12-CHAPTER VIII THE PRESENT COMPLETE SALVATION IN CHRIST
CHAPTER VIII THE PRESENT COMPLETE SALVATION IN CHRIST The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous" (Psalms 118:15). Because Jesus has conquered, the fountain of life is open to us. Because He has overcome we also can live as overcomers. Because He has triumphed His triumph is our happy portion.
All His saving work is established in completeness and perfection. The Mediator of Salvation As the Christ, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament (Christ = Messiah = Anointed). As Bearer of the Savior of the Spirit of God (Acts 10:38) He is the personal union of the three chief anointed offices of the old covenant. He is at once prophet, priest, and king. At the same time, His threefold work corresponds to all three powers of man’s soul. The corruption of man through sin was total. His understanding was darkened, his feelings became unhappy, his will evil.
Now as Prophet, Christ brings knowledge and releases man’s understanding from the bonds of darkness. As Priest, He presents the guilt offering, cancels both man’s guilt and his consciousness of guilt, and brings his feelings to rejoice in the forgiveness of sins, and at the same time the blessedness of fellowship with God. As King, He establishes His saving rule, governs the will of man by His own Divine holy will, and thus frees the will of man from the slavery of sin.
Thus His threefold office corresponds to the three powers of man’s soul, and as before sin had conquered completely, so has Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King, now completely triumphed. No power of the soul is excepted. The whole man is drawn into the working of salvation. A full, free, total salvation is acquired. The Gift of Salvation On the ground of this all-sufficient work of salvation there can now be a life of richness and joy. The believer is brought out of the abyss of sin on to the high rock of salvation (Psalms 40:2-3). Out of hell’s prison he is now set in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 2:6). He, the rebel, is pardoned by heaven’s King and set among the nobles of the land (Psalms 16:3). Indeed, he is made a member of the King’s family (Romans 8:15), and shall at last reign with Christ, the Son of God, in all the ages of eternity (Revelation 22:5; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; Luke 12:32).
What a salvation! Should it not incite our hearts to continual exultation? Should we not in joyful thank Savior lay our lives at His feet, devote ourselves wholly to Him, and freely and willingly exert ourselves to be an ornament, a jewel, to the message of the gospel, this most glorious proclamation to the world (Titus 2:10)?
Enriched in Christ, the practical realization of these riches is now our duty. This is at once our task and privilege. The redeemed must live as redeemed. Bearers of salvation must walk as saved. They who possess heaven must be heavenly- minded. The Personal Experience of Salvation But for an overcoming life certain definite spiritual pre-suppositions are demanded. Only the Christian who responds to these will rightly realize his full salvation and be preserved in holiness. We mention certain of the most important basic conditions of such an inward spiritual state.
FaithonthefinishedworkofChrist. We must see once for all how completely Christ has conquered. Not till then can we experience a joyful life of victory. We do not need to torment ourselves to effect our own salvation. We do not fight for victory but from victory. The pre-requisite for victory already exists. The Commander-in-chief has triumphed. Full salvation is now available in Him. "Jesus saves me now." In particular our eyes must be open to the high standing in grace which we have received in Christ. We are "chosen, sanctified, beloved" (Colossians 3:12). We are a "temple of the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 Corinthians 6:19). We are sons of the Most High (Galatians 4:6-7). Christ, the Firstborn, is not ashamed to call us His brethren (Romans 8:29; Hebrews 2:11).
This knowledge of the high standing in grace does not make us self-secure and self-contented, nor high-minded and satisfied, but rather grateful of heart, and therefore devoted and dedicated to God, always supposing that it is a truly spiritual knowledge that is inwrought and interpenetrated by the Spirit. But in whom this view of the freely granted Savior of grace is lacking there will never be joy in his salvation. He toils in his own strength, experiences defeat after defeat, perhaps at length gives up the fight, and in practice sin carries off the victory. Therefore is a Spirit-wrought view of full salvation in Christ a pre-requisite for all true practical experiences of salvation.’
FullSurrender. Faith is at the same time devotion. The original language of the New Testament has the same word for "faith" and "faith Savior" (Gr.pistis). Faith is not only assent to the doctrine, but at the same time practical consent by the life. As Luther said, faith is "life in God," or as Zwingli expressed it, "life in the Head." Faith is a dedication of one’s self.
But here all depends upon the completeness of the dedication. Only entirely devoted Christians are entirely happy Christians. Someone has said that "a half-Christian is a complete absurdity." This is drastic but thoroughly justified.
Some Christians pray for devotion:"Lord, give me full devotion." But in this they overlook that their prayer is quite false. They ask that God will do something that He expects from them. Dedication is our responsibility. We have to say:"Lord, I devote myself to Thee," and actually to do it. Then will His victorious power stream into our life and the joy of full salvation will overflow in us.
AttentiontotheWordofGod. Neglect of the Bible implies neglect of our own inner life. "Ignorance of Holy Scripture is ignorance of Christ" (Jerome). "As you deal with God’s Word so God deals with you." God comes to us through the written Word. His Spirit accompanies His Word. The Catholic Bishop von Keppler has justly said:"The Holy Scripture is to us today the land that flows with milk and honey, and he who searches it as a spy can find there even today a Savior of new and surprising things." The Bible widens our vision. It shows us God’s trustworthiness. It supplies holy objects for our thought and meditation. It sets before our striving noble objectives, and he who attends to the Word of God, and joyfully submits to it, will experience that
"If a man hearkens God speaks;
If a man obeys God acts."
Faith Saviorinlittlethings. "He who is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much" (Luke 16:10). Only he who is watchful in the small everyday battle will grow strong and will steadily attain to a life of victory. Faith Savior means to be exact in little things, including when nooneseesit. He who is ready to be faithful must be continually conscious of the presence of Christ. "Little is much if God is in it." Therefore in no wise despise the everyday life. In victory or defeat in the small everyday burdens and tests it will be decided how far experience of full salvation is a real practical possession.
Thelifeofprayer. He who would have must take. But he who prays not receives nothing (James 4:2 b, 3). Unfaith Savior in prayer means voluntary renunciation of victory. Only in the presence of God flow the living springs of salvation. Therefore wouldst thou be happy? Become a man of prayer. God only dispenses His gifts direct from His throne, He never dispatches gifts to a distance. Practical experience of salvation is known only in His presence.
Courageouswitness. He who will be victorious must be a witness. "They overcame him [Satan] through the blood of the Lamb and through the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11). He who confesses Christ becomes inwardly strong. In the storms the roots of the trees strike deeper. By bold confession the frontiers become clear. Discipleship and the world are made distinct from each other; in the follower of the Lord resoluteness and the consciousness of responsibility increase and the whole inner man becomes active and directed to Christ. Therefore courageous confession belongs to the practical presuppositions of experience of full salvation.
JoyfulcountinguponthepresenceofChrist. Practice the presence of Christ in thy life. Think of this: Where thou art, He also is. He sees every situation. He can help daily and hourly. He is Immanuel, "God with us." Grace has appeared: grace is therefore here (Titus 2:11). What we need is to reckon practically upon the reality of the presence of the Holy Spirit here and now.
This was the special message which, some decades ago, a blessed revival movement called forth:"Jesus saves me now." It was the joyful message of the possibility of a victorious life, of sanctification through faith, of present and full salvation in Christ, which was set anew before the souls of the people of God in God-given authority. Full dedication to the Lord, freedom from not only the guilt but also the power of sin: what is this but rays of heavenly light able to illuminate the hearts of the redeemed and set us free from all feeble superficiality and daily experience of poverty or fruitless striving after holiness? Then is holiness no longer a wearisome effort in our own strength but a Divine working of the risen and glorified Christ. But for this one needs decided devotion, high aims, daily purifying, joyful energy, living freshness, and all this in Christ, the living and present One. To the poets of the noblest treasures of song in the German language belongs the Lutheran Mardn Rinkart, the " Ambrose of the Evangelical Church," writer of the hymn, "Now thank we all our God," which has been termed the German TeDeum (1586— 1649). This man of God, a Field Marshal in spiritual dress, had served his Lord and his church with heroic courage and great risk in the days of the pestilence and famine of the Thirty Years War. He had a signet ring with the inscription "Musica." He was a great friend of poetry and song and he gave this word a special meaning:
M V S I C A
Mein Vertrauen Steht In Christus Allein
MytruststandsinChristalone And is not this in truth the experience of all holy men of God? Is it not so, that where trust on Christ is present there triumphant "musical" joy fills the soul? (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19). But finally your present salvation in Christ will be glorified in possession of the future eternal salvation. And as even now the soul of the redeemed has known only one basic melody, so will it then through all eternity ring out, "The Lord is my strength and my song And He is become my salvation"
(Psalms 118:14) "Nought have I to offer:
Thou, O Lord, art all."