What is the First Stage of Salvation? Understanding the Path to Redemption

The Concept of Salvation: A Journey, Not a Destination

Honestly, when you hear the word "salvation," it's easy to think about something distant, like the end of a long road or a final destination. But salvation is much more than that. It’s a journey that begins the moment we recognize our need for change and healing. The first stage of salvation, as many spiritual traditions and personal experiences reveal, is often about awareness. It’s the realization that we are in need of something greater than ourselves.

I remember having a deep conversation with a friend recently about this concept. We both realized that the first step, the most important one, is simply acknowledging the need for salvation—whether that’s salvation from sin, hardship, or internal conflict. For me, understanding this first stage was eye-opening and transformational. It changed how I approach my spiritual journey.

The First Stage of Salvation: Awakening to the Need

Realization: Facing the Truth

Well, let’s dive into the real meat of this first stage: realization. It’s not just about saying, “Oh, I need to be saved,” and that’s it. It’s much deeper. Salvation begins when you have a genuine moment of self-reflection, where you realize that something in your life needs to change. This could be spiritual, emotional, or even physical. For me, this moment came after I went through a tough time. I was struggling, and I realized that I couldn’t just keep going on autopilot anymore. I needed a shift.

In many religious teachings, this stage is closely tied to repentance. It’s the moment you recognize your flaws or sins and decide that you need to move forward. It’s honestly humbling to come to terms with your mistakes, but it’s also incredibly empowering. It’s the first step in opening your heart to change and transformation.

Repentance and Turning Towards a New Path

Once you realize that you need salvation, the next part is repentance. In many faith traditions, repentance is an essential part of the first stage. It’s not just about feeling guilty or sorrowful—it’s about making a conscious decision to turn away from past behaviors or choices that led you down the wrong path. Honestly, I’ve had my fair share of moments where I knew I had to change, but actually committing to that change took time and struggle.

It’s like standing at a crossroads. You’ve recognized where you’ve been, but now you have to decide where you want to go. It’s a critical point in the process of salvation. Once I realized this, I began seeing repentance not as a negative or burdensome thing, but as a release—letting go of the past to step into something better.

The Role of Faith in the First Stage

Trusting the Process

Now, one thing that many people might not realize is that faith plays a massive role in the first stage of salvation. It’s not just about feeling bad for what you’ve done—it’s about trusting that you can move beyond it. Faith helps you believe that, no matter how much you’ve struggled, there’s always a path to healing and redemption. I remember being stuck in a place of doubt and confusion, but when I started to trust in something larger than myself, everything started to shift.

Faith is often described as the belief that something better is waiting for you. It might not be an easy road, but it’s about trusting that the process of salvation will lead you to peace, healing, and growth.

Believing in Your Worthiness

Honestly, this was a hard one for me. I’ve struggled with self-doubt, and feeling unworthy of salvation was a huge obstacle in my journey. But the first stage of salvation is also about realizing that you are worthy of healing. You are worthy of being free from whatever burden is holding you back. For a long time, I didn’t believe this. It wasn’t until I started to actively work on my self-worth and accept that salvation is available to everyone that I could truly move forward.

What Happens After the First Stage?

The Shift in Perspective

After the first stage of salvation—awareness, repentance, and faith—things start to change. You begin to see the world through a new lens. It’s not just about seeing your mistakes, but understanding that you can learn from them and grow. For me, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders when I started to genuinely feel the shift. This wasn’t just a one-time thing. It was a shift that became a part of my daily life. I began making better choices and started to feel more at peace with myself.

Moving Forward with Action

Of course, the first stage doesn’t mean the journey is over. It’s just the beginning. Once you’ve gone through this awakening, the next step is putting those realizations into action. This could mean changing habits, seeking forgiveness, or learning to forgive yourself. It’s about consistently walking in the new direction you’ve chosen. It’s a process, and sometimes it’s difficult, but it’s so worth it.

Conclusion: Embracing the First Stage of Salvation

To wrap it up, the first stage of salvation is all about recognizing your need for change, taking responsibility for your past actions, and embracing faith in something greater than yourself. It’s not always easy, and it might feel uncomfortable at times, but it’s the most crucial step in a transformative journey.

Honestly, I can’t stress enough how important this stage is. It’s the foundation of everything that comes after. So, if you’re at this point in your life, where you’re realizing that you need something different, know that it’s okay to be there. You’re not alone. And this is the beginning of something beautiful.

What do you think? Do you feel like you’re at the beginning of your own journey of salvation?

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.