by Dr. Ray Self
Benefits of Salvation
Christians have accepted the gift of salvation; but many neglect all of its benefits.
Salvation is deliverance from danger or suffering. To save is to deliver or protect. The word carries the idea of victory, health, or preservation. Sometimes, the Bible uses the words saved or salvation to refer to temporal, physical deliverance, such as Paul’s deliverance from prison. Philippians 1:19
Salvation includes many benefits.
The Greek word for save is sozo. All other words for salvation in the New Testament derive their meanings from the same root.
From the Greek dictionary - sōzō - to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
One clear benefit of the Gospel of Jesus is physical healing through salvation.
Matthew 9:21-22 - for she was saying to herself, "If I only touch His garment, I will get well." (saved) But Jesus turning and seeing her said, "Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well" (saved).
At once the woman was made well. Made well means “saved.” These words are from the root word sozo. The woman was saved from sickness.
Another clear example of the relationship between salvation and physical healing is found in the following story –
Luke 8:35-36 - The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well.
Again the words made well are translated from the Greek word sozo which means “saved.”
When Jesus went to the cross for our salvation our physical healing was provided for.
1 Peter 2:24 - Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
This verse is a quote from Isaiah 53:5.
Peter was not referring to spiritual healing as some try to teach.
The word that Peter uses for "healed" is the Greek word "iaomai" which is a verb that always refers to physical healing in the New Testament.
Peter use of "stripes" refers to all of the marks and bruises on Christ's body.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
"Griefs" in The Hebrew dictionary
chŏlı̂y pronounced - khol-ee'
Defined - malady, anxiety, calamity: - disease, grief, (is) sick (-ness).
Salvation is deliverance form the wages of death. The leading cause of death is sickness.
Sickness came into the world because of sin.
If man had not sinned, he certainly would not have suffered pain, disease, and weakness in his body. Romans 5:12 - Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Salvation is the cure for sin and sickness.
Notice the relationship between forgiveness and healing in the following verses.
James 5:15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
Matthew 9:2 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven."
Matthew 9:6 "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--then He *said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home."
Psalms 103:2 – 3 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;
Dealing with the sin issue after Salvation
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Salvation is God’s greatest gift.
Within the gift of Salvation are countless benefits.
In the next few weeks we are going to explore more about Salvation and look at some of the key benefits.