SALVATION
SALVATION
The idea of salvation is in regard to the present time. The coming of the Lord changes the whole condition of things here upon earth. Now, nothing is changed outwardly, and yet salvation has come in, salvation from what is here. In this chapter the important thing is confession. What we want in regard of God is righteousness. What we want in regard of enemies is salvation. When Israel saw their enemies dead on the sea-shore it was salvation for them. Salvation is now realised in the confession that Christ is Lord. That is the condition of salvation. The great thought of the kingdom is salvation. Confession is the habit or attitude of the soul. It is characteristic of the man that he calls Christ “Lord”, owning His authority and power. We grow up to salvation by tasting that the Lord is gracious and then we desire the sincere milk of the word. Salvation is from your enemies and from the hand of all that hate you. Israel’s enemies were outward — ours are spiritual enemies.
Salvation is from all that to which a man’s soul is in bondage, from that he needs to be saved. It is present and it is in order that we may serve God. This is the purpose of the gospel. In the first eight chapters of Romans we get how God brings this about. The kingdom of God exists now in the soul of the believer. It is in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is in the soul of the believer. “He shall save his people from their sins” means from the governmental consequences of their sins. You could not be in salvation apart from the Holy Spirit.
Israel will have to pay the uttermost farthing. It will be the discipline through which they pass in the great tribulation. When a soul is awakened what he wants [p. 2] is righteousness. You must have belief in the heart before confession. Righteousness lies in believing God’s testimony. Confession with the mouth cannot be until the Holy Spirit is received — no one can call Jesus “Lord” but by the Holy Spirit. When the power and authority of the Lord is owned in the soul all fears are removed and you have on the helmet of salvation. Confession is characteristic: it is not one act only, and the man can stand against any evil — he has no fears. The great point that Christ is risen is God’s testimony. Man cannot have to do with God as a mere act of mind — it must be the heart — man’s mind is an eye.
Christ is the testimony which God has been pleased to set forth to men. Men are not free to serve God until they are at liberty to worship God — they must be set free from bondage first. The coming of the Lord brings in the kingdom but we have it now in the Holy Spirit who is the power to maintain it in us. “Righteousness, and peace, and joy”. Israel never sang “Jehovah reigneth” till they were over the Red Sea. ‘Salvation’ is from what is without — ‘deliverance’ is from what is within. In order to be maintained in the enjoyment of salvation there must be the continuance in confessing Christ as Lord. The Holy Spirit not only starts a person but He maintains him in it and produces “righteousness, and peace, and joy”.
Death is God’s judgment, the fear of death is in the hands of the devil and salvation removes this fear. The purpose of the gospel is to bring salvation to man, so that he may be delivered from his enemies and set free to serve God. Every intelligent being ought to serve God. God is entitled to the service of every man. Anyone who has apprehended the grace of God will desire to serve God. Salvation is an effective thing — it is a question of realisation. The power and authority of the Lord are maintained in us by the Holy Spirit.
Righteousness means that you are free from liability.
[p. 3] Enjoyment is found in God Himself. The grace of God brings salvation to you — salvation from the power of evil.