Human Heart's Deep Longing for Salvation and Redemption
The human heart, in biblical understanding, is the core of a person's spiritual and operational life [4]. This central aspect of human existence is frequently depicted as having a profound longing for salvation and redemption. The Psalmist expresses this deep desire, stating, "My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God" [1]. Another psalm similarly declares, "My eyes long for your salvation, and your righteous word" [3]. This longing is not merely a fleeting wish but an intense yearning, sometimes described as a soul breaking or fainting from the vehemence of its desire for God's judgments [14].
The concept of redemption involves the "purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom" [5]. In a theological context, this refers to humanity's deliverance from sin and its consequences through a divine act. Salvation, closely related to redemption, is presented as a gift of God's grace, not earned by human actions [8]. The Apostle Paul articulates his fervent desire for the salvation of his people, stating, "Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation" (Romans 10:1) [2].
This longing for salvation is met by God's initiative. Salvation is described as being "made alive together with Christ" and is solely by God's grace [7]. It involves a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit, marking a departure from a life of sin and death [8]. This transformation results in a new nature, where individuals are "created anew in Christ Jesus" to perform good works that God has prepared for them [9, 12]. These good works are a consequence, not a cause, of salvation [9].
The process of salvation also includes sanctification, which is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the entire person under the influence of new, gracious principles implanted during regeneration [6]. This work extends to the whole person, carrying to perfection what began in regeneration [6]. Through this process, individuals are united with Christ, sharing in his glory and blessings, and experiencing resurrection both in the present and future [11]. This union means that those who believe are fully accepted into God's family, becoming children of God [10]. The ultimate goal of this Christian calling is that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ might be magnified through the lives and happiness of those who are saved, demonstrating the virtues of God [13].
Sources
- Psalms “My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. -- Psalms 84:2”
- Romans “Romans 10:1 (BSB) — Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.”
- Psalms “Psalms 119:123 (LEB) — My eyes long for your salvation, and your righteous word.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Heart — According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. "Heart" and "soul" are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5; 26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the case. The heart is the "home of the personal life," and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6; Ps. 11:2; 78:72), pious and good (Luke 8:15), etc. In these and such passages the word "soul" could not ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redemption — The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Tes”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:5: 2:5 gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Rom 6:4-14; Col 3:1-4). • It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2; 2:8-9.”
- Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:5: 3:5 not because . . . but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8). • He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9; John 3:1-15; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:22; 2 Pet 1:9. • and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 5:17; Col 3:10).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:10: 2:10 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us: Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Gal 5:22-23).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:19: 2:19 Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers and foreigners (2:11-12, 17). Through Christ, they are fully accepted into God’s family. They become children of God, just like believing Jews (see Rom 8:14-17).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:6: 2:6 united with Christ Jesus: Because of this union, believers share God’s glory and blessings, and experience resurrection both now and in the future (see Rom 6:4-14; Col 2:12-13; 3:1-4).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
- 2 Thessalonians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Thessalonians 1:12: That the name of our Lord - This is the great end of your Christian calling, that Jesus who hath died for you may have his passion and death magnified in your life and happiness; that ye may show forth the virtues of him who called you from darkness into his marvellous light. And ye in him - That his glorious excellence may be seen upon you; that ye may be adorned with the graces of his Spirit, as he is glorified by your salvation from all sin. According to the grace - That your salvation may be such as God requires, and such as is worthy of his grace to co”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:18: My soul breaketh for the longing,.... His heart was just ready to break, and his soul fainted; he was ready to die, through a vehement desire of enjoying the object longed for, after mentioned; "hope deferred makes the heart sick", Pro 13:1; the phrase is expressive of the greatness, vehemence, and eagerness of his mind after the thing he desired, which follows: that it hath unto thy judgments at all times; not the judgments of God on wicked men, though these are desirable for the glorifying of his justice; nor his dark dispensations of providence, though good men”