Another Look at Salvation

A favourite songs in my youth was “Stairway to Heaven.” I had no idea what they were singing about but I did know that it made for a wonderfully long slow dance. It conjured up images of Jacob sleeping in the desert dreaming of exactly that, a stairway to heaven. I knew it was a quantum stretch of the imagination to force that much spirituality into that song, but slow dancing gave me enough time to rationalize the fact that I was allowed to dance (but that is another issue). More accurately, I have always known that everyone needs a Saviour, and that a ticket to heaven was a lot better than the free fall into hell. That was reason enough to pray “the sinner’s prayer” and make sure that my eternity was safeguarded.

We may say it in a more theologically correct way, but I grew up with the fear of hell and promise of heaven as one of the primary motivators to become a follower of Jesus Christ. It isn’t the first time that a profound truth has been reduced to a simplistic explanation of God’s intervention in history. The Bible tells us that the Creator of everything that exists (seen and unseen) willingly entered history, became like one of us, endured every form of temptation without succumbing to it, and ultimately died to restore his creation to it original intent. (Colossians 1:15-20) That statement implies something far greater than my pardon from hell. What are the old things that pass away and how have all things becoming new?

The lifestyle Jesus exhibited invited all to freely access him. It was not an issue of who is in and who is out. All who are weary and burdened down are invited to come. It is about inclusion, not exclusion. This is not a support for universalism (everyone will be admitted into heaven). Jesus leveled the playing field as he cleared the temple of people who swindled the less fortunate. As he died, the curtain which divided the holy place from the common person was torn open. The most sacred place became available to everyone. Women and children, beggars and merchants, all are invited into relationship with God.

For too many, Christianity has evolved into a club. “When did you become a member? We would like to know the time and place. It is us and them.” The reality is, we are all still a “them.”

For many, these are uncharted waters. It begs us to re-examine the questions, “ Is salvation more than a line in the sand that I stepped across by saying a simple prayer? What is its benefit and how is it received?” Consider some of the benefits that accompany God’s desire to restore humanity.

Salvation is the ability to know God. We were created to know our Creator, deeply, completely, intimately. Our knowledge of and relationship with him deepens with our willingness to trust him and learn from his commands.

Salvation is being restored to my original purpose. We have each been born with the mark of God in our lives. We don’t recognize it most times, but its reality remains. It enables me to make a right decision, and to increasingly live up to the original purpose for which God made me. It begins in my life before I am aware of it and draws me to a point where I must decide whether or not to submit to it.

Salvation took place once for all time (Hebrews 7). This accomplishment rests completely in the action God performed. It is not based on an action that I perform. Every action I attempt without reliance upon God is of no more use than a rag that is already soiled(Isaiah 64:6). My ability to receive Christ’s gift is dependent upon my willingness to submit to the requirements of that action; believe and obey.

Salvation’s implications are discovered throughout all of life. My ability to comprehend it is a life-long process. Imagine puzzle pieces in an unmarked box. Comprehension of the picture grows as pieces of the puzzle are placed together. Initially there is no perception. Many Christians view “all others” in this category. Because they have not made a verbal commitment to submit to Christ, it is assumed that Christ’s death and resurrection is having no influence in their lives. The reality however is that God is always at work in the lives of every individual. As he continues to reveal himself to us our capacity to know him continues to expand. The impact of Christ’s death effects every individual each time they make a decision.

The implications of Christ’s death for us will only be fully realized when he explains it in heaven. In that sense, it is when the last puzzle piece drops into place. Throughout life we are all prompted by the Spirit of God to live fully. We have seen his design in creation and have no excuses for not lovingly obeying him (Romans 1). The greater our comprehension, the more intentional are our decisions to surrender and submit to the intentions of God, or to reject them. It is an act of our will that we surrender and with submission comes new understanding and an ever increasing capacity to know God. It is all a result of the restoring work of God in the lives of each person; a consequence of the benefits of salvation.

I didn’t make one decision to follow Christ and then I was in the heaven-bound clan. I make decisions multiple times a day to follow Christ. Some might wonder if this implies the need to “be saved” multiple times. That train of thought misses the point. It is not an issue of saved or unsaved. It is an issue of loving obedience or disobedience. Throughout Scripture we are cautioned to live out what we say. Faith without appropriate action is dead. It is also true that doing all the right things for the wrong motive is equally an act of futility. Many will stand before Christ and say, “We performed all these actions in your name.” Christ’s response will be, “I never knew you.” Jesus spoke about people who believed salvation was simply a statement we make, the prayer without consequence, the action without the loving submission. He warned that many will be surprised by who are actually in heaven and who are not. (Matthew 25)

It is a tragic reality that the gift of salvation has been reduced by many to a level of personal achievement. “I have prayed the prayer and am in.” “I can do good things without submission of my heart and get in.” It is a sad heresy with serious consequence.

I am given the choice to submit to or reject Christ’s redeeming intervention in my life with every decision I make. Will I care for the environment that God loves? Will I react harshly to the criticism of my spouse? Will I do more than observe the tragic condition of the needy? Will I treat each casual acquaintance with dignity? Each is a decision to submit to the will of God or resist. Salvation enables my capacity to increasingly choose the wiser road. Salvation is the work of God in me, enabling me to understand more fully the benefit of living well in all areas of life. In doing so, I bring Christ pleasure.

Comments

[Buenos Aires Apartments]

Very interesting point of view David, I know the song very well and I imagine what you wrote. :)

[Stefano]

I agree. The new generation is environmentally conscious. A job well done to the Generation X and their efforts.
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