Universal Salvation Part 1: What is salvation according to the Bible?

What is salvation according to the Bible? If someone has “salvation”, that person is “saved”. But saved from what? Most Christians understand that Christ’s saving work and intercession for us on the cross saves us from God’s judgment because of our sin. All people have sinned and are tempted to hate God and our neighbor instead of obeying the greatest commandment, loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving our neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Our sin separates us from God and being in relationship with Him, but anyone who puts their faith in the righteous Christ is justified by their faith and seen by God as completely righteous, like Christ is. This is called justification. This person becomes a child of God and receives the Holy Spirit who enables them to become righteous like Christ is. This is called the process of sanctification.

1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Both justification and sanctification are part of salvation. Christians are justified by their faith in Christ, and God sees them as His righteous children though they are not like Christ yet. Christians immediately begin the process of sanctification upon being saved; the process of being conformed to the image of Christ. Paul is referring to this process in 1 Corinthians 1:18 when he says Christians are “being saved”. Christians, while enjoying reconciliation with God in justification, are not fully saved from sin and all its destructive affects until they literally become like Christ and are fully sanctified. This is the end goal for every Christian, and God promises He will make each of us like His Son (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18). Paul shows his confidence of this in Philippians 1:6, “…being confident of this, that he [God] who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

2 Thessalonians 2:13 clearly outlines these 2 aspects of salvation, justification and sanctification: “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”  People are saved through 1) belief in the truth and 2) the sanctifying work of the Spirit. Moreover, people are saved by genuine faith in Christ’s saving work on the cross and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in their lives that makes them like Christ. God wants to make us exactly like His Son.

Bible Verses explaining Justification

^“16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18

Believing in Jesus, God’s one and only Son, is equated in the Bible with having eternal life and being saved. God sent Jesus to save the world, not to condemn the world.

^“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3

This is a prayer by Jesus to God. Therefore, knowing God and Jesus is also equivalent to eternal life.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

True saving faith and belief entails, according to Jesus speaking here in Matthew, doing the will of the Father. It is not just about calling Jesus “Lord”.

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit...” Titus 3:5

Nevertheless, no one is saved because of the righteous things they have done, but only because of God’s mercy through the power of the Holy Spirit.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians affirms Titus even more: salvation is by grace through faith, a gift of God. Salvation does not come from anyone doing enough good works.

^21 “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:21-24

Again, righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, justified freely by God’s grace through Christ Jesus. Salvation is found by faith. When anyone puts their faith in Christ, they are justified in God’s sight and seen as perfectly righteous and holy.

 ^25 “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:25-26

Christ died as a sacrifice of atonement. In the Old Testament, the Israelites sacrificed animals to atone for their sin. Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to pay for the sins of the world given Christ was perfectly righteous and did not sin. In the Old Testament, all animals sacrificed had to be “without blemish”. Christ in his sinlessness was. Anyone who puts their faith in Jesus God now sees as dressed in Christ’s righteousness. Through Christ, God can completely forgive us of our sin by faith in Christ.

^27 “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. ²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, ³⁰ since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. ³¹ Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.” Romans 3:27-31

God affirms over and over in this passage that salvation and justification is by faith.

“He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.

At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.” Acts 16:30-33

This story shows that salvation comes from believing in the Lord Jesus: so, faith, not earning salvation by works.

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

Another affirmation that believing Jesus is Lord, and that God raised him from the dead, results in salvation. Justification is by faith in Christ, not by doing enough good works.

 “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

Philippians 2:8-11

Paul’s righteousness comes from faith in Christ, not from himself. Again, this is called justification.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Our sin results in death, but God saves us from death through Christ Jesus and the free gift of God, eternal life. This is not something anyone needs to earn. Eternal life is simply a grace from God. How amazing is God!

 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16

Everyone who believes can receive God’s salvation, regardless of race.

 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13

Through belief in Jesus, anyone can become a child of God.

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14

Belief in Jesus results in being given the gift of the Holy Spirit, who guarantees our future eternal inheritance.

“Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:3-6

Christians are born of the Spirit when they place their faith in Jesus and become children of God. As explained in section 2 of this blog, the Holy Spirit is our Mother. All people are born of flesh by their earthly mother, and all Christians are born of the Spirit, God the Mother.

 “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

God did not intend for us to experience His wrath, but to obtain salvation through Jesus.

 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

This salvation, as emphasized in the introduction, can only be found in Jesus Christ.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…” Ephesians 1:13

God gifts the Holy Spirit to all who believe in Christ. The Spirit is a seal, a guarantee that someone is a child of God.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”  2 Corinthians 5:17

From the moment someone puts their faith in Christ, they are a new creation: they are a child of God. This is not just a sentiment but a gospel reality.

Bible Verses explaining Sanctification

 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God, and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14

The second part of salvation, sanctification, is explained by Paul here. Sanctification should be understood as a continuation of God’s grace in the work of His people.

Though sanctification focuses on holiness and good works, this holiness and good works are not earned. God transforms us by His Spirit of grace. Our Divine parents, God the Father and Mother, “train us” to become who we were created to be: godly, like Christ. We partner with the Holy Spirit to become holy: our effort is necessary, but the process is characterized by the grace and love of our Heavenly Parents empowering us to be like Christ in every moment, lovingly disciplining us as needed.

Sanctification, as referred to in verse 14, is purification: a necessary process that all God’s children go through.

 “Therefore, my beloved, 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, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

This verse demonstrates that working out our own salvation, i.e., the process of sanctification, is something that each of us does and something that God does. It is both, not either or. God works in us to make us more like His Son as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. The reference to fear and trembling may be a reminder that this sanctification process is serious. Holiness is nothing to be flippant about but is to be earnestly sought after in reverence to God.

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Luke 3:8

These words from Jesus are a reminder that true faith produces fruit. If we are truly children of God, there will be fruit in our lives that shows that. The Christian life is one of faith, and the genuineness of that faith is shown by our deeds.

“Be perfect as my Heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

These words echo Luke 3:8. Jesus calls us to the highest standard: perfection. As Christians we are to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. Jesus, and by extension the Father, expects no less.

It is encouraging to know that God would never call us to something that was impossible for us. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we should believe that this ideal is attainable. Philippians 1:6 promises that God will finish the good work He started in us and truly make us like Christ.

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17

Jesus’ prayer to God for believers shows the importance of meditating on God’s Word in becoming more like Christ.

“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14

What an amazing promise! Jesus perfected the Church for all time – in other words, the Church is completely justified before God because of what Christ did on the cross. And with this justification, the Church is “being sanctified” – being made like Christ.

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11

In God’s eyes due to the doctrine of justification, Christians are already sanctified in the name of Christ and by the Spirit. This passage, though, when considered in the context of the whole Bible, does not mean the sanctification process is over. This speaks to the “already - not yet" aspect of the Christian faith. We are sanctified, and yet we still need to be sanctified. But what grace from God to see us as already sanctified! Our sin does not define us.

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23

God is at work sanctifying us completely. Paul connects this to the coming of Christ. Presumably, part of the goal of this sanctification process is to be blameless for when Christ returns. 

 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

This echoes 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Not only is the goal for the Christian to be blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus, but God who began a good work in us will make us complete, or blameless, on the day of Christ upon his return.

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5

God prunes the Church, or disciplines the Church (Hebrews 12), not because He does not love us, but because He does. He wants to make us more fruitful. This is part of the sanctification process.

 “But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:20-24

Paul highlights the necessity of human effort for sanctification. God has given us His Spirit, but we need to do the work of “putting off our old selves” and “putting on our new selves”. Sanctification requires our effort to be made like God in true righteousness and holiness.

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5

Paul again shows us the responsibility we have in becoming like Christ. We are to “put to death” our earthly nature as best we can.

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14

We are sanctified in large part by our own effort. We need to make the effort to live in peace with everyone and be holy out of love for God and Christ.

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15-16)

Peter would not give a command that is impossible to keep. By God’s grace, Christians are to be holy in all we do, by our own choice, volition, and effort – of course, depending on the Spirit in everything. Even Jesus said, “Apart from the Father, I can do nothing” (John 5:19). All things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27). We can be holy – and without holiness, the world will not see Christ in us (Hebrews 12:14).

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:29

Becoming like Christ is a guarantee for all Christians. We will all be conformed to the image of Christ. God will complete the good work He began in us.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. This comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

The Spirit is transforming us into Christ’s image from one degree of glory to another, even as I write this. The sanctification process is glorifying us as God’s children. What amazing grace from God!

“We are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

We have free will. We have to choose to walk in the good works that God has prepared for us. Sanctification involves both God’s work in us and our obedient response to what He is doing.

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Paul writes this after explaining his deep desire to know Christ, which as already cited is part of salvation, eternal life (John 17:3). He has not yet known Christ as fully as he desires, but he is pressing on toward “the goal”.

Paul is describing the sanctification process. This process is one that involves striving after a goal. Sanctification is not passive for the Christian, but an active one of striving to know Christ and be like him. Paul likens this process to running a race in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. He emphasizes the race should be run to win! Any athlete can heartily affirm that this analogy means sanctification is not easy or passive in any way. Becoming holy, becoming like Christ, takes great effort, dedication, and discipline.

God is worthy of it.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10

And yet, Paul is clear that this hard work in sanctification is still all an act of God’s grace. God’s grace is what enables him to strive towards being like Christ, not simply his own effort. God’s grace labored in him. 

As Christians, we have nothing to boast in, not in our justification or sanctification. It is all God’s grace in our lives.

“In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:3-5

Ultimately, the sanctification process of choosing daily to keep God’s commands is a joy. His commands are not burdensome, and in being born of God we overcome the world. God’s kindness and love for us lead Him to sanctify us.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3

Paul exhorts Christians to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” and “run with perseverance the race marked out for us”. Again and again, Paul shows that the sanctification process and the Christian life is not passive. Paul calls us to fully devote ourselves to running our race with perseverance and being like Jesus.

The Role of Suffering in Sanctification

 ^“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:4-11

In making us more like Christ, the Lord disciplines us and rebukes us in love. Hardship, or suffering, Paul likens to discipline. It is in going through suffering that we are made holy. Only through God’s discipline may we share in his holiness. There is no short cut offered but the school of suffering to be like Christ.  We should not be surprised as we are following a crucified Savior.

^12 “Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. ¹³ “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” Hebrews 12:12-13 

Through hardship and suffering, the discipline of the Lord, God is healing us. He works all things, even – or should I say especially? – suffering for our good.

^14 “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. ¹⁶ See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. ¹⁷ Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.”  Hebrews 12:14-17

Paul again emphasizes the importance of being holy – without it no one will see God.

^18 “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; ¹⁹ to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, ²⁰ because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” ²¹ The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

²² But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” Hebrews 12:18-24

The race of perseverance we run leads to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. The race leads to God, Jesus, and the Church. This is the destination, though suffering is, according to Paul, necessary for a time so we can share in God’s holiness.

^2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

Unfortunately, according to James, the path to not lacking anything is one of “trials of many kinds”. It is the testing of faith that produces perseverance, not ease in this life. It is perseverance in trials that make the believer mature and complete, not lacking anything. Seen in this way, trials from God are necessary blessings that make us like Christ. Without suffering, we would lack.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:1-5

In addition to perseverance, suffering produces character and hope. The Bible never says – and we know this by simply living in this world – that comfort produces character and hope. If suffering is what produces character and hope, it is God’s love that allows us to suffer. God in His kindness allows trials and tribulations to make us like Christ. Suffering is a necessary part of God’s sanctification process to make us like Christ. It is His goodness that allows us to suffer.

The Evil of Suffering

All this being said, from my perspective it seems God has allowed way too much suffering in my own life, the lives of those around me, and the world as a whole. Is all of this necessary? Surely not. God does seem cruel when human suffering is considered, whether small or large scale. 

But, we know He is not. He is not cruel. He is good (Psalm 100:5). Perhaps one day we will see His wisdom in allowing human suffering for a time – and it is only for a time. According to Revelation 21-22, eternity will have no suffering. In the meantime, we need to trust His heart when we do not understand His hand. He promises He loves us (Jeremiah 31:3) and works all things for our good (Romans 8:28). He did not withhold His only Son from us (John 3:16) to save us. We need look no farther than the cross to see that God brings great good out of horrific suffering.

Conclusion

Salvation according to the Bible involves both justification and sanctification, culminating in becoming like Christ and conformed to his image. God uses suffering for good to make people more like Christ, strengthening their character and maturing them. The Bible presents suffering as something that is both temporary, as it will not exist in the new heaven and new earth, and necessary, as suffering is one of the primary means God uses to making people like Christ. Notably, Christ did not achieve perfection apart from his own suffering. As Christians are following a crucified savior, we should not be surprised at suffering. We should be strengthened and encouraged, knowing that God uses all suffering, no matter how difficult, for our good (Romans 8:28).