What does salvation mean? How can it be attained?

Answer 1

*** w67 12/1 pp. 707-708 What Is Needed for Salvation? ***

What Is Needed for Salvation?

SO YOU want life! You can sense that this whole system of things is headed for its Armageddon end, and you do not want to die. You want to survive and gain everlasting life under a new and righteous system of things. You want to know what you must do. In effect, you are posing the same question put to the apostle Paul and his companion nineteen hundred years ago: “What must I do to get saved?”—Acts 16:30.

That question needs a clear and positive answer, and that is just what the Bible furnishes. Indeed, God’s Word plainly sets forth the steps that must be taken by each one who desires salvation. There is need first to cast aside any attitude of complacency or idea that, if you sit tight, all will be well. There is no easy road to salvation. It is gained only by strenuous endeavor, for the Bible’s exhortation is: “Keep working out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil. 2:12) And Jesus Christ counseled those who would be saved: “Exert yourselves vigorously.”—Luke 13:23, 24.

Such vigorous endeavor is altogether in contrast with the easy view many persons take of Christianity. They feel that what they learned in their younger days in Sunday school is all they need to know about the will of God. They reason that if they lead a blameless life from the human viewpoint, that is all that is required of them. They have not even taken the first step essential to salvation.

1) BIBLE STUDY VITAL

Taking in knowledge is the first essential, and on this point Jesus Christ declared: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3) So the first step on the way to salvation is study of the Bible, because it is God’s book and in it he tells us what he, the Provider of salvation, requires of us if we are to benefit from his provision.
Paul refers to the Bible as “the holy writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through the faith in connection with Christ Jesus,” and adds: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness.”

2) *** What Is Needed for Salvation? ***

EXERCISE OF FAITH

A mental acknowledgment of the truths learned from the Bible, therefore, is not enough to bring one’s salvation. A man may be reported as having good judgment, but unless he exercises it, how can we know? Likewise, faith based on Bible knowledge cannot be distinguished unless it produces results. “As the body without breath is dead,” said Bible writer James, “so also faith without works is dead.” (Jas. 2:26) So, whatever knowledge we gain from Bible study should be applied in a practical manner to our lives.The effect of Bible study should be to convince one that he has been a selfish sinner, wandering far from the requirements of the righteous God. (Rom. 3:23) It should impress one with the need to be genuinely sorry about his past course of LIFE.

3)Faith in Jesus Christ as the ransom for our release from sin means that the Christian must recognize he has been “bought with a price” and now belongs to Christ as his slave. (1 Cor. 7:23) He is therefore duty bound to please his Master in everything and seek to imitate Jesus’ example of complete submission to the Father in heaven.

Answer 2

I agree with JJ Shroff. Salvation is achieving the highest enlightenment, wisdom and knowledge, so that one doesn't have to be born again. I don't like to use the word Salvation in a way, because it implies that those who don't achieve that goal are not saved (condemned to punishment), which idea I don't agree. Every spirit will have all the chances to improve through several existences.

Salvation comes through Jesus because He came to show the way by His example of love and forgiveness. He gave us the recipe, the method. If we follow Him with a sincere heart, the road to Salvation becomes shorter. That doesn't mean He is the only way... He just is the easiest way.

Have a nice walk toward Salvation!

Peace!

Answer 3

Salvation is a concept. In Christianity there are various views, but the evangelical one is all about going to heaven. Now that is part of the package, but I don't think the main one. God is not Santa Clause in the sky. He is not interested in getting you into heaven as the main focus.
He is after something more. He wants a relationship with you.
John 10:27 " My sheep hear my voice and I give eternal life to them".... He is also after changing our character to be like Jesus because it says in Hebrews that he wants many more sons and daughters JUST LIKE HIM.
Unless you grasp these two concepts you don't have a salvation that means anything near what God is intending.
Quoting evangelical cliches like " accepting Jesus" and"Letting Jesus into your heart." mean absolutely nothing without definitions that are incoherent and unintelligible to the average person on the street. In fact those cliches are mocked and ridiculed because they have been over used and under valued and have become abhorrent in our secular cultural milieu.

Answer 4

For me salvation means liberation of our souls from this endless cycle of birth-life-death-rebirth. It can only be attained by restricting our earthly desires and praying to GOD earnestly to help you to liberation at the same time you should perform meritorious deeds while in human body. All this is easier said than done because even getting to understand this divine truth a man needs millions of birth in evolution of his soul, if you have understood this truth you can atleast make a beginning in the right direction.

Answer 5

congrats for spelling out a nice question.
Every one on earth wants to achieve something. Basically there are 2 targets-materialistic( money, fame, power etc..) and raising oneself to divinity ( high moral, exemplary life etc.)
ACCORDING TO HINDU RELIGION,SALVATION MEANS YOU DON'T NEED TO BE BORN AGAIN EVERAFTER. YOU HAVE NO GOOD NO BAD KARMA TO YOUR ACCOUNT.
First is a bit easy. Work hard and u get something.
Second one is quite difficult and not easily measurable too.
Raising oneself to divinity needs very hard work, face many worldly opposition, temptation etc Many virtues are required as spelt out in all religions. It is not measurable so u don't know what u have achieved. But take this case, florence Nightigale is a world renowned exemplary nurse. Do you think thousands of other nurses have not done any good nursing? No. it 's not so, only thing is, u don't know the pleasure-divine pleasure- every nurse get when caring a patient. To conclude, salvation is difficult to measure but surely divine.

Answer 6

salvation is being saved from the righteous judgement of god upon the sinner or the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil. salvation can be attained through faith alone and obedience is also needed. obeying God Alimghty the creator of heaven and earth!!!!!!!

Answer 7

The very first step is the hardest one: making the mind thought-free. By this all divine energies and bliss find no obstacles to descend onto the devotee. We have to loosen our attachment to the material world and to our perishable physical self. One has to wipe out all his negativities and renounce from all pleasures, attain a state of non-attachment. He alone is happy who is moving on the path of desireless actions in the spirit of oneness with all.

Answer 8

Salvation is asking, God to forgive you of all of your sins. of omission, comission and secret sins, and believe in your heart, that Jesus died and paid the price for all of our sins , and also you confess your sins. And God will forgive our sins and clean us of all un-righteouness, and you attained it by saying yes to God and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, Salvation is a free gift from the Father to those who want to be save be bless.

Answer 9

By accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. As you have a lot of choices here on earth, it is different with eternity. You can choose either heaven with God or hell without God. Salvation means that we are going to be with God. And we can enjoy already God's blessings here.

Answer 10

Going to the books of Moses till Samuel... every time people of Israel sinned, they had to offer sacrifice for the blood of animals to cover their sins.and deliver them from the penalty of sin... and every time they fell into captivity God sent a judge to DELIVER them... God uses man to deliver other men.... then came the time... "every man did what was right in his own eyes"...a judge delivered them and the people were good for some time but were again back to square 1.... So God sent Jesus to SAVE ... which means a permanent escape from sin, the power, presence and penalty of sin and the blood of Jesus washes sin not covers.....thus SALVATION IS COMPLETE VICTORY FROM THE POWER, PENALTY AND PRESENCE OF SIN.....it cannot be attained... it's not a work but faith.... faith on this fact...SALVATION NEED TO BE ACCEPTED... ITS A FREE GIFT..to accept... follow the bible's instructions... Believe on Jesus.. Confess your sins... set right your conscience

Answer 11

It depends on what religion you are refering to. For instance in christanity salvation can be attained by accepting jesus as your savior, its a similar theme in monotheist religions...