Redemption vs Salvation
In the context of Christianity, redemption and salvation are two beliefs that involve actions of God. Although both terms refer to saving humans from sin, they differ in the way this saving is done. Understanding the difference between these two concepts is essential in learning more about the dogmas of Christianity.
What is Redemption?
The Oxford English dictionary defines redemption as ‘the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.’ Redemption comes directly from the Almighty, which means that God has a more significant role to play in redemption than in salvation. It is believed that redemption happened only once in history, during the Exodus from Egypt, and was done by the Almighty himself, not an angel or a messenger.
Another belief about redemption is that the word is used when referring to the whole human race. For example, when Christ gave his life to save all of humankind from the debt of punishment, that incident is known as redemption because Christ redeemed the entire human race.
What is Salvation?
The Oxford English dictionary defines salvation as ‘deliverance from sin and its consequences, believed by Christians to be brought about by faith in Christ.’ Salvation is delivered to people or practicing Christians through messengers, with the messenger being responsible for delivering salvation. Christ was a messenger of God, and it is God who provides the power for the messenger to deliver salvation. Salvation is believed to have taken place numerous times in history, meaning that God has sent messengers or angels several times for this purpose.
Salvation is sometimes referred to by other words, such as wonders or miracles. The concept of salvation leads to the belief that miracles happen through the blessings and favor of the Almighty. People often thank the Almighty and the messenger for the actions of redemption and salvation, respectively.
Another belief about salvation is that it refers more to the saving of the individual. In this sense, Christ has saved each person, which is considered salvation.
Key Takeaways
- Both redemption and salvation involve saving people from sin, but they differ in how this saving is done.
- God is more directly involved in redemption, while salvation is given to people through messengers.
- Redemption is believed to refer to the saving of humankind as a whole, while salvation refers to the saving of each individual from the debt of punishment.
