FOR A LONG TIME, THE CHURCHES HAVE BEEN PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION — and forgetting, or even denying, that there is anything else in the Bible. But it is time for you who are interested in this message to consider fully a more important Gospel — the Gospel of Redemption — for this one affects you. Without at least salvation, a person has nothing, for he would have no life beyond this present one. On the other hand, just what does he get by salvation? In the Old Testament, four Hebrew words have been translated “salvation” — and the root meaning of all four is simply “safety”, deliverance from danger or destruction; in the New Testament, two Greek words are also translated salvation” — and these also have the same root meaning.
That is, by salvation, one gains life, he is delivered from death; but there is nothing stated to indicate on what level or standard that life will be: that question must be settled by something more than just “being saved”; and undoubtedly, the matter of rewards for a meritorious life enters into it.