The processes of salvation
A friend once asked me, when Christians talk of salvation what do we really mean? Well, this was a very genuine question to ask, and maybe you have asked or been asked the same question before. To be saved as a Christian means to be rescued from sin and its consequences, receiving eternal life, and being reconciled with God through Jesus Christ. Salvation is also a story of redemption, where God redeems you from the darkness into his marvelous light. Colossians 1:21–23 beautifully describes this,
“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.”
We need to be saved because all have sinned, and the penalty of sin is death and separation from God. Romans 3:23 says,
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 6:23 adds,
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Without salvation, all humanity remains under God’s judgment, but through His love, He offers us the free gift of eternal life. John 3:16, famously states,
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
So from the moment we genuinely believe in Jesus Christ, repenting of our sins and placing our faith in His death and resurrection, we are saved. Acts 16:31 says,
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
and Romans 10:9-10 explains,
"That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
This salvation is not earned by good works but is given by God's grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 affirms,
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
It’s also very important to understand that ‘being reconciled to God” is a process, meaning there are steps through which salvation takes place in the life of a Christian. Let’s explore the three key stages of salvation: justification, sanctification, and glorification.
Justification
Justification is where it all begins. This is the moment God declares us righteous not because of anything we’ve done, but because of what Jesus has done for us. It’s like being in a courtroom, guilty of every charge, and then hearing the judge say, “Not guilty.” But it’s even better than that. Not only are we declared not guilty, but we’re also given the perfect righteousness of Christ. A gift we could never earn, but one that God freely gives. Romans 3:21-26 beautifully explains this:
“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known... This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Did you catch that? We’re justified freely by His grace. It’s not about our efforts; it’s about His mercy. Paul drives this point home in Ephesians 2:8:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Salvation is a gift, plain and simple. And in Acts 13:38-39, we see the power of this gift:
“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. ”
When we are justified it means we have freedom—freedom from guilt, shame, and the penalty of sin. But justification isn’t just about being forgiven; it’s also about being reconciled to God ending the separation caused by sin. Colossians 1:21-22 says,
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”
Justification is the foundation of our salvation, but it’s only the beginning.
Sanctification
Now, let’s talk about sanctification. If justification is the starting line, sanctification is the race. It’s the process of becoming more like Jesus, day by day, step by step. Being continually set apart for God. In John 17:16-19 Christ prays for our sanctification,
'Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
This is how important it is to be sanctified, the Holy Spirit works in us to transform our hearts, minds, and actions. This transformation happens through active cooperation with the Holy Spirit and submission to God’s Word. You must allow yourself to be molded by Him
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2 This renewal of the mind leads to a transformed life. Sanctification happens progressively, just as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18
“We are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Now, having experienced the new birth and received these revealed truths, it is our responsibility to actively work out our salvation, through reading His Word, prayer, fasting, and yielding to the Holy Spirit. Philippians 2:12-13 captures this beautifully:
“Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
In santification we are called to actively pursue holiness, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to do so.
This process isn’t always easy. We still struggle with sin, as Paul admits in Romans 7:19:
“For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” Yet, we have hope because God is faithful.
Sound familiar? We’ve all been there. But here’s the good news: God’s grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Philippians 1:6 assures us,
“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Sanctification is about growth, and even when we stumble, God’s grace is there to pick us up and keep us moving forward.
Glorification
Finally, let’s look ahead to glorification. This is the finish line the moment when our salvation is complete, and we’re fully transformed into the likeness of Christ. Glorification is the ultimate hope of every believer. It’s when we’ll be free from sin, suffering, and death, and we’ll experience the fullness of God’s presence.
Romans 8:18 gives us a glimpse of this hope:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
No matter what we face in this life, it pales in comparison to the glory that awaits us. And in Philippians 3:20-21, Paul paints a vivid picture of what’s to come:
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Can you imagine? Our broken, imperfect bodies will be made new, just like His. Jude 1:24-25 reminds us of God’s power to bring us to this glorious future:
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
What a promise! God isn’t just saving us; He’s keeping us, and one day, He’ll present us faultless before His presence.
Revelation 21:3-4 describes this beautifully:
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Salvation is so much more than a one-time decision; it’s a lifelong journey. Justification is where we start—where we’re declared righteous through faith in Christ. Sanctification is where we grow—where the Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Jesus. And glorification is where we’ll one day arrive—where we’ll be made perfect and dwell with God forever.
This journey isn’t always easy, but it’s filled with hope. Romans 8:20 reminds us that creation itself is waiting for this redemption:
“For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”
Just as creation longs for renewal, so do we. And one day, that longing will be fulfilled.
