The Role of Human Response in Salvation and Redemption
Salvation, in its broadest sense, refers to deliverance from evil or danger, as seen in the Old Testament's depiction of Israel's rescue from the Egyptians [2]. In the New Testament, it specifically denotes the profound deliverance from the guilt and pollution of sin achieved through Jesus Christ [2]. This deliverance is often described as redemption, which signifies the purchase back of something lost through the payment of a ransom [1]. The Greek term apolutrosis, used nine times in Scripture, consistently carries this meaning of a price paid for redemption [1].
The human response to this divine initiative is crucial, though it does not merit salvation. Scripture emphasizes that salvation is "not because . . . but because" of God's grace and mercy, contrasting it with human actions that might be thought to earn salvation [5]. Ephesians 2:8 states that salvation is "by grace . . . through faith," and not "of yourselves; it is the gift of God" [4]. This means that while faith is the means by which humans receive salvation, it is God's unmerited favor that provides it [4].
The process of salvation involves several key aspects of human experience and transformation:
- Knowledge of Salvation: This knowledge comes "by a remission of their sins" [3].
- New Birth and Life: God "washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit" [5]. This signifies a complete departure from a life of sin and death, transferring believers into a realm of life and purity [5].
- New Nature: Believers are "created anew in Christ Jesus" [6], stripping off their "old sinful nature" and putting on a "new nature" [8]. This new nature is characterized by God's Spirit expressing His life within the believer [10].
- Good Works: Good works are understood as the result of salvation, not its cause [6]. God's Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life [6].
- Union with Christ: Believers are "united with Christ Jesus," sharing in His resurrection and experiencing God's glory and blessings [9]. This union means they are no longer strangers but fully accepted into God's family [7].
Sources
- 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: Salvation — This word is used of the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians (Ex. 14:13), and of deliverance generally from evil or danger. In the New Testament it is specially used with reference to the great deliverance from the guilt and the pollution of sin wrought out by Jesus Christ, "the great salvation" (Heb. 2:3). (See [546]REDEMPTION; [547]REGENERATION.)”
- Luke “Luke 1:77 (Rotherham) — Giving a knowledge of salvation unto his people, by a remission of their sins.”
- 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).”
- Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:9: 3:9-10 your old sinful nature . . . your new nature: Paul contrasts old and new identities (see also Rom 5:12-21; 6:6; Eph 4:22-24). Believers strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing him to be Lord and to guide the way they live.”
- 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).”