re:thinking salvation

The ancient Jews’ idea of “salvation” was much different than how modern Christians often view salvation. To the ancient Jews, salvation was being rescued from death, sickness, disease, trouble, distress, fear, and (mostly) enemies. Ancient Israel bathed in conflict in oppression: first they were oppressed by the Egyptians, then they were at war with the Philistines, Amalekites, and Amorites. The Assyrian Empire swept down and oppressed them, then the Babylonian Empire took over. The ancient Jews knew oppression under three more great empires: the Medo-Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans. Near the birth of Christ during the Roman occupation of ancient Palestine, we can see that the Jews expected the Messiah to redeem them from the oppressive Romans (Luke 1.69-75, as an example).

Many modern Christians have a view of salvation that is all about heaven and hell. Jesus came to save us from our sins, yes (Matthew 1.20-21), but heaven and hell are not the bottom line: we are not merely saved from the consequences of sin. Many Christians will say, “Salvation means we get to go to heaven instead of hell.” Yes… but it means so much more.

Jesus said, “Salvation is much more than being saved from your earthly enemies and from just being saved from eternal destruction.” The salvation Jesus speaks of is a here-and-now salvation; it’s not just about eternal life after death! In fact, Jesus speaks more of life here-and-now in the kingdom of God than consummation and life in the consummated kingdom of God. When looking at the gospels, we see that salvation includes being rescued from fruitless ways of life, being freed to live in a new and better way. We see that salvation is sharing in God’s love for all creation, and it involves sharing in God’s kingdom and mission in our world. The salvation Jesus preached was for the here-and-now; life in the “next” world is not where Jesus’ attention was focused. Jesus offered people (and continues to offer) a spiritual transformation that would make them into a new kind of people in the world: a selfless, serving, sacrificial, humble, and kind people, a people delivered from the hostilities, fears, and guilt that drain life of its joys. The salvation that Jesus offers involves becoming new persons who live out love and justice in the world (and being able to partake in the kingdom of God fulfilled in consummation!).

We must receive this salvation. Many people believe that salvation is found simply by praying a sinner’s prayer or just by giving assent to a body of facts. The scriptures say otherwise: the scriptures say that we receive the gift of salvation through faith (belief in and trust in Christ), repentance, confession, and baptism.

God invites us to join Him in His mission for the world, a mission that is founded on love and justice. God invites us to join Him in an intimate dance. He invites us to embrace a new way of life, a life that is foreign to the animal-nature of humankind. He invites us to become a new kind of people in the world: our world is filled with people who are selfish, greedy, and indifferent; God calls us to become--by His grace--a people who are selfless, generous, and serving.