Definition and Overview:
Salvation, in Christian theology, refers to the deliverance from sin and its consequences, achieved through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a central tenet of Christian belief, emphasizing the grace of God and the redemptive work of Christ. The concept of salvation is richly illustrated throughout the Bible, often using metaphors and analogies to convey its depth and significance. One such illustration is that of wells, which symbolize life, sustenance, and spiritual renewal.

Biblical Illustrations:

1. Wells as Sources of Life:
In the arid landscapes of the biblical world, wells were vital for survival, providing water essential for life. Similarly, salvation is depicted as a source of spiritual life. In John 4:14 , Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman at the well, saying, "But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life." Here, the well represents the eternal life and satisfaction found in Christ.

2. Wells and Divine Encounter:
Wells are often places of divine encounter and revelation. In Genesis 16:7-14, Hagar encounters the Angel of the Lord by a spring in the wilderness, a moment that leads to a promise of salvation and hope for her and her son, Ishmael. This encounter at the well signifies God's provision and intervention in times of distress, mirroring the salvation offered through Christ.

3. Wells and Covenant:
Wells also symbolize covenant and promise. In Genesis 26:23-25, Isaac builds an altar and calls upon the name of the Lord at Beersheba, where a well signifies God's covenantal faithfulness. This act of worship and the establishment of a well underscore the assurance and security found in God's promises, akin to the assurance of salvation through faith.

4. Wells and Community:
Wells were communal gathering places, fostering relationships and community. Salvation, too, is not an isolated experience but one that brings believers into the community of faith, the Church. In Acts 2:42-47, the early Christians are described as devoted to fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer, reflecting the communal aspect of salvation.

5. Wells and Renewal:
Wells are symbols of renewal and refreshment. In Isaiah 12:3 , the prophet declares, "With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation." This imagery highlights the joy and renewal that come from experiencing God's salvation, a theme echoed in the New Testament as believers are renewed by the Holy Spirit.

Theological Significance:

The illustration of wells in relation to salvation underscores several key theological themes:

· Grace and Provision: Just as wells provide water freely, salvation is a gift of grace, not earned by human effort but given by God's provision through Christ.
· Satisfaction and Fulfillment: The living water of salvation satisfies the deepest spiritual thirst, offering fulfillment and eternal life.
· Covenant and Faithfulness: Salvation is rooted in God's covenantal promises, assuring believers of His faithfulness and steadfast love.
· Community and Fellowship: Salvation brings individuals into a new community, the body of Christ, where they experience fellowship and mutual support.
· Renewal and Joy: The experience of salvation brings renewal, joy, and a transformed life, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

In summary, the illustration of wells in the Bible provides a rich and multifaceted understanding of salvation, emphasizing its life-giving, communal, and renewing aspects. Through these images, believers are invited to experience the fullness of God's redemptive work in Christ.Isaiah 12:3
Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Nave's Topical Index

The Work of the Holy Spirit
... begun in the Spirit" I have already illustrated the whole ... Salvation is not begun
in the soul by the means ... forth its current, then these are wells without water ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the work of the holy.htm

Chapter xxvi
... to the Lord's will one shall see the Lord's salvation. ... for spiritual values is further
illustrated by this step ... of the sites of Isaac's wells, "Rehoboth" might ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxvi.htm

Fruitless Faith
... proof, before we leave it, might be illustrated in various ... that they are saved about
whose salvation nobody but ... for ever for those who are wells without water ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 60 1914/fruitless faith.htm

The Secret of Power
... through the centuries, but of that which wells out fresh ... and living faith in Him
and in His salvation. ... on our missionary work, and may be illustrated from the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the secret of power.htm

Soul Winning
... who preach up salvation by sacraments, and salvation by themselves ... The gospel is
something like an illustrated paper ... If you were all wells of living water, how ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/soul winning.htm

The Church of Rome in the Third Century.
... to have been lost, has often wonderfully verified and illustrated the apologue ...
[351:1] Wells of water ... to believe that he was the Rock of Salvation, the enduring ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter v the church of.htm

The Waterer Watered
... The same truth might be illustrated from other departments of ... more fully they might
go to the wells themselves: but ... lie, and that there is no salvation but in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the waterer watered.htm

Field Hymns.
... is always coupled with the venerable tune of "Wells."[44] Aged ... be, In the loud-swelling
chorus, "Salvation is free ... hymn and its wakeful tune is illustrated by a ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter xii field hymns.htm

Explanatory and Biographical
... discussed by Dean Plumptre of Wells in his ... wholly for good; Assurance of
Salvation"a cardinal ... definite character is, perhaps, sufficiently illustrated in ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/explanatory and biographical.htm

The Trinitarian Controversy.
... Dr. Wells complained that he had taken no notice of ... the necessary term or requisite
of salvation;' neither can ... of a Trinity in Unity, Illustrated and Confirmed ...
/.../chapter vi the trinitarian controversy.htm

What does the Bible say about household salvation? | GotQuestions.org

What is salvation? What is the Christian doctrine of salvation? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Romans Road to salvation? | GotQuestions.org

Salvation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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