Introduction to Christian Salvation

One key aspect of the personality of Jesus Christ, His saving grace, has been briefly mentioned in the preceding chapter, but a more detailed treatment is required. It might seem as if the flow of the argument is being interrupted to address this subject, but this is not the case. The justification for the Christian Church calling Jesus God depends on whether He has accomplished and continues to accomplish for humanity what only God can do. There are historical grounds for the Christian confession as previously discussed, but the argument is incomplete until we fully assess Jesus’ worth as Savior and Lord to mankind. Without diminishing the relevance of the other facts already mentioned, the truth of His person is best understood through the worth of His work. In our current age, empirical evidence is valued more than logical demonstration; thus, the approach in this chapter is particularly suited to contemporary needs. Our goal is not just to compel intellectual assent to Christ’s claims but to inspire practical consent to His grace and truth. We must, therefore, define what Christian salvation is and Christ’s role in it.

Defining Christian Salvation

When seeking to define Christian salvation, we must avoid the “personal equation”—the tendency to limit our understanding to our own experiences, which can lead to a narrow and one-sided view of what Christ has accomplished. It is generally agreed that the end of religion is practical rather than theoretical; it answers the questions of the intellect only as it meets the needs of life. In the lower stages of religious development, the aid of the gods is sought for natural goods, such as food, protection from danger, disease, and death. When morality aligns more closely with religion, as when the tribal deity becomes the guardian of tribal customs, moral goods are also sought. Physical evils are seen as penalties for breaching custom or law, and their removal is sought through confession, penitence, and sacrifice. As morality becomes more internal, the state of the heart towards God and the goodness He enjoins affects the relationship with God. Distrust or disobedience to God disturbs the confidence and satisfaction of communion with God. Whenever this communion with God is valued for its own sake, a spiritual good emerges. Deliverance from evil, forgiveness of sin, and peace with God are sought as natural, moral, and spiritual goods, as man’s consciousness of his relationship to the divine is affected by his sense of having transgressed God’s will. Any religion meeting these needs can be described as redemptive.

This is only the negative aspect of religion; there is also a positive aspect. Man desires life and an ever-abounding life, physically, morally, and spiritually. He wants to be happy and safe, holy and forgiven, delighting in God and at peace with God. This natural, moral, and spiritual good might be sought even without a sense of sin, and as a religion meets this desire of the soul, it can be described as perfective. In describing Christian salvation, the negative or redemptive aspect has often been more emphasized than the positive or perfective. We notice the evil we suffer more than the good we enjoy; we feel more keenly deliverance from danger than the bestowal of gifts. Sin and judgment are realities, while holiness and blessedness are ideals; the former oppresses us more immediately than the latter inspires. In our present condition, the deliverance of the soul seems more urgent than its development. Forgiveness must be assured before holiness can be pursued, and the assurance becomes a motive for the pursuit. Some Christians seem content with having just crossed over Jordan, leaving the wilderness wanderings behind but not eager to possess the promised land. In some Christian creeds, salvation is limited to the redemptive aspect, including justification but not sanctification. Against such a one-sided view, it is necessary to insist that Christian salvation is not only deliverance from the death of sin but also possession of eternal life in God. [See the Excursion Below]

Types of Christian Experience

There are different types of Christian experience, as various elements of Christian salvation are most highly valued by different individuals.

• Mystical Type: This type values intimate personal communion with God through the living Christ as life’s highest good. As long as Christ is not set aside as mediating the soul’s communion with God, this piety is Christian. However, its danger lies in substituting an emotional relationship with Jesus for the soul’s surrender to the holy love of God in His saving grace. Medieval piety often reads more like romance than religion.

• Speculative Type: This type values the revelation of God by Christ for providing a solution to intellectual problems. Christ saves the intellect as well as the conscience, answering the questions of the mind in a way no philosophy can. However, if only a metaphysical formula is taken from His truth and no personal relation of faith in His grace is cherished, the soul gives Him much less than His due homage.

• Practical Type: This type finds in Jesus’ teaching and example a moral guide, valuing obedience or imitation as the chief gain from His person and work. Jesus is the pattern of the holy life, but to reproduce that pattern, He must also be experienced as the power that breaks the bondage of sin and strengthens for the victory of good. He cannot be fully accepted and obeyed as Teacher and Example unless He is also trusted as Savior and, having saved, owned as Lord.

• Evangelical Type: This type stresses Jesus’ atoning death and His saving grace, reaching the very center of Christian revelation and redemption. However, it has often drawn too narrow a circumference from that center. The atoning death has been interpreted legalistically, and saving grace has been narrowed to deliverance from the future penalty of sin. The spiritual communion, intellectual illumination, and moral transformation that the Christian faith can bring have often been absent from what calls itself evangelical piety. Christian salvation includes the assurance of forgiveness as one of the most needed and highly prized gifts of divine grace. It also includes the child’s trustful and thankful fellowship with the heavenly Father, the seer’s growth in the truth as it is in Jesus until the world is made luminous in the light of God, and the saint’s progress in holiness motivated by the constraining love of Jesus and enabled by His grace. Because it includes all this in the present life, it also includes the unshakable certainty of a blessed and glorious immortality. This Christian salvation is not merely a speculation or aspiration but has been the experience of a multitude that no one can number.

The Christian Assurance of Immortality

Such an experience carries the certainty of a glorious and blessed immortality. The Resurrection of Christ is the pledge and pattern of the believer’s victory over death. The present life in and with Christ is already the eternal life, a life of such moral and religious quality and intimate filial relationship to the eternal God that its interruption or destruction by death is unthinkable. As the Hebrew saint drew assurance from his fellowship with Jehovah that He would not let him perish, so the Christian believer, who belongs to Christ, can confidently face death and say, “I live because Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

The Complete Christian Salvation

In summary, Christian salvation fully meets man’s natural, moral, and spiritual needs. The Apostolic Church, particularly Paul, focused on the death and resurrection of Christ: that Christ died for our sins and rose again according to the Scriptures. This was the common tradition and the earliest creed. However, the memory of Jesus’ earthly life and teaching was cherished within the Christian community, as evidenced by our Gospels. These show that the tradition of Jesus’ ministry was valued even while the death and resurrection were emphasized in preaching. Although Luther described the Epistle of James as an “epistle of straw” because it did not contain the doctrine he valued most, it shows many close resemblances to Jesus’ teaching. The Christian Church must declare the Apostolic Gospel, emphasizing the death and resurrection of Christ. Yet, there are many today who are drawn to the earthly ministry of Jesus and struggle to accept the Apostolic Gospel. We must be careful not to deny their share in Christian salvation. They have the assurance of the loving care and bounty of the Heavenly Father and the forgiveness of sin. While they may not rejoice in the personal companionship of Jesus Christ due to an inability to believe in the Resurrection, they still have the inspiration of His example. Those who accept Jesus’ yoke and burden in meekness and lowliness of heart may find rest for their souls. Even without acceptance of the full Apostolic Gospel, it is possible to experience much of Christian salvation. The writer personally rejoices in the complete Christian salvation by a Savior who died for him and a Lord who lives in him. In these days, when aversion to the supernatural is common, Christian apologists must exercise great patience and tolerance.

Some believers may be more at home in the Gospels than in the Epistles. It must be admitted that they experience real contact with Christ and His saving grace, even if they do not embrace the full Apostolic Gospel. Many begin their journey of faith through the Gospels and move to the Epistles, growing from an appreciation of the historical Jesus to an apprehension of the living Christ. There are many paths of faith leading to the true and living way of grace.

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EXCURSION What Is Salvation?

Understanding the Concept of Salvation in the Bible

The concept of salvation is central to the Christian faith and is intricately woven throughout the narrative of the Bible. The terms “save” and “salvation” are sometimes used by Bible writers to convey the idea of a person being delivered from physical danger or destruction. For instance, in Exodus 14:13-14, Moses tells the Israelites, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of Jehovah which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. Jehovah will fight for you while you keep silent.” This passage describes physical deliverance from the threat of the Egyptian army.

However, more often, these terms refer to deliverance from sin and its consequences. Matthew 1:21 reveals this focus: “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” This passage indicates the spiritual nature of salvation, highlighting its ultimate goal of reconciling humanity with God.

The Path to Salvation: Faith and Obedience

The way to salvation, according to the Bible, involves faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His commands. Acts 4:10, 12 declares, “Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Romans 10:9-10 further explains, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” These passages emphasize the necessity of both belief in the resurrection of Jesus and the public confession of His lordship as crucial steps toward salvation.

Additionally, Hebrews 5:9 states, “And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.” This verse underscores the importance of obedience to Christ as an integral part of the salvation process.

The Role of Works in Salvation

While salvation is fundamentally a gift from God, the Bible indicates that works, or acts of obedience, are evidence of genuine faith. James 2:24, 26 asserts, “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone… For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” This passage highlights that faith, if it is genuine, will naturally result in actions that reflect that faith.

However, this does not mean that salvation can be earned by works. Ephesians 2:8-9 clarifies, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Salvation is described as a gift based on God’s grace, not on human effort.

The Assurance and Security of Salvation

The question of whether one can lose their salvation is a matter of significant theological debate. The Bible provides passages that urge believers to remain faithful and vigilant in their spiritual walk. Philippians 2:12 advises, “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

This exhortation is further supported by Hebrews 10:26-27: “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.” Such warnings imply that salvation requires ongoing faith and obedience.

Moreover, Jude 1:5 reminds believers, “Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that Jehovah, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.” This historical reference underscores the necessity of persevering in faith.

The Role of Jesus and Jehovah in Salvation

The Bible identifies both Jehovah and Jesus as central to the concept of salvation. Jehovah is frequently referred to as the Savior in the Old Testament. For example, Isaiah 43:11 states, “I, even I, am Jehovah, and there is no savior besides Me.” This underscores that Jehovah is the ultimate source of deliverance and salvation.

In the New Testament, Jesus is also referred to as the Savior. Acts 5:31 says, “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” This indicates that Jesus’ role as Savior is part of God’s plan for salvation.

Titus 2:10 also highlights this dual aspect, referring to “God our Savior” and then in verse 13, speaking of “the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” This shows that salvation involves both the Father and the Son.

The Misconception of Universal Salvation

A common misconception is that all people will be saved, regardless of their faith or actions. This idea, known as universal salvation, is not supported by Scripture. Jesus’ own words in Luke 13:23-24 counter this view: “And someone said to Him, ‘Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?’ And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.'”

2 Thessalonians 1:9 also indicates that some will face eternal separation from God: “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” These verses make it clear that not everyone will be saved and that there are conditions for salvation.

Clarifying Misunderstood Passages

Certain passages are often misinterpreted to support the idea of universal salvation. For example, 1 Corinthians 15:22 states, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” However, the context of this verse is about the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:12-13, 20-21 discusses the resurrection of the dead, emphasizing that it is through Christ that believers are granted life after death.

Similarly, Titus 2:11, which states, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,” is sometimes interpreted to mean that everyone will be saved. However, the Greek word translated as “all” can also mean “all kinds” or “every variety.” Thus, the correct understanding is that salvation is available to all sorts of people, not that everyone will be saved. This interpretation is supported by Revelation 7:9-10, which describes a multitude from “every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues” standing before the throne of God.

The Conditions and Continuation of Salvation

The Bible outlines specific conditions for obtaining and maintaining salvation. Romans 10:9-10 emphasizes faith and confession, while James 2:24 underscores the necessity of works as evidence of faith. Philippians 2:12 calls believers to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” indicating that salvation involves ongoing effort and vigilance.

Moreover, Hebrews 6:4-6 warns of the possibility of falling away: “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” This passage highlights the seriousness of remaining faithful and the consequences of deliberate apostasy.

The Role of Human Choice in Salvation

While God desires all people to be saved, He does not force anyone to accept His provision for salvation. 2 Peter 3:9 states, “Jehovah is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” Despite God’s desire for universal repentance, human choice plays a crucial role in accepting or rejecting salvation.

Matthew 7:13-14 illustrates this choice: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” This passage underscores the necessity of making a conscious decision to follow the path that leads to life.

Conclusion

The Biblical concept of salvation encompasses deliverance from sin and its consequences, achieved through faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His commands. It is a gift of grace that requires an active and ongoing response from believers. The Bible provides clear guidelines on how to attain and maintain salvation, emphasizing the importance of faith, works, and perseverance. It also dispels the notion of universal salvation, highlighting that only those who fulfill the conditions set by God will be saved. Through the teachings of Scripture, believers are called to understand, embrace, and live out the profound truth of salvation.

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