Introduction
In defining salvation, I have heard many descriptions, formulas, directions, summations and doctrinal statements.  Over the past 50 years, I have listened to many learned theologians, pastors, and Sunday school teachers wax elegant in attempting to explain what being saved is, and is not.  Heard meaning Liturgical words, terms, and phrases (many times a benefit in addressing something without using too many words, but also a tool to inflate one’s ego).

However, the childlikeness in me understands that of all the most important of definitions known to man, the Jesus I know and love would not communicate this meaning; so why not seek HIS description of what He came to do.     

Jesus Said
According to Jesus; salvation is always defined as receiving eternal life.   Many talk about sin when defining salvation, claiming how the chains of sin are removed.  And while the consequence of receiving eternal life is that sin will no longer be your master, you will sin as long as you are in your earthly body.

First John 1:8 says:

If G1437 we say G2036 [G5632] that G3754 we have G2192 [G5719] no G3756 sin G266, we deceive G4105 [G5719] ourselves G1438, and G2532 the truth G225 is G2076 [G5748] not G3756 in G1722 us G2254.” (KJV+TVM)

“we have” is a primary verb, the conjugation is:

Present Tense, meaning it is a: Continuous Action (when in indicative mood) it is a current behavior.

Active Voice, meaning the: Subject Causes the Action (Object Receives Action) we choose to do it.

Indicative Mood, meaning it is in the: Mood of Certainty (A Reality) it is an undeniable fact

All sins are intentional, unintentional sins would be sins that you’re unaware that you do so you don’t even know if you do them.  The “secret faults” (Psalms 19:12) David speaks about are intentional sins that are secret from the world, they are hidden sins that nobody sees but he that commits them (“secret” [Greek: sâthar, H5641] A primitive root; to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively: – be absent, keep close, conceal, hide (self), (keep) secret, X surely.).  This is what the Hebrew means, and cannot be disputed.

Salvation is not freedom from sin (in this body, at this time), though the believer has been free from the price of sin, and its total power over him; unlike the nonbeliever, and when he receives his resurrection body, sin will no longer be a part of his life, believers do not pay the punishment of their sin, though most of the time they pay the consequences for those sins.

The Greek word translated into the English word “Eternal” (Greek: aiōnios, G166) From G165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well): – eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began), means to never stop, it is NOT CHANGEABLE.

The one thing salvation IS NOT, according to Jesus is temporary 

Jesus always defines salvation as receiving eternal life!

Jesus is recorded in John 10:28-30, as stating:

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”

Eternal life Passages – Where Salvation is Identified as Receiving Eternal life

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? (Matthew 19:16 KJV) – Jesus does not dispute what this man thinks is salvation – “eternal life.”

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46 KJV)

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? (Mark 10:17 KJV)

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Mark 10:30 KJV)

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 10:25 KJV)

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 18:18 KJV)

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15 KJV)

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. (John 4:36 KJV)

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39 KJV)

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54 KJV)

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:68 KJV)

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28 KJV)

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (John 12:25 KJV)

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. (John 17:2 KJV)

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3 KJV)

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48 KJV)

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (Romans 2:7 KJV)

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21 KJV)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12 KJV)

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:19 KJV)

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2 KJV)

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7 KJV)

(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) (1 John 1:2 KJV)

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. (1 John 2:25 KJV)

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15 KJV)

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11 KJV)

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13 KJV)

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20 KJV)

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:21 KJV)

Do you notice how many times in the sentences eternal life is the last word, conveying the idea that eternal life is the conclusion and cannot be changed, a point not missed by many translators.  Also notice that is always used with the same term “eternal life.”  And notice that a word search for everlasting indicates that there are only two choices, everlasting fire or hell, or everlasting life with God in heaven, and the sentence structure and grammar pronounces that a person is in either one state or the other (though there are times where it talks about an individual becoming a believer has now entered into our salvation – yet the point is no one ever leaves everlasting life to go to everlasting damnation.

Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. (Matthew 18:8 KJV)

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (Matthew 19:29 KJV)

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46 KJV)

Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (Luke 18:30 KJV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36 KJV)

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14 KJV)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24 KJV)

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. (John 6:27 KJV)

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40 KJV) 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47 KJV)

And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. (John 12:50 KJV)

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. (Acts 13:46 KJV)

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:22 KJV)

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:8 KJV)

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:16 KJV)

Brent