Salvation is the song that was to be sung by the redeemed in that day.
“Behold now is the day.” Our salvation has come. “Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.” Salvation means
deliverance. A prophecy concerning the Christ—our salvation—says: “He hath
sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” Isa.
61:1. Christ our Savior came to deliver us from the prison-house of sin.
In the preceding chapter we learned that sin left its crimson and scarlet
stains upon the soul. Salvation cleanses the soul, removing the stains,
making it as white as snow. Washing in “niter and much soap” will not
prove effectual, but the blood of Jesus will remove every stain. Sin
reproaches, but the salvation of Jesus exalts. It lifts man up from the
coarse, degrading, shameful life of sin, and exalts him to integrity,
nobility, and purity. It removes the discontentments, uneasiness,
condemnations and fears, and brings joy, peace and rest. Salvation breaks
the strong fetters of sin and man rejoices in the beautiful light and
liberty of this gospel day. The scepter is wrested from the cruel tyrant,
sin, and righteousness in quietness and peace sways the scepter, and man
rejoices. Sin is dethroned and Christ is crowned King of glory, and his
triumphant reign is in the heart and life of man. Sin no longer has
dominion. Christ hath made us free.
O God, thy vict’ries I extol
With all the freedom of my soul.
Salvation removes the awful sting of death and allows man to approach the
last hour
“Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him and lies down to pleasant dreams.”
A Present Salvation.
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2
Cor. 6:2. The present dispensation, or gospel day, is the salvation age.
It is the accepted time, or the time which God has accepted for the
salvation of man. That there is another dispensation of time beyond this
present Christian era in which man can be saved is Satan’s falsehood to
cause man to neglect salvation in this “accepted time,” beyond which he
knows there is no escape. “How shall we escape if we neglect so great
salvation?” “To-day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts.”
The apostle Paul says, “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11. It “hath appeared.” This is the time
when salvation has appeared unto all men, and all men must accept it in
this time or lose it forever. In Titus 3:5, Eph. 2:5, Rom. 6:22, Jude 1, 1
Cor. 1:2, and many other texts, salvation is spoken of as having been
received. Beyond controversy salvation is a present attainment.
Salvation By Grace And Not By Works.
Salvation from sin is by the grace of God. The word “grace” is defined by
lexicographers as favor or mercy. Grace is a characteristic in the nature
of God which offers mercy or favor though wholly unmerited by the
recipient. Man is an offender against God. Through repentance he finds
favor or grace in God’s sight without any worthiness, excellence or
meritoriousness in himself, but because of the merciful nature of the
Lord. “For by grace are ye saved through faith.” Eph. 2:8. “By grace ye
are saved.” Ver. 5. “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” 2 Tim. 1:9.
“Being justified freely by his grace.” Rom. 3:24.
If man could attain to salvation by works, then he could plead his own
merits; but we are taught that we can only plead the mercy of God. The
apostle says that salvation is “not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Eph. 2:9. If it were by works man would have some cause for boasting; but
because it is wholly by grace, he has nothing of self in which to boast.
Again he says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and
renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:5.
Salvation Perfect.
There is no weakness nor incompleteness in God’s salvation. It saves to
“the uttermost.” Heb. 7:25. Salvation is so complete that man requires no
additional cleansing or purifying to fit him for heaven.
The salvation to which the apostle had attained made him “ready to be
offered.” There is no cleansing beyond the gates of death, but in this
life we are commanded to make ready. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be as white as snow.” This text proves the efficacy of the blood or
the completeness of salvation.
Also the following texts magnify the preciousness and perfectness of
redemption: “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be
clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse
you.” Ezek. 36:25. “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me,
and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psa. 51:7. “Ye are complete in him.”
Col. 2:10. “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
1 John 1:7. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. It is
sin that excludes us from heaven. It is salvation that saves us from sin,
therefore we, when saved, are ready for that better land.
Future Salvation.
There are a few texts of Scripture which teach a salvation yet in the
future. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that
endureth to the end shall be saved.” Mat. 10:22. “Wherefore, my beloved,
as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in
my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Phil.
2:12. These texts do not prove that there is no salvation only at the end
of human life, else what could be the meaning of the many texts that speak
of a present salvation? These two texts are very easily harmonized with
those teaching a present experience of saving grace.
As long as we are in this world it is possible for us to lose our
salvation. Though we are now saved from sin by grace it is possible for us
to be overtaken in some way and lose this experience. As long as we are
here we must endure temptation. But if we endure unto the end when this
mortality puts on immortality we pass beyond the possibility of losing
salvation, hence, we are saved eternally. By resisting temptation, by
praying and watching, we “work out our salvation.” The time comes when
there are no more temptations to resist, and we are safe and saved
forever.
I am saved now from all sin, but to keep this experience I must watch,
pray, work, resist and endure unto the end of my life, and then my
salvation receives the seal of eternity—saved in glory forever. Amen.
Wonders Of Salvation.
When man the wonders of creation
Beholds in deepest contemplation,
Adores not the Almighty One,
Must have indeed a heart of stone.
Thou mortal! seest not the sun
His daily course so proudly run?
The moon in her nocturnal race,
With sweet and tender, smiling face?
The stars in pale but beauteous light,
Twinkling, shining all the night?
Stupendous ocean, wild and free,
Bold image of eternity?
The mountain cliff that checks the storm,
And sheds its tears on valley farm?
Poor soul twice dead indeed must be,
And plucked up like uprooted tree,
Or dulled by sensuality,
Or lured by prodigality,
Which does not bound with admiration,
Or feel a warmth of true devotion
Upon beholding this creation.
All nature smiling sweet and tender,
Sun, moon and stars in wondrous splendor,
And mortal man, a bit of sod,
Reveals the handiwork of God.
Howe’er there is one work divine,
Excels all others of my rhyme,
The making of a world like this,
Sent circling through so vast a space;
Bright worlds above in glory streaming,
Can not compare with this remaining.
It claims all Heaven’s admiration,
It moves all Hell to disputation,
Excels the glorious translation
Of Enoch from his brief probation
To higher plane of situation.
All that’s been done in whole creation
Is naught, compared with man’s salvation;
Saved from the scarlet stains of sin,
By power of God been born again;
Then by the Holy Spirit’s power
Made pure in instantaneous hour.
Oh, new and wonderful creation,
Exceeds by far the old formation;
Sun, moon and stars and mountain’s plane,
The dark and deep blue ocean’s main,
Do not God’s power so much display
As when he takes man’s sins away.
Old things are gone, all things are new,
All heaven by faith is now in view;
And peace, sweet peace fills all the soul,
And rest, though stormy billows roll;
Such is man’s happy situation
In this most wonderful salvation.