What Does It Mean to Be Saved?
The teaching of Scripture is so rich that many of its doctrines are multifaceted; that is to say, they can be considered from various angles. For instance, when we think of the doctrine of God, we consider the names, attributes, and works of God. Likewise, when we think of the doctrine of salvation we consider the history, accomplishment, and application of salvation.
Throughout our pastoral connection we have studied all aspects of the doctrine of salvation in one sermon or series or another. The history of salvation we consider each twelve-month period as we follow the Christian calendar: Christmas, Easter (Good Friday and Easter Sunday), Ascension, and Pentecost. The accomplishment of salvation we have considered in terms of Christ’s person and work. The former we looked at in the series on the seven “I am” sayings of Jesus (“Discovering and Rediscovering Jesus,” which, incidentally, are currently broadcast in Central Europe). The latter we particularly considered in the series “Lift High the Cross.” These series are available for purchase from the church office and can be listened to online at www.7thref.org. Were Christ not the person he was, his death would have been of no significance for us. Had he been the person he was but not gone to Calvary, then we would remain unsaved. Thus, we now come to the application of salvation and will consider on Sunday evenings how our election, effectual calling, regeneration (the new birth), union with Christ, justification, adoption, sanctification, faith, repentance, perseverance, assurance, and glorification. The study helps us do three things.
First, it calls us to be in Christ if we are not already. Writes John Calvin: “We must understand that as long as Christ remains outside of us, and we are separated from him, all that he has suffered and done for the salvation of the human race remains useless and of no value for us. Therefore to share with us what he has received from the Father, he had to become ours and to dwell with us” (Institutes 3.1.1).
Second, our series fosters understanding and praise of God for what his sons and daughters have in Christ. It is one thing to say that we are saved, another to extol God with understanding of what he has done for us in his Son. Augustus Toplady (1740–78) could exclaim, “How vast the benefits divine which we in Christ possess!” only because he had some understanding of them.
Third, the better informed we are about our salvation the more able we are to tell the lost what God has done for us and to share within the church a Reformed understanding. Rather than fear theology we must see it as a most exciting and helpful friend to our outreach and the defense of the faith. From the doctrine of salvation we learn that God has a people he intends to save and that if they knew from us how much God does for believers in Christ and by the Spirit they may be encouraged to seek a relationship with God for themselves.
Do join us, then, on Sunday evenings to rejoice in God’s great gift of salvation!