Category: Gospel, theology and story

Christ’s Finished Work: Salvation

31 October 2023 blogpastor Leave a comment

For most Christians, the word “salvation” means the salvation of the soul from the wrath of God through the death and resurrection of Christ. However, with a careful reading of the Scriptures we find that this word is used for other things as well, such as being saved from physical drowning (Acts 27:31). We also discover that salvation has different shades of meaning depending on the context. Salvation is comprehensive and can be described in three dimensions: past, present and future tenses.

Past tense salvation

This first dimension of salvation is past tense: “I have been saved”. It refers to the moment when a person repents and puts his faith in Jesus Christ. When this happens, the person’s sins are all forgiven and he receives the gift of righteousness from God. The person is declared righteous before God. He is saved, delivered from the penalty of sin, which is a spiritual “death” (Romans 6:23a)– an alienation, distancing and separation from God.

This separation from God can extend beyond this earthly life into eternity unless the sinner repents and receives God’s offer of forgiveness of sins. Our falling short of God’s standard of holiness alienates us from God. It is Christ’s death on the cross that made possible the forgiveness of our sins, and made us righteous before God. We are no longer enemies of God. Our separation from God has been healed and bridged. We have been reconciled with God and find favour with him. We have been justified. This is salvation in the past tense.

We had not deserved it nor earned it. It was Christ’s finished work that saved us. We only need to exercise faith, and even this is a gift of God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Present tense salvation

The second dimension of salvation is present tense: “I am being saved”. It can be called sanctification. It refers to the believer’s growth in holiness and becoming more like Christ. While past-tense salvation frees us from the penalty of sin, present-tense salvation frees us from the power of sin in the believer’s day-to-day life in the world. William MacDonald, a bible scholar, puts it this way: “Although it is true I have been saved, it is equally true that I am being saved day by day. I have been saved from damnation; I am being saved from damage. I have been saved from the penalty of sin; I am being saved from the power of sin.”

This second dimension of salvation is a process of transformation by which the Spirit of God gradually frees us from sinful patterns of thought, lusts and behaviours and forms new desires, perspectives, values and behaviours in us. The goal of sanctification is that we are formed in the likeness of Christ. This requires us to yield to the workings of God in our life. “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

Future tense salvation

Finally, there is a future dimension of salvation that is called glorification: “I will be saved”. The apostle Paul refers to this future dimension when he tells the Christians in Rome: “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). The apostle spoke of the future salvation to be revealed at the end of this age: “To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power is being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5).

This salvation refers to a time in the future when the believer will be delivered or saved from the presence of sin altogether. It will happen at the end of this age when a final transformation will occur when we believers will receive our new glorified, resurrection bodies and live eternally in the presence of God free from the presence of all sin. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3,4).

What a great and comprehensive salvation! Behold its breadth, height, length and depth! We were saved from the penalty of sins (past). We are being saved from the power of sin (present). And on Jesus’ return, we will finally be saved from the presence of sin (future). Contemplate the wisdom and plan of God. If salvation is only in the past tense, believers will still be bound in their old sinful patterns of unloving behaviour, a total disgrace to his name, a poor advertisement of God’s beauty and grace, and they will be without a future hope. However, God knows all believers need all three dimensions of salvation to live assured, fruitful, and godly for the kingdom of God.

Prayer

Dear Father, how vast and deep is your wisdom and plan of salvation! Thank you for sending Jesus to suffer and die for us so that we can experience all three dimensions of salvation. Transform us and do your mighty work in us until the day Christ returns in glory. Amen.

This is part of a planned series of writings on the topic, “The A to Z of Christ’s Finished Work”. I am writing it alphabet by alphabet. Thus far the others that I have written can be found HERE.

Christ’s Finished Work: Resurrection of Believers

5 October 2023 blogpastor Leave a comment

The death and resurrection of Christ is a foundational truth upon which our life depends. Every blessing and benefit we receive from God and experience in our lives has its basis in the finished work of Christ. The living waters flow out of the fountainhead of Christ’s victory through the holy cross and the empty tomb. We often talk about the death of Christ but it is equally important that we grasp the fruit of the resurrection of Christ.

Sin is defeated completely

First, Christ’s resurrection confirms that his death was effectually substitutionary. In other words, he suffered death on our behalf and for our sins, so that we can receive his gift of righteousness. If Christ was not raised from the dead, we would remain under the condemnation of our sins. In Romans 4:25, the apostle Paul states that Christ “was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification”. Christ’s resurrection secures the effect that Christ’s death was purposed to achieve: the cancellation of the penalty for our sins, and the imputing of his righteousness to us. His resurrection justifies us of all guilt.

After Jesus was crucified, the disciples were in despair and confusion. They were mourning. However, the good news soon arrived, “Jesus is alive”, and they recalled what Jesus had told them about his resurrection. The resurrection gave them great reassurance and faith in the promises of God. It should have the same effect of assuring us that our sins are forgiven and we stand righteous before God.

Powers of a new life

Second, Christ’s resurrection empowers our new life. Paul declares in Colossians 2:12 that “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.” In other words, because of our union with Christ, we experienced a spiritual resurrection equivalent to regeneration, the impartation of God’s life that enlivens us spiritually and morally. He states the same thought elsewhere: “even when we were dead in our trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ—by grace, you have been saved”(Ephesians 2:5). Christ’s resurrection made it possible for the spiritually dead to experience a spiritual resurrection that enables believers to live in “newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

This was my personal experience of a spiritual resurrection. A friend invited me to a Saturday afternoon youth meeting in a terrace house and after the sermon, I went forward to ask Jesus into my life. From then on I attended church regularly and prayed together every night with other youths on fire for Jesus. A period of repentance and cleansing followed and I was also baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit. My heart was bursting with love for God, peace from the forgiveness of sins, and joy from being baptised with the Holy Spirit. My desires and goals were completely changed from self-gratification to wanting to spend time with God in prayer, Bible study and other spiritual things. My family and friends all noticed the changes in my life. I have been made new. It is like my old life passed away and the newness of life has replaced it. Where once I did not know God, I became spiritually alive to his person and presence.

The hope of a future resurrection

Third, our resurrection is guaranteed by Christ’s resurrection. This is a future physical resurrection. If Christ was not raised from the dead, then no one will be raised to life. However, we know from the witnesses in the gospel record that Jesus was indeed raised from the dead. Since this is so, it also proves that God’s promises that the dead in Christ will be raised from the dead to share eternal bliss with God in his new world will be fulfilled in the future. Apostle Peter puts it this way: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”(1 Peter 1:3-5)

Christ’s resurrection gives us a living hope that one day in the future we will receive an inheritance that is kept in heaven for us, a salvation that will be revealed at the end of this age. This gives us an undying, unfading hope. It takes away the fear of death. Death will be put in a coffin and sealed securely for all eternity, unable to harm us ever again.

Prayer

Father in heaven, you raised Jesus from the dead, so that my sins are dealt with and I can have right standing before you. Thank you that the resurrection also meant my new life is powered not by my willpower but by your Spirit. I also put my hope of eternal life in you for just as you raised Jesus from the dead, you will do the same for me at the end of this age. What a comprehensive victory you have made available for me! Amen.

Christ’s Finished Work: Quietude

23 July 2023 blogpastor Leave a comment

It is obvious why this post took the longest time ever. What blessing that is derived from Christ’s finished work begins with the alphabet “Q”? I was wavering between “Quenching of spiritual thirst” and “Quietude” and finally decided to write about both!

Quenching of Spiritual Thirst

We can clearly observe in society that there is an insatiable thirst in humans that cannot be satiated by material wealth, great achievement, human love, powerful control, extreme thrills, nor worldwide fame. No matter how much of these a person has, there is always a feeling of emptiness, meaninglessness, a yearning for more. It is as if there is a hole in the heart that is yet to be filled. It was St Augustine of Hippo who described this emptiness well in this prayer in his autography: “Thou has made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee”.

Jesus recognized that human beings are not mere flesh and bones but have an eternal spiritual dimension to them. He saw that to quench that undying spiritual thirst of humans, sinful man has to be restored to right relationship with God. This is made possible by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Knowing his finished work will make available a reconciliation of separated humans with God, he told the Samaritan woman: “Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water (from the physical well) will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him (the Spirit) shall never thirst; but the water (the Spirit) that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life (italics mine).” The spiritual blessings of the Spirit’s presence in us are multi-faceted and satisfies the deepest void and hole in our life. It is so complete that one may not have any of the earthly possessions or experiences that humans mistakenly seek, and yet be able to find full satisfaction and deep contentment through a trust relationship with Christ. In another setting, Jesus gave this invitation to people: “If anyone is thirsty let him come to Me and drink.” It is by coming to Christ and believing in his finished work on the cross that we can truly find satisfaction and true contentment. Our thirst will finally be quenched.

Quietude is another blessing

The dictionary defines “quietude” as “a state of stillness, calmness and quiet in a person or place”. The picture I get is of a person with utter serenity and unruffled poise in the midst of the challenges and difficulties of life. Jesus death and resurrection proclaims God’s character to us. God is love and seeks our well-being and wholeness. God is good and intends only good, never harm. God is wise and knows the best means and plans to achieve his purposes. God is all powerful and in total control though sometimes it appears that nothing is going right. When we exercise child-like faith in this loving God, we cannot help but find our troubled soul gradually find itself stilled, and calmed, and quietened. Our prayer will be, “Father, I do not understand, but I trust Your love, Your goodness, Your wisdom, and Your power. When we do this “quietude” will be established within our soul.