The most solemn word - Salvation

The most solemn word – Luke 19:10

Commentary – Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost”.

Biblical Commentary

The word salvation is a very solemn word. Because it is often mentioned by gospel preachers around the world and in all times, it has become vulgar.

The antonym of Salvation is perdition.

There is no need for salvation if there is no perdition. Since the word “perdition” is being questioned a lot these days, the word “salvation” must also be questioned. If you question both words, you question the whole structure of Christianity. If there is neither perdition nor salvation, there is obviously no Savior. Jesus Christ ceases to be what he is – we know that he truly is the Savior of the world (Jn 4.42) – and becomes a simply historical figure. If he isn’t the Savior of the world, the atonement made on the cross is a lie. Jesus goes from being the Savior to being a martyr, like Joan of Arc or Martin Luther King.

As well as being very solemn, the word salvation is very broad. It encompasses salvation from the guilt of sin, salvation from the power of sin and salvation from the presence of sin. Salvation from the guilt of sin is said to be the justification of the sinner through faith; salvation from the power of sin is the sanctification of the sinner through self-denial; and salvation from the presence of sin is the glorification of the sinner through the new body and the new heavens and new earth. That is why the statements: I have been saved, I am being saved and I will be saved are correct. Saved from the guilt of sin yesterday, saved from the power of sin today and saved from the presence of sin tomorrow: salvation in the past, salvation in the present and salvation in the future.

The preaching of the gospel is the proclamation of salvation: Jesus saves the sinner from perdition, condemnation, the day of judgment, eternal chains, eternal fire, eternal penalties, eternal death, hell or the figurative lake of fire and brimstone. He saves us from definitive and irreversible separation from God and from those who accept and experience salvation.

Today there is a huge distortion of the proclamation of salvation. Salvation is preached from physical illness, salvation from suffering, salvation from misery, salvation from self-image. All this may eventually be embedded in salvation from sin, but it is not the greater salvation designed by God’s mercy and love.

The proclamation of salvation is confused today with the invitation to join a certain Christian creed (Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant), an evangelical denomination (Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregational, Lutheran, Episcopal, etc.) and a type of church (historic or traditional, Pentecostal or charismatic). The virtues of each of these expressions of worship are preached more than the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Pe 2.9). We need to know whether we are filling the churches with the saved or with adherents of this or that religion. This religious competition cannot hide from sinners the overly solemn and broad meaning of the word salvation.

Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost”.