Salvation is defined as deliverance or preservation. Salvation spares us from ruin, harm and or loss. Salvation is the act of being saved or protected from something threatening or dangerous.
In order for "salvation" to have meaning we need to understand the context. The value of salvation is relative to the value of what we are saved from. Ruin from what? Loss of what?
Salvation is both an outcome and action. The act of salvation implies that there is something or someone that we are being saved from. In other words, there is some force that is being defeated. Who or what is ruining us or threatening us?
There are a variety of possible threats to our well-being. We can be saved from financial ruin. A physician can save us from a disease or illness. Generally speaking, the term salvation implies being rescued from a significant perilous existential threat. Salvation also implies a savior.
The concept of salvation and the title of savior has a spiritual or biblical connotation. The prophet Isaiah's Hebrew name is יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Yesha'yahu) which translates to "God is Salvation" or "God is my salvation." Isaiah said "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid" (Isaiah 12:2).
Moses told the Hebrews to "Stand still and see the salvation (yeshu'ah) of the LORD" (Exodus 14:13). The Israelites witnessed their salvation.
King David proclaimed "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" (Psalm 27:1). King David declares "The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD" (Psalm 37:39).
The prophet Jeremiah declares the word of the Lord in Jeremiah 30:10-11 esv:
In Genesis 49:18 is Jacob (Israel) is near the end of his life, delivering blessings and prophetic words to each of his sons. Jacob interrupts his ongoing blessings to express a personal prayer or exclamation: "I have waited for your salvation, O LORD". This verse is considered a heartfelt interlude by Jacob, reflecting his reliance on God for ultimate deliverance—not just for himself but for his descendants as well.
As promising and hopeful as salvation is, there is the flipside. Without God, without a savior, there isn't salvation. Without the Lord, there isn't deliverance. Without salvation there is destruction and ruin. There is much to fear.
This begs the question: Do you want Salvation? If so, the next question to ask is what does one need to do to recieve Salvation?
In the Book of Jonah, after being saved by a great fish, the prophet Jonah said, "Salvation belongs to the LORD!” Salvation comes from the LORD!
Since Salvation comes from God, if we wish to have Salvation, we must seek God. That is where we find Salvation. No place else. All those other places are idols. Remember what God says about idols. The bible is filled with warnings and examples of what happens when people rely on idols. Just ask Ezekiel or any of the prophets.
"Joy in the Morning"
"But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation." Psalm 13.5
The bible presents joy as a natural and integral response to salvation—it is both a fruit of being saved and a source of strength, hope, and praise for believers. Salvation is not merely deliverance but also a cause for heartfelt rejoicing and lifelong joy.
The Bible often links trust in God's salvation with rejoicing, showing joy as a natural response to being rescued or saved by God (Psalm 13:5; Psalm 21:6-7).
In the Song of Moses, Exodus 15:2 esv, it reads:
"The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him."
The primary Hebrew word for salvation is "yeshuah" (יְשׁוּעָה), which also translates to "deliverance" or "rescue". It is derived from the root word "yasha" (יָשַׁע), meaning to save, deliver, or rescue.
The Greek name "Jesus" is written as Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous). It is a transliteration of the Hebrew name יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshua), which itself is a shortened form of יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehoshua), also known as Joshua. The name "Yehoshua" or "Yeshua" in Hebrew is understood to mean "Yahweh is salvation" or "God saves".
Conclusion
