Salvation

by J. BENNISON | Category: For Young Believers | Feb 1952

Salvation is of the LORD," cried Jonah, while still in the belly of the sea monster after his miraculous escape from certain death by drowning. That statement is also true in a more general sense. Scripture declares that "the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men" (Titus 2.11). In our natural state we are described by God as being "foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures" (Titus 3.3). How is it then that God never turned His back upon the sinner? With His holiness insulted, His righteousness rejected, why did He not leave man to His fate? The answer is found in that brief statement-" God is love." And the grace of God, free, sovereign, matchless grace, is the active exercise of that love toward rebellious man.

The means whereby this salvation is brought within the reach of all is threefold :-(1) The Scriptures, under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, (2) The Lord Jesus Christ, (3) Obedience, as led by the Holy Spirit.

(1) Paul, writing to Timothy, declared that "From a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation" (2 Timothy 3.15). The late Lord Chancellor Herschell told how as a poor boy, sorrowing over his mother's death, he had some food wrapped in a leaf of the New Testament; on this soiled, greasy page he read, "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." That scripture and much else that was on the page was such a blessing that he afterwards bought a copy of the New Testament, through which he found salvation.

(2)When addressing those proud and bitter enemies of the Christ, Peter says emphatically, "In none other is there salvation: neither is there any other Name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must (it is necessary) be saved " (Acts 4.12). In plain and unmistakable words this exclusive assurance of salvation through Him is clearly set forth "No other Saviour, no one but Jesus."

(3) Implicit obedience is demanded by God. He will not allow His will to be resisted with impunity. To do so, sooner or later will lead to disaster.

"Thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered" (Romans 6.17).

Then it should be noted that salvation is for the perishing, those who are in distress and danger, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19.10). Unless the sinner is saved he must surely perish. Who can fathom the meaning of the word "perish" ? Whatever the interpretation, it tells of a fate unspeakably terrible.

Salvation is also for the saved, and is threefold.

(a) Salvation from sin's penalty, which is past, accomplished and (praise God!) eternal. The believer is beyond condemnation. He is accepted in Christ, so that we read in Ephesians 2.8, "By grace have ye been saved through faith." And as we have already pointed out, it is God's grace that saves, but it is our faith that makes salvation ours. In 2 Timothy 1.9 we read that it is God "who saved us"; also in Titus 3.5, "According to His mercy He saved us." Such scriptures should remove every unbelieving doubt and fear. Saved, gloriously saved, eternally secure! Doubts and fears are an insult to God's wonderful love and a dishonour to the work of our blessed Saviour.

(b) Salvation from the power of sin, which is a present continuous thing. Now that we are saved God desires that our lives shall be saved for Himself and from all that is contrary to His will. With craftiness and subtlety that old serpent the Devil will do his utmost to thwart the divine workings in the believer. The world, the flesh, and the Devil are a trinity of evil with which we are confronted up to the last stretch of the road. These three operate together, and if our lives for God are to be saved, it calls for constant vigilance. The world is ever near and supplies what the Devil uses to arouse

the lust of the eye" or "the vain glory of life." The flesh is ever craving to satisfy its appetites and passions. The devil, whether as a "roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," or as an angel of light," is a powerful foe, but, thanks be to God, our blessed Saviour is all powerful and "able to save to the uttermost (completely) them that draw near unto God through Him" (Hebrews 7.25).. Sambo was asked whether it was true that he had the mastery of the Devil. "No," was his quick retort, "but Jesus has." Our Lord's present ministry of intercession is the assurance that not one of His own need perish in the wilderness. "The salvation of your souls (lives) " (1 Peter 1. 9) has this present salvation in view.

"The saving of the soul (life) "is similarly used in Hebrews 10.39. This salvation we are told to "work out with fear and trembling, for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2. 12, 13). "To work" is really to carry through to a completion what is already begun. This is our responsibility and is blessedly possible because it is God that works in us both "to will " (that is, He creates the desire) and "to do" (giving us the needed grace and strength).

(c) Salvation from the presence of sin is a future thing. The attitude of every believer should be that of waiting for the Lord from heaven; eyes straining, ears hearkening, hearts longing for the fulfilment of the precious promise, " I will come again, and receive you unto Myself." Though happy and joyous in His service, we are still in this body of our humiliation and in it we groan. This will all cease at our Lord's return when Christ shall appear a second time apart from sin (the sin question was dealt with at His first appearing) to them that wait for Him unto salvation" (Hebrews 9.28). We have further proof of this in 1 Peter 1.5: "Who by the power of God are kept through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed." We are kept (or guarded as by a military guard) as we look to Him who is infinitely near to us. "Unto a salvation ready to be revealed" is evidently future and not yet come, but awaiting revelation, in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then we shall be free from all that hinders, and shall see Him " face to face " (1 Corinthians 13.12), and enter into the glorious consummation of our salvation. That will indeed be deliverance from the very presence of sin! So then day by day, as we journey on, "salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed" (Romans 13. 11).

J. BENNISON | Feb 1952
For Young Believers