Metaphors of Salvation

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope

November 29, 2008
Larry R Evans

Introductory Reflections

Before we push aside this week’s study as being an exercise in theological vocabulary, think again? How much do we really understand about “righteousness by faith.” Has it become so familiar that we never look inside to see what is in the package? What is Heaven really trying to tell us? A special messenger of God’s once wrote,

“There is not one in one hundred who understands for himself the Bible truth on this subject [justification by faith] that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare.” Ellen White in Selected Messages, book 1, pl.161.

But she didn’t stop there.

“The enemy of God and man is not willing that this truth should be clearly presented; for he knows that if the people receive it fully, his power will be broken.” Ellen White in Gospel Workers, p.161.

So before we conclude that this is all theological jargon and that we don’t have time for this, think again. Think beyond the words. What we are about to study is all about you, me and God. He has plans for us. Do we have plans for Him in our life?

Questions for Reflection

1. When it comes to redemption, slavery in any form is bad and must be put aside. True or False? (Rom 1:17,18)

2. The reconciliation provided by Christ was complete at the cross. True or False? (2 Cor 5:18-21)

3. Justification by faith is equal to being declared righteous because of what Christ has done for us. True or False? (Rom 3:21,22)

4. Christ’s sacrifice liberated us from the wrath of God. True or False? (Rom 3:25)

5. The cross is a revelation of hell. True or False? (Gal 3:13)

6. By loving others the invisible God is revealed. True or False? (1 Jn 4:2)

Reflective Review

So what? That’s right “So what?” If we get all the theological terms right and know what they mean, “So what!”. How does our mastery of terms like redemption, reconciliation, justification, and expiatory and/or propitiatory sacrifice make any difference in how we live the Christian life? I found the words of Oswald Chambers inspirational at this point:

“Our Lord’s teaching is always anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of a man; His purpose is to make a man exactly like Himself, and the characteristic of the Son of God is self-expenditure. If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain, but what He pours through us that counts. It is not that God makes us beautifully rounded grapes, but that He squeezes the sweetness out of us. Spiritually, we cannot measure our life by success, but only by what God pours through us, and we cannot measure that at all.” Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest, September 2.

The terms and the concepts behind them are very important for they bring us assurance that God is actively involved in our lives. He is working to bring restoration and hope to the very ones who have brought such agony to His own heart. Changed and fulfilled lives is God’s purpose and our reward.

“The story is told of a minister who was scheduled to speak in a certain city, but arrived with a severe case of laryngitis. A crowd of four thousand people sat waiting, but he knew that he could not possibly be heard. He begged to be excused, but the local pastor insisted that he speak. Only those in the front could hear. The rest remained only out of courtesy.

But at the close of the meeting, a man from the next to the back row made his way down to the front and said to the minister, ‘Sir, I sat tonight where I could not hear a word of your sermon. But I could not escape the shine on your face. If to believe the gospel means the coming of a light such as I saw on your face, then I want to confess Christ as my Savioiur.’” Marjorie Lewis Lloyd in Too Slow Getting Off, p.60.

“It is not that God makes us beautifully rounded grapes, but that He squeezes the sweetness out of us.”

If the salvation terms of this week’s study can do this then we have found their true meaning.

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