What does 'salvation' mean in Romans?
In Romans, salvation is an all-inclusive term meaning everything God does for a believer who cries out as a sinner, believes Christ died for him, and trusts by faith—not works, baptism, or church membership. It includes imputed righteousness, forgiveness, cleansing, and baptism into the body.
Les explains from Romans 1:16 that the Gospel—not church membership, baptism, or a work—is the power of God unto salvation. He teaches that 'salvation' is an all-inclusive word for everything God does on behalf of the believer who cries out, 'I'm a sinner, I'm in need of salvation, I believe that Christ died for me.' God then imputes righteousness, forgives, cleanses, baptizes the believer into the body, and does everything that needs to be done. We know this by faith, not by feeling or sight, because the book says so. Les also points out that the Gospel itself is defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, and John 3:16 by itself is not the Gospel.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
More Questions
What are the ramifications of the salvation described in Romans 1:16?
Entering into the salvation spoken of in Romans 1:16 carries ramifications including justification, sanctification, forgiveness, being baptized into the body, and the Holy Spirit indwelling.
Who receives salvation according to Romans 1:16?
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek, so salvation through the gospel is for everyone who believes, not just for a particular group.
What all did God accomplish for us when we were saved according to Romans?
As a result of our salvation experience, God accomplished not only that we were justified, sanctified, forgiven, and baptized into the Body, but also that He glorified us.