Information Related to "How Does Justification Relate to Salvation?"
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In understanding the relationship between justification and salvation, we need to realize the different senses in which these terms are used.
Let's start with the meaning of salvation. Perhaps someone has asked you, "Are you saved?" This should actually raise another question: Saved from what?
Paul in the book of Romans explains the dire predicament we human beings are in. He first tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). And then: "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).
Salvation (divine deliverance or rescue), then, is from sin and its consequences, the ultimate consequence being death-perpetual, eternal death, as other passages show. The rest of Romans 6:23 states the outcome of salvation: ". . . but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Salvation accomplished in stages
God's salvation is accomplished in stages. Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins. When in repentance (which includes a commitment to obey God) and faith we accept Christ's atoning sacrifice, we are freed from the death penalty. We are then under grace-no longer under the dominion of sin and death (verse 14).
As long as we continue with God-not turning away from His way of life-we are saved. This is the sense of salvation described in Ephesians 2: "By grace you have been saved" (verses 5,8).
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