How are salvation and forgiveness related?

from the old testament

• Psalm 103:12 says that for those who are forgiven (saved), God will never hold our sins against us.

from the new testament

• Although salvation and forgiveness are distinct, they are closely knit together. The Bible tells us that salvation comes by God forgiving us of our sins through Jesus. John the Baptist was sent before Christ and would "... be called prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins" (Luke 1:76-77).
• We can rejoice because Christ offers salvation and forgiveness, which are gifts given for us to accept (Acts 10:43).
• Salvation occurs when God rescues us from our deserved fate, which we inherited because of our sinful nature. The word salvation is derived from the Greek word sozo, which means "to be delivered and rescued." Our penalty for sin is eternal separation from God, but salvation rescues us from that penalty (Romans 6:23; Matthew 25:46).
• Romans 6:14 also describes our more immediate deliverance from sin in this life, stating, "For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." Because of the wondrous gift of salvation, we do not have to live the meaningless life described in Ecclesiastes. Salvation means we are forgiven of our sins, and as a result, we can enjoy an abundant and meaningful life, close to God (John 10:10; Galatians 5:22–23).
• Through salvation in Christ, we receive far more than forgiveness. We are justified—declared righteous before God (Romans 5:1). We are redeemed—bought back from slavery to sin (Ephesians 1:7). We are reconciled—brought near to God in restored relationship (2 Corinthians 5:18–19). We are atoned for—our sins covered by the sacrifice of Jesus (Romans 3:25). We are made new—transformed into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). And we are set free—no longer under the power of sin and death (Romans 6:22). All of this is ours because of God’s great love revealed through Christ.
• Forgiveness is essential to our salvation. We cannot receive a life freed from our deserved fate unless God forgives our sin (Acts 26:18). The word forgiveness comes from the Greek word aphiemi, which means "to let go, to give up, to keep no longer." We can think of forgiveness metaphorically, as an outstanding debt that we owe that is wiped clean by someone who loves us. We no longer carry the burden of that debt.
• Passages like Romans 8:1 remind us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The believer is saved and forgiven for all eternity.

implications for today

God longs for all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3–4), though not all will accept this priceless gift. For those who do, salvation brings complete forgiveness and freedom from the bondage of sin—a bondage that once kept us from fellowship with God and from living out the very purpose for which we were created. In Christ, salvation is not partial or temporary; it covers all our sins—past, present, and future. Because of this, we no longer need to live under the weight of guilt and shame. Instead, we are free to pursue what is good, holy, and truly life-giving.

When we forget this truth or struggle to believe it, shame and guilt creep back in, tempting us to hide, cover up, or withdraw. But God has already broken those chains through Christ. He saved us so that sin would no longer define us, and forgave us so that guilt would no longer enslave us. Jesus said He came to give us life, and life abundantly (John 10:10). That means when guilt whispers and shame accuses, we can stand firm in the truth: He has already cleansed us, forgiven us, and made us new. In Him, we can live with confidence, joy, and freedom, fully alive in the love of God.