S ALVATION REFERS TO THE ACTION OF GOD in delivering humanity. It is the divine work of rescuing fallen creatures (1 Cor. 1:21; Titus 3:5).
In the salvation of humanity, God offers the recovery of what had been lost in the fall of humanity from sin, despair, and death. What was lost is the original capability of men and women to reflect the image of God through humble trust in God’s gift and command.
By descending to humanity, God has accomplished what human effort could not do. Those willing to hear are being saved from sin, saved for new life and union with the Son through the Spirit (Acts 16:30–31; Rom. 5:9, 10; Eph. 2:5–8; Chrysostom, Hom. on Acts, Hom. 36).