one-shot deal?

Answer 1

Faith justifies initially, but works perfect and complete our salvation. If all it takes to be saved is "to confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead" (Romans 10,9) then why must I change? Oh sure, I should change my sinful ways. I should try to please God. But if I don't does it really matter? My salvation is assured?

Salvation is a process of perseverance through faith, hope and love. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that one is justified or saved by "faith alone." On the contrary, man is not justified by faith alone. A person is justified by faith and works acting together, which comes solely from God's divine grace. Faith alone never obtains the grace of justification. Also, the word "justified" is the same word Paul uses for justification in Romans 4,3 in regard to Abraham (so Protestants cannot argue James is not referring to "justification" in James 2,24 unless they argue Paul wasn't either in Romans 4,3).

(See also: Luke 24,47; Acts 2,38, 3,19, 17,30; John 3,36; 2 Corinthians 10,15; 13,15; Galatians 5,6)

Peace and every blessing!

Answer 2

So long as you have the right understanding, it can be instantaneous, but guiding your life by that principle is a process. I consider salvation to be seeing the light in your mind. Which can only be brought about through contemplation and meditation of the truth. The process is conforming your life in accordance with God's will, i.e. being God-like.

Answer 3

That's a very good question because there are aspects of salvation which fall into both categories.

Salvation is broken into three categories.

JUSTIFICATION deals with that which we have been saved from. That occurs at a point in time - the time when we come to faith in Christ. Jesus as speaks of being "born-again". "Birth" is a point in time event. Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

SANCTIFICATION is the process of being saved from our sinfulness progressively in this life. That is, as we mature in Christ we become "better" people.

GLORIFICATION is the point in time event by which we become completely sinless after death so that we may live in the presence of God blameless and with great joy.

1Th 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

A life long process. This is why Jesus said "he who endures to the end will be saved" - Matthew 10: 22

Answer 5

Salvation is an event.
Sanctification is a process.

I can see where this may lead to the "once saved always saved" discussion.

Jesus told Peter, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean . . . " (John 13:10). In other words, once you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you do not need to be saved again and again. You don't have to shower again and again. Once you have received Christ into your life and have asked Him to forgive you, then you are forgiven. Christ has already come into your heart, but you do need regular cleansing.

I know that my sin is forgiven; I know I am going to heaven. But on a regular basis I do need to say, "Lord, forgive me." Jesus taught us that we should regularly pray, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:12). So it's a good thing to say, "Lord, cleanse me. Forgive me." Because we need constant cleansing.

Answer 6

Salvation: Preservation or deliverance from danger or destruction. That deliverance may be from the hands of oppressors or persecutors. For all true Christians, Jehovah provides through his Son deliverance from the present wicked system of things as well as salvation from bondage to sin and death. For a great crowd of faithful servants of Jehovah living during “the last days,” salvation will include preservation through the great tribulation.

Once a person is saved, is he always saved?

Jude 5, RS: “I desire to remind you, though you were once for all fully informed, that he who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.” (Italics added.)

Matt. 24:13, RS: “He who endures to the end will be saved.” (So a person’s final salvation is not determined at the moment that he begins to put faith in Jesus.)

Phil. 2:12, RS: “As you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (This was addressed to “the saints,” or holy ones, at Philippi, as stated in Philippians 1:1. Paul urged them not to be overly confident but to realize that their final salvation was not yet assured.)

Heb. 10:26, 27, RS: “If we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries.” (Thus the Bible does not go along with the idea that no matter what sins a person may commit after he is “saved” he will not lose his salvation. It encourages faithfulness. See also Hebrews 6:4-6, where it is shown that even a person anointed with holy spirit can lose his hope of salvation.)

Is anything more than faith needed in order to gain salvation?

Eph. 2:8, 9, RS: “By grace [“undeserved kindness,” NW] you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God—not because of works, lest any man should boast.” (The entire provision for salvation is an expression of God’s undeserved kindness. There is no way that a descendant of Adam can gain salvation on his own, no matter how noble his works are. Salvation is a gift from God given to those who put faith in the sin-atoning value of the sacrifice of his Son.)

Heb. 5:9, RS: “He [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” (Italics added.) (Does this conflict with the statement that Christians are “saved through faith”? Not at all. Obedience simply demonstrates that their faith is genuine.)

Jas. 2:14, 26, RS: “What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.” (A person does not earn salvation by his works. But anyone who has genuine faith will have works to go with it—works of obedience to the commands of God and Christ, works that demonstrate his faith and love. Without such works, his faith is dead.)

Acts 16:30, 31, RS: “‘Men, what must I do to be saved?’ And they [Paul and Silas] said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” (If that man and his household truly believed, would they not act in harmony with their belief? Certainly.)

Answer 7

You will always be forgiven... so its more of a process.. you do not just have one try at getting into heaven.. if thats what you are asking

Answer 8

It's a process.

Don't believe the doctrine of some religious groups - OSAS (Once Saved Always Save).

Or Faith alone saves. Those are unbiblical statements.

I'll read to you the evidence:

Philippians 1:27

"because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf: "

NOT ONLY TO BELIEVE ON HIM, but also to suffer in his behalf.


To give you an overview on the process:

* You have to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins

Acts 2:38

"And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. "


* You have to believe in Christ and have faith

Hebrews 11:6

"And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him. "

John 3:15

"that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life."

* This faith works with its works

James 2:22

"Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; "

James 2:26

"For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead. "


* You have to deny youself in order to follow Christ

Luke 9:23

"And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

* You have to Continue in Christ's word

John 8:31

"Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; "

* You have to endure many things such as persecutions

2 Timothy 3:12

"Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. "

* How long shall you endure

Matthew 10:22

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. "


Don't believe on lazy pastors who are teaching people that commandments are not needed to be saved. They're lazy and lazy people like them, but they are mislead.

It's a process. Just going to another city or country from your place requires many things. Much more going to heaven. Don't be mislead.

And as an encouragement, all these things that you will endure are worth it. Apostle Paul said in

Romans 8:18

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward. "

Amen.


For more information, visit

http://esoriano.wordpress.com
http://www.theoldpath.tv
http://www.truthcaster.com

Answer 9

A process it can be lost.

Answer 10

Is a process of spiritual understanding and submission for cleansing the heart, so we can please God.