Why do so many Christians mistake the start of the race with
the finish line? It’s what I call bus
stop religion and it’s not enough. What
I mean is that too many Christians’ orientation to the Christian life is “Get
Saved. Go to Heaven.” Salvation is a
kind of fire insurance. Take out the
policy and hope for the best. In other
words, buy the ticket to heaven and just wait for the glory bus. Not sadly, but happily there’s so much
more. Our salvation is much
bigger. It’s a much more glorious
reality.
To start with, salvation only from sin is magnificent, but
it is not enough. It’s like being
satisfied with only a third of a loaf. God’s
plan is a full salvation. We are saved not
only from, but also saved to, and saved for. It’s straight forward
and easy to grasp. We are from somewhere, going to somewhere, and for a purpose. Where we’ve
gone from is a life of sin, estrangement,
and alienation from God. We’ve gone on
to redemption by God, and reconciliation with God. It’s then possible to go on to restoration to God’s likeness, purity
of heart, holiness. At least that’s the
gospel plan of a full salvation. Sin
separates us from God and there is nothing we can do about it. It is in our nature. Our Father God does not
desire to leave us to our own devices in the mess which our sin occasions. He saves us FROM our sin. His
redemptive act through the death and resurrection of Jesus His Son paid the
penalty for our sin and established a new relationship for us with Him. Accept it.
Believe it. Receive it as a free gift of grace. It can't be earned. By God’s grace
through our faith in him, we are redeemed through the blood sacrifice of Christ
on the cross and our relationship with God is reconciled. It is a new beginning
making it possible for us to continue to grow in the grace. By God’s grace through our faith we are being
saved (restored) TO his likeness in holiness and righteousness. He saves us not only for our own good, but
FOR a purpose. The purpose is found in the Great
Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40) and Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). So a
full salvation is from, to and for.
Sadly, so many Christians are only oriented to a partial
salvation. Some embrace only the first
part, saved from sin. Their idea of the
gospel is limited to “get saved, go to heaven.”
They accept Christ as savior and it’s “one and done.” What God intends as a commencement they
understand to be the finish line. It’s
like buying all the right clothes and equipment to climb a mountain, getting
completely outfitted, getting to where the path starts and then sitting down on
a bench never to begin the journey. Or
it is like buying a ticket for a bus trip from coast to coast and never getting
on the bus. They are saved from, but
miss out on the fullness of God’s salvation.
Still others begin to climb the mountain or get on the bus
to enjoy the journey personally with hope of a positive life experience. Along the way they grow, mature, learn a
great deal, have great fellowship with others and with God. The whole journey is wholesome, exciting, and
beneficial. It means encountering challenges,
being tempted to get off the path or be diverted along the way, but their obedient
faith and perseverance makes it possible for them to experience mountain tops
of holiness, greater intimacy with God, and real joy in the life. They are saved to greater things God intends
for them, but live a life which might be understood as a kind of holy narcissism. This is because they think their salvation (restoration
to holiness and its fruit) is for their sole benefit.
Dean Hinson in an article published this month in Word & Deed (Nov. , 2014)
makes it
clear that our restoration and experience of God’s fullness (holiness), our
full salvation, is for a purpose. He
puts it this way. “What is important is
‘faith expressing itself in love.’ (Galatians
5:6) When the Holy Spirit controls our lives (and desires) and these
fruits are being produced, we will feed the hungry, give the thirsty a drink,
invite the stranger into our home, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those
in prison. Jesus will say to us, “I tell
you the truth when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and
sisters, you were doing it to me.’ ”
Salvation is from sin (disobedience,
iniquity, trespasses, transgression, etc.), to Christ-likeness
(holiness), and beyond for the purpose of obedient faith expressed
in love to God and others in service.
Thanks be to God. God's full salvation is by His grace. It is always
more than enough.
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