Salvation is central to the evangelical Christian. Certainly, God’s purpose is restored relationship with God through Christ toward eternal life. But is that all? Or is salvation also more?
What if the Gospel offered God’s will on earth as it is in heaven, at least as a down-payment on eternity? What if the fruit of the Gospel, its effect in the earth, offered even more incentive—better life now and eternity?
I have noticed over many decades that sermons typically overlook two astounding passages in Luke One.
First note Psalm 110 says:
Christ rules the earth at the right hand of the Father,
In the middle of His enemies,
Through His volunteers (His body),
Until God makes them His footstool.
Jesus’ mother Mary, in Luke 1:51-55 prophesies about her Son:
He has shown strength with His arm; (toward what end?)
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. (weakened them)
He has put down the mighty from their thrones, (displaced tyrants)
And exalted the lowly (elevated them).
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel (His people by faith),
In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed (again, of faith) forever.”
Likewise Zechariah in 1:68-69, 71, 74-75 prophesies:
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
And has raised up a horn (power in Scripture) of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David….
That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us….
(Salvation is a comprehensive word, far more than a reservation in heaven. God saves us from the wicked.)
To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
Summary:
Salvation is God’s power to make all of life good according to His will on earth as it is in heaven.
It includes the reduction of His and our enemies.
He does it through His people (Psalm 110). This doesn’t mean revolution or mere politics, but stewardship. The Kingdom comes without observation (Luke 17:20), but by obedience (2 Corinthians 10:6), being active salt and light in every area of life.
Should the church listen to Mary and Zechariah and adjust its Gospel vision to include the fullness of salvation?
God rest ye merry, gentlemen and ladies!