SALVATION

Definition:

Salvation is defined as the preservation or deliverance from destruction, difficulty, or evil. It is further a source, means, or cause of such preservation or deliverance. In Christianity, it is deliverance from the power or penalty of sin; redemption or the agent or means that brings about such deliverance.

Brief Explanation:

I have had, on a number of occasions, to lead someone in counseling to Christ. You must be sensitive to where a person is at, as not everyone is ready to accept Christ, though they may desperately need him, and all must be drawn by the Holy Spirit.

Yet, counselors must be prepared to share their faith with a non-believer, and also help believers who are struggling with believing that they are really are saved.

The assurance of salvation is fairly easy to ascertain. If they have confessed Christ, and believe in the resurrection, according to scripture they are saved or born again.  Assisting the client to trust the veracity of scripture may be necessary, and for those who really do not know the Lord, you may be given the privilege of leading them to Christ…so be ready and prayerful.  Then, be ready to refer them to a strong bible believing church, as the counseling office is rarely (since you charge for your time) the best place for discipleship, and integration into the church, baptism, etc. is essential to their continued growth. Remember, we are working in cooperation with the church, not in competition.

The Word of God:

Exodus 15:2

“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will extol Him.”

Isaiah 55:6

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.”

John 3:16-18

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. The one believing into Him is not condemned; but the one not believing has already been condemned, for he has not believed into the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Romans 10:9, 10

“Because if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”