Full Understanding of Salvation

When we talk of “salvation,” we sometimes think primarily in terms of being delivered from the punishment of our sins in hell. Certainly, this is an extremely precious benefit of salvation! J However, our study together about God’s comprehensive plan for His people to live in holistic peace suggests that we should broaden our understanding of salvation beyond mere rescue from divine wrath. Salvation is not simply ‘being saved from’ something unspeakably dreadful; it is also ‘being saved for’ the wonderful holistic peace that God desires for us.

We see this, partly, in the various ways in which the New Testament speaks about our salvation experience. Granted, deliverance from divine wrath toward human sin is indeed an essential component of this salvation (see Rom 3:25; 1 Thess 1:10; 5:9; 1 John 2:2; 4:10). However, the New Testament description of our salvation is also much broader than this. The redemption introduced by Christ is designed to bring restoration in each of the spiritual, social, and physical domains.

SPIRITUAL

We have been reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). We have peace with God (Rom 5:1). We have received the gift of the Spirit (Rom 5:5). We have been adopted as His children (Rom 8:16; Gal 3:26; Phil 2:15). We cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35, 38-39)

SOCIAL

Because of Christ’s work on the cross – the instrument of our salvation – we are united into ‘one new humanity’ (Ephesians 2:14-22). This new humanity, created from the supernatural merger of previously alienated groups (specifically Jew and Gentile, but these principles can probably apply to other groups experiencing mutual hostility), is the interdependent and growing Body of Christ, characterized by love (1 Corinthians 12-14).

PHYSICAL

We have the future promise of a resurrection into a new and glorious body (1 Corinthians 15; Phil 3:21). The natural world itself awaits this redemption of God’s children, because it will then be restored and set free from bondage (Romans 8:19-22). This calls to mind the prophetic images of a restored natural order in which “the wolf will dwell with the lamb” and “they will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain” (Isa 11:6-9).

As we have seen, this holistic peace of perfect harmony in our worship toward God, in our relationships with other people, and in our stewardship of the natural order was God’s intention from the beginning. It was humanity’s SIN – rebellion against God’s rule and disobedience of God’s command – that introduced the alienation and corruption which destroyed holistic peace. Thus, our consideration, discussion, and proclamation of salvation must never underestimate or minimize sin. God’s just wrath toward sin is THE issue which undermines our experience of holistic peace. God’s just and loving resolution of His own divine wrath through the cross is thus an unspeakably precious gift – because it opens the door once again for us to enter the magnificent holistic peace He has prepared for us.

Thus, we can define salvation in this way: Salvation is redemption from sin (and its effects) and restoration of man’s holistic role in God’s Kingdom.