Are You Saved?
New Testament Doctrine of Salvation
Note: The following article was written by a friend who wishes to remain anonymous. I have permission to cite this in full. It describes the variety of meanings that the words "saved" and "salvation" can have for different people. It shows that some hotly debated topics in Latter-day Saint ("Mormon") theology suffer from misunderstood semantics. The author argues that LDS and Biblical doctrines on salvation are compatible - a view I share and defend..
Introduction
When Latter-Day Saints, especially full-time and Stake
missionaries, come into contact with persons of other Christian
denominations the topic of salvation is frequently discussed, sometimes
heatedly. Our church is frequently accussed of believing in "works-
based" salvation when others claim it is only by grace we are saved.
The problem is not a Theological or doctrinal one, it is semantic. The
word "saved" is used several different ways in the New Testament.
Therefore it has different particular meanings applied to it according
to the context of the scripture. When involved in a religious
discussion it is important to make sure there is a mutual understanding
of the words being used. Failure to do so results only in confusion.
The most generic definition of the word "saved" is to be protected
or delivered from that which is harmful or undesirable. From here we
move on to the first degree of specification: physical salvation versus
spiritual salvation. Physical salvation is then divided into two
additional categories: temporal and eternal. And, spiritual salvation
has three major divisions: justification, sanctification and exaltation.
Types of Salvation
Temporal Physical
Temporal physical salvation represents protection from mortal
danger. Usage of the term "saved" in this context is exhibited when
Jesus and the apostles are at sea in a ship when a great storm arises.
The apostles in fear of capsizing, wake Jesus from His sleep and say,
"Lord, save us: we perish" (Matt. 8:25). Peter repeats a similar plea,
while sinking as he walks on the water, "Lord, save me" (Matt 14:30).
This concept is also conveyed when the savior says, "For whosoever will
save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my
sake shall find it" (Matt. 16:25; notice the Mark 8:35 and Luke 9:24
accounts use the word "save" in place of Matthew's "find" with a
different meaning than that of the first "save"). And again when Jesus
is discussing the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel he
states, "For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the
beginning of the creation...and except that the Lord had shortened those
days, no flesh should be saved" (Mark 13:19-20). The phrase "I am with
you" occurs frequently in the Scriptures and is the Lord's promise of
temporal physical salvation, as occurs in Matt. 28:20 and Acts 18:10.
Eternal Physical
The second type of physical salvation is more commonly referred to
as resurrection, which is synonymous in the scriptures with immortality.
In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul describes our salvation from
physical death: "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in
coruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is
raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is
sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural
body, and there is a spiritual body" (1 Cor. 15:42-44). And, Christ
taught "all that are in the graves shall hear [the Father's] voice, and
shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of
life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of of
damnation" (John 5:29). Thus, resurrection saves our spirits from an
eternal separation from our bodies after physical death.
Justification
Justification, or the merciful act of having the punishment of
your sins waived, is merited on the basis of faith alone. For we cannot
perform any works that will undo justice's demand that we be punished.
Nothing we do on our own can free us from the punishment we rightly
deserve from commiting sin, for once it is commited it cannot be undone.
Fortunately, Grace and Mercy come into play on our behalf. Jesus
proclaimed His divine right to justify the believer as He sat among a
group of critical Pharisees and a woman entered and anointed His feet
with oil. For her act of love, Jesus told her "thy faith hath saved
thee; go in peace" (Luke 7:50) Paul's often quoted, "For by grace are
ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is a the gift of God:
not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph 2:8) is talking about
justification. This is made plain by Paul's statement concerning works
performed under the Law of Moses: "a man is not justified by the works
of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ...for by the works of the
law shall no flesh be justified" (Gal. 2:16).
Sanctification
The second type of spiritual salvation, is the process of
individual purification whereby believers in Christ are made holy by
repenting. Paul ties sanctification and being saved together when he
says, "we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren
beloved of the Lord, because God hath chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2 Thes.2:13).
Repentance is the major work of the sanctification process, and is
referred to by James in his statement "faith without works is dead"
(James 2:26). Paul implies repentance and other good works are part of
the sanctification by his statement, "being made free from sin, and
become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness" (Rom. 6:22).
He also states that those who are "called to be saints" are "them that
are sanctified" (1Cor 1:2). Repentance is part of the Sanctification
process because it is a condition placed upon us by the individual who
offers the freedom from punishment, namely Jesus Christ. Repenting in
and of itself does not release us from the demands of justice, as it is
an attempt to make ammends for sins previously committed and to try to
avoid them in the future.
Sanctification is synonymous with the baptism of the Holy Ghost
(John 1:33), the baptism of fire (Matt. 3:11) and being born again (John
3:3-5). As we chose to repent, the Holy Ghost will give us greater
understanding of the particular faults that we need to work on. It will
also help us avoid and resist temptation as long as we seek after and
heed its guidance. The Holy Ghost helps us purge our sinful natures and
start anew by figuratively turning up the heat on us.
Exaltation
Exaltation is the endowment of glory, knowledge and power
[from God] upon a resurrected person. The term
"eternal life" found in the scriptures is synonymous with exaltation,
and is different from resurrection as is noted above. It is described
in Christ's parable of the sheep and goats as "inherit[ing] the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matt. 25:34). Paul
taught that we are "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if it so
be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together"
(Rom. 8:17). And, Peter says of those who are faithful "when the Chief
Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not
away" (1 Pet. 5:4).
Enduring to the end is the condition for exaltation. Jesus, in
warning the apostles that wicked men would persecute them, stated "ye
shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to
the end shall be saved" (Matt. 10:22). The Lord states to a more
general audience, "to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in
my throne, even as I overcame, and am set down with my Father in his
throne" (Rev. 3:21). Paul gives a good description of enduring to the
end when reflecting upon his impending death he says, "I have fought a
good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim
4:7).
Conclusion
When Latter Day Saints use the term salvation they are almost
always referring to exaltation. Whereas, most people of other
denominations are almost always referring to justification when they use
the word "saved". This makes it easy to get locked in arguments
originating over simple semantics, not doctrinal differences. Be sure
to clarify terms and discuss the different usages of the term "saved"
using the scriptures. Doing so will help eliminate misconceptions on
both sides. And, it can turn potentially contentious situations into
teaching experiences.
Latter-Day Saint doctrine of salvation is entirely in agreement
with New Testament doctrine of salvation, as it should be. Doctrine and
Covenants 20 verses 29-31 state:
"And we know that all men must repent and
believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name,
and endure to the end, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.
And we know that justification through the grace of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ is just and true; And we know also, that sanctification
through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true,
to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds and
strength."
