1. We Are Saved.
Salvation is the general term that the Bible uses to describe the miracle of grace God performs for us. It has three main, inseparable aspects: past, present and future (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:10). We were saved at a point in the past: born again, believed, repented of sin and justified. It happens only once, perfect and complete. Second, we are being saved in the present. Christ’s blood keeps us safe from the wrath of God and He daily rescues us from Satan. Third, we will be saved in the future, at death and at the Judgement Day.
2. The Christian Personally Knows God.
Every person knows that God exists (Romans 1), but only the Christian knows God personally. This is true knowledge, a heart-to-heart personal relationship. It is part of having eternal life (John 17:3) and God granted us this privilege (Matthew 11:27). We know Him because He first knew us (I Corinthians 8:3; Galatians 4:9). It is a personal, deep, intimate and growing knowledge (Philippians 3:8, 10).
3. We are Adopted into God’s Family.
Once we were children of the Devil but God took us out of that family and made us His own children. Now God is our Father (John 1:12, 13), other believers are our brothers and sisters, and Christ is our elder brother. Being His children, we are also His heirs (Romans 8:17). We can now call God “our Father in Heaven.” Adoption is not the same as regeneration. Regeneration affects our nature; adoption affects our relationship. So, we are doubly God’s children.
4. We Are Reconciled to God.
This is a great benefit of salvation, often overlooked, as we were once God’s enemies; now we are His friends (2 Corinthians 5:18, 19). We are reconciled. It is more than a truce; it is the end of hostilities. We have peace with God. Properly speaking, it is we that are reconciled to God, not God to us. Yet, on His part, the righteous enmity was removed when His wrath was appeased when Christ died for us, shedding his innocent blood on our behalf (Hebrews 9:12).
5. We Are No Longer Under Wrath.
We were once sinners under the wrath of God – condemned, doomed, facing judgement (Romans 3:23). All that has changed. God saved us from several things: sin, Satan, death, Hell. But most importantly, He saved us from His own wrath. As fierce as His wrath was against us then, so intense is His love for us now.
6. We Are Cleansed From Sin.
Our sins were filthy and disgusting, even our religious acts were filthy rags. But God changed all that. He cleansed us by the blood of Christ, making us new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), freeing us to serve the living God, to glorify Him, and to enjoy Him forever.
7. We Are Transferred From Satan’s Kingdom.
God has transferred us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13). Christ, not Satan, is now our King. We have been rescued from Satan’s clutches; he cannot ever have us again. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
8. The Holy Spirit Indwells Us.
The Spirit enters the believer at the moment of salvation and never leaves. The Holy Spirit regenerates and renews (Titus 3:5), comforts believers with fellowship and joy as they go through a hostile world (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14) causing believers to “overflow with hope” (Romans 15:13). The Holy Spirit has another important role: giving believers wisdom by which we can understand God (1 Corinthians 2:10–11). Since we have been given the amazing gift of God’s Spirit inside ourselves, we can comprehend the thoughts of God, as revealed in the Scripture. No amount of human knowledge can ever replace the Holy Spirit’s teaching (1 Corinthians 2:12–13).
9. We Abide in Christ.
One of the proofs of salvation is perseverance, or sustained abiding in Christ. The saved will continue in their walk with Christ (Revelation 2:26). That is, they will “abide” or remain in Him. God will complete His work in us (Philippians 1:6), and we will bring forth much fruit to the glory of God (John 15:5). Abiding in Christ includes obedience to Christ’s commands (John 15:10; 1 John 3:24); following Jesus’ example (1 John 2:6); living free from habitual sin (1 John 3:6); and the awareness of a divine presence within one’s life (1 John 4:13).
10. We Cannot Lose Our Salvation.
One of the great glories of salvation is that it is permanent. God elected us to salvation (Romans 8:29-30) and completes what He starts (Philipians 1:6). He has sworn to preserve, keep and guard us forever (Psalm 37:28, 66:9, 97:10, 145:14, 20, I Timothy 1:12). He keeps us by His omnipotent hand (1 Peter 1:5), keeps us safe from Satan (I John 5:18, John 17:11, 12, 15), and seals us with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians. 1:13, 4:30). The saints in Heaven are happier, but not more secure. Simply put, God loves His people too much to let usm go. He holds us firmly and lovingly in His arms of love, from which no one can snatch us away (John 10:28).