Salvation is important to all. This is the reason why many people are serving God. We believe that God is the only source of salvation and He is the only One who can give it. This is the same hope that the early servants of God possessed.

Isa 61:10 I will be full of joy in the Lord, my soul will be glad in my God; for he has put on me the clothing of salvation, covering me with the robe of righteousness, as the husband puts on a fair head-dress, and the bride makes herself beautiful with jewels.

The clothing of salvation means the granting of responsibilities to perform the duties of preaching the word of God. This was first given to the priests, whose duties are to serve and minister in the holy Temple of God.

Psa 132:9,16  Let your priests be clothed with righteousness; and let your saints give cries of joy.  Her priests will be clothed with salvation; and her saints will give cries of joy.

In New Testament, Apostle Peter teaches that those who were chosen, those who were became members of the church of God received the honor of being a priest of God. As a priest, their duties are  not only serving or ministering in  the house of God but as well as proclaiming the glory of God, who called them, through preaching His words. Being a priest doesn’t only mean preparing sacrifices for the Lord, but its main function is to teach and preach God’s words and His commands.

1Pe 2:9-10, 5 But you are a special people, a holy nation, priests and kings, a people given up completely to God, so that you may make clear the virtues of him who took you out of the dark into the light of heaven. In the past you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; then there was no mercy for you, but now mercy has been given to you. You, as living stones, are being made into a spiritual house, a holy order of priests, making those offerings of the spirit which are pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

Apostle Paul teaches that the house of God, the spiritual house is the church of God, to whom all the members are called and including him as an apostle of Christ. (1 Tim. 3: 15 at 1 Cor. 1: 1-2)

Anyone who becomes a member of the church of God, which is the house of God, received the duty of a priest of God, that is, to serve and minister in His house and to proclaim His glory, through preaching His words.

1Co 12:28 And God has put some in the church, first, Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then those with wonder-working powers, then those with the power of taking away disease, helpers, wise guides, users of strange tongues.

Eph 3:9-10  And make all men see what is the ordering of the secret which from the first has been kept in God who made all things; So that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavens might be made clear through the church the wide-shining wisdom of God,

To further give proof of the testimonies of Apostle Paul and Apostle Peter, Apostle John mentions, Rev 1:6,11 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

In Isaiah 61:10, we notice the symbol of receiving the clothing of salvation is like a husband putting on a fair head-dress, and the bride making herself beautiful with jewels. It describes how beautiful in the sight of God the acceptance of duty from the Lord. Every duty coming from the Lord is holy and all holiness is beautiful in the sight of God.

In literal sense, the priests who minister in the temple of God wear beautiful garments. These garments are specially designed intended just for ministering in the temple. (Exodo 29:6 at Exodo 28: 40 ).

Not only the ministering in the temple of God is beautiful, the salvation coming from God himself is also beautiful. Those who received the garment of salvation are all beautiful in God’s eyes.

How beautiful is the salvation mentioned? 

This is how the Bible explains salvation:

1Co 15:40 -41 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

1Co 15:51 -54 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Through the word of God, those who received the clothing of salvation will undergo this process of great change. Until they all receive the salvation promised by God.

Rev 7:15 -17  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

These words of the promise of salvation are the reason why until now, many are still serving God despite of the trials and sufferings they experience.

1Pe 1:5  - 8 They are for you, who through faith are kept safe by God’s power for the salvation which is ready to be revealed at the end of time. Be glad about this, even though it may now be necessary for you to be sad for a while because of the many kinds of trials you suffer. Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed. You love him, although you have not seen him, and you believe in him, although you do not now see him. So you rejoice with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express. 

Apostle Paul inspires us to continue in faith because the glory that will be revealed to those who will triumph is incomparable to anything in this world. Romans 8:18 I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

What do we need to do so that we will be sure of salvation?

It doesn’t mean that when we wear the clothing of salvation, we automatically received salvation. The clothing we received are the duties and commands that we should perform in order to obtain salvation surely.

To obtain salvation, the following should be considered:

1. Have joy in the words of God - Psa 1:1 -3   Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God. Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the LORD, and they study it day and night. They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do.
2. Leave the old self and wear the new one- Eph 4:21 You certainly heard about him, and as his followers you were taught the truth that is in Jesus. So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.
3. Improve the relationship with God - 2Pe 3:18  But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and forever! Amen. There are many ways to improve our relationship with God. Among these are regular communications to God through prayers, meditation, fasting, searching, teaching, sharing and living the word of God.

If we continue to do these things, then salvation will be achieved. Rev 22:14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.