What is the difference between salvation and deliverance?


Salvation

Salvation is gained when a person accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal Savior and follow Him. The Bible declares, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). To believe in the name of Christ is to appropriate the provisions of salvation in His blood for the forgiveness of sin and walk in obedience to His commands (Exodus 20:3-17). “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12 also 12:17).

Deliverance

Today, the word deliverance, is usually used to refer to a person who gets set free from any sinful bondage, whether it be from a bad habit, fear, hate, health problem, or anything that holds the soul captive (Romans 6:18). Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Nehemiah, and others were deliverers of their people; they delivered them from the outward consequences of sin.

But the Greatest Deliverer of all times is Jesus, who delivered all people from the penalty and power of sin.  “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

In describing the mission of Jesus the scripture says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18). Jesus delivered the captives of Satan in body, mind, and spirit (Romans 6:16).

Salvation and Deliverance – Synonymous

The meaning of the word salvation embraces deliverance, restoration, preservation, and glorification. These two words can sometimes be used interchangeably in the Bible. Where there is no deliverance there can be no salvation.

Sadly, some people claim that they are saved even though they are still in willful bondage to spiritual enemies of the flesh and mind. But the Bible teaches that a person who is still under the dominion of a habitual sin has not fully experienced the salvation of God. “Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). Jesus came to save us from sin not in sin (John 8:36).

All the believers need to do is to submit their will to God and ask Him for grace to overcome sin and every weakness of the flesh. And God promised “to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). As a result of this believers can proclaim triumphantly, “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37 also Philippians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 15:57).

In His service,
BibleAsk Team

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