WE ARE NOT IN HEAVEN YET

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-13)

Devotion 33 of 37

ETERNAL SALVATION

The COST of salvation reveals much about its nature. While men speak casually about salvation, as though it were common, and appropriated with minimal effort, no such representation is found in the word of God. This is a salvation that is "so great," no provision for escape has been made for those who "neglect" it.

The spirit makes a remarkable comparison between the Law given from Sinai and the "great salvation" provided in Christ Jesus. "Therefore [in view of the fact that angels are ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation–1:13-14] we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation" (Heb 2:1-3a).

Notice the comparison. The Law was "the word spoken by angels." Elsewhere it is written the law was received "by the disposition of angels" (Acts 7:53), and "ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator [Moses]" (Gal 3:19). How stable was such a word? It was "steadfast," unwavering and holding true–unable to be moved, voided, or successfully contradicted by men. How will God react to those who transgress a word like that? Every infraction of that Law, and every act of disobedience was met with the appropriate punishment or penalty–every single one!

In view of this, "How shall we escape, if we NEGLECT so great salvation?" In salvation, men have been given something far transcendent to a "Law of commandments contained in ordinances" (Eph 2:15). Sure judgment is incurred for NEGLECTING this salvation–for ignoring, disregarding, slighting, or living as though it did not exist. This is a warning for men in THIS world, for no such word will be required in the world to come, where nothing unclean [including thoughts] will be able to enter. The word postulates a possibility that cannot be dismissed with a theological tenet, or a doctrinal position.

There is another thing to be seen here. Lest men think of this "great salvation" in an ethereal way, without regard to substantive thought, it is equated with the PROCLAMATION of that salvation through the Gospel: " . . . which at the first began to be SPOKEN by the Lord, and was CONFIRMED unto us by them that heard him" (2:3b). The manner, therefore, in which the Word of God addresses salvation is of great importance.

This brings us to the consideration of a facet of salvation that will yield much fruit. This is an "eternal salvation."

"Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of ETERNAL SALVATION to all who obey Him" (Hebrews 5:8-9, NKJV),

JESUS LEARNED OBEDIENCE

In order for "eternal salvation" to be brought to men, the Son of God had to first "learn" obedience. Ordinarily, "obedience" is considered a requirement for those who are being saved. Here, it is was required for the One who brought the salvation. In the case of our Lord, He was not required to "learn obedience" because He was wayward or disobedient, for the devil "had nothing" in Him (John 14:30). There were at least three reasons for this requirement.

FIRST, the death that He would "accomplish" (Lk 9:31) was the singularly most significant act of obedience ever conceived. He had received a commandment from His Father to lay down His life, and take it up again (John 10:17-18). This would not be something casual, but would involve being "made sin" by God (2 Cor 5:21), being "cursed" by God (Gal 3:13), and bearing the sins of humanity in His body "on the tree" (1 Pet 2:24). All of His life was a preparation for that single sacrifice. However, when He died, laying down His life a ransom for all, He "learned obedience" in a most unique way. "By the things that He suffered," He learned to what extent God must be obeyed–even by the One closest to Him, in Whom all of His fulness dwelt.

In this, the SECOND requirement for learning obedience was also addressed. In His obedience He provided a sterling example of what it means to obey–an example that is to be eagerly pursued by every disciple. In His obedience we see HOW to take up our cross and follow Him (Mark 8:34).

THIRD, in "learning obedience," Jesus became a supremely qualified High Priest, who would be able to minister strength and direction to those who followed His example of obeying God. Learning on an unprecedented level the arduous activity related to obedience, He is now able to be "touched with the feeling of our infirmities," and to empathetically minister grace to help in the time of need (Heb 4:15-16).

ETERNAL SALVATION

It may appear that all of this has little or nothing to do with "eternal salvation." But hear the words of our text again, and the association will become apparent: "He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY HIM." The obedience of reference is of the same kind rendered by the Lord Jesus. It is not a slavish obedience of the jots and tittles of the Law, but the obedience of laying down one's life, picking up the cross, and following Christ. It is the abandonment of fleshly self interests for those of Christ. It is losing our life for His sake, that we might find real life (Matt 10:39). Such obedience is the mother of all acceptable response.

"Eternal salvation" is not a fixed and static possession that was hammered out in Christ's death, then handed to men on a silver platter. It is something that is AUTHORED by Christ on an individual basis: "TO all who obey Him." That is what the text says, and that is what it means. "Eternal salvation" is not a possession that is riveted to your person for all eternity, as some imagine. Frequently, those who entertain the notion that they have been removed from all jeopardy, say they have been saved eternally, and that their condition can never be changed. However, the intent of the expression "eternal salvation" is not meant to connote such a thought, else it would not be related to Jesus authoring it in those obeying Him.

"Eternal salvation" stands in stark contrast to "eternal damnation" (Mk 3:29). Just as "eternal damnation" has not yet been locked into place for those out of Christ, so "eternal salvation" has not yet been experienced in its fulness for those in Christ Jesus. There is a "salvation ready to be revealed" (1 Pet 1:5), as well wrath to be experienced by the ungodly (2 Thess 1:8-9). It is "eternal" because it was conceived in eternity (2 Tim 1:9), is based upon an "everlasting covenant" (Heb 13:20), and extends throughout "the ages to come" (Eph 2:7).

The declaration of our text is that "eternal salvation" has its origin through Jesus in those who "obey Him." It is "eternal" in the sense of being based upon a single sacrifice, sufficient for both time and eternity–which is the point of the text. It is not a temporal salvation that requires repeated sacrifices, atonement, and the shedding of blood. All of this was done "once for all" (Heb 10:10). In this regard, Christ's obedience differs significantly from ours. The obedience He "learned" was "once for all," but that is not the case with ours. Our obedience is continual (Rom 6:16).

There is no point where "eternal salvation" ceases to require the activity of Jesus. It cannot stand on its own, without the interplay of its "Author," or "Source." Further, Jesus "authors" this salvation only to those who are aligned with Him–who "obey Him." This is the "obedience of faith" (Rom 16:26), which consists primarily of trusting implicitly in Him, and secondarily in responding consistently to Him. Where these characteristics are not found, there is no evidence of the presence of the "Author of eternal salvation." And where He is not present, there is no salvation.

For those, praise God, who are believing on the Son, He is the Source of "eternal salvation." There is no adversarial power that can hinder His work, or separate us from the love of God which is in Him. Blessed is the person who sees and responds to these things.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I thank You for eternal salvation, the Son who authors it, and the faith to obey Him. I confess this all has come from You!

– Tomorrow: GLORIFICATION, THE CONSUMMATE EXPERIENCE --

PRAYER POINT: Father,

-- Tomorrow: