Once again we look at salvation. We know that it is central to scripture, that it is a promise of new life now and eternal life in God's coming Kingdom, and that there are different ways that scripture implies that salvation can be gained or lost (grace/faith vs. Law/works or election/chosen vs. choice/free will). Today we will examine a modern Reformed (Presbyterian) understanding of salvation.
First, Reformed theology always begins with the problem that human beings are self-centered. The cry of our hearts is the cry of a two year old, "mine!" We are at the center of our universes and therefore we are unable to fully love God and neighbor (which is the purpose for which we were created by God). This is the condition from which we need to be saved.
Second, Reformed theology argues that we do not have the freedom to reorient our hearts and minds as we like. While Calvin and others argued that this lack of freedom was based on Original Sin, I want to cast this as the outcome of self-centeredness. In other words why would I want to trade serving only myself for serving and sacrificing for others? If our hearts are turned in upon themselves what could possibly convince us to change? This belief reminds us that we cannot save ourselves.
Third, Reformed theology believes that God reorients our hearts. God accomplishes this reorientation by applying the work of Christ on the cross to our lives. The writer of Hebrews states that Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice in order that our consciences might be purified "from dead works that we might serve the Lord." (Hebrews 9:14) This belief affirms that God in Christ is at work saving us.
Fourth, this reorienting work is a free gift of God that is sometimes referred to as Prevenient Grace; meaning God's grace is reorienting our hearts long before we are aware of it. Scripture makes it clear that none of us can be good enough to earn this reorienting work. Every time we baptize a child we are reaffirming this Prevenient Grace by declaring that God is already at work in the lives of our children. This assertion assures us that God's gift of salvation comes to us as a free gift.
Fifth, this reorienting work of God allows us to begin choosing to profess faith in Christ and to love God and neighbor in ways that were not before possible. The Apostle Paul mentions this in Romans 6:18 when he reminds his readers that they have been "set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness (meaning the ability to choose to do the Christ-like thing)." We become capable of making choices which enhance rather than diminish life. Even though we are not capable of always doing the right thing (Paul writes about this in Romans 7:13-20) we are capable of living ever more loving and faithful lives. Salvation then is something we experience here and now which calls us to live more and more Christ-like lives.
Sixth, as we go through life with our reoriented hearts we can do so knowing that God will never forsake us, even when we fall short of the goal of fully loving God and neighbor. In Romans chapter 8, we read, "If God is for us, who can be against us…for I am sure that nothing else in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus." This is the great affirmation that it is God's power, and God's power alone, which assures us that the salvation into which we are living now will become the salvation that carries us into eternity.
Our Reformed tradition affirms, as I believe does scripture, that it is always God who is seeking and saving. Nowhere in the Biblical story are there people who just up and choose to believe in God, or who find salvation without God initiating the relationship. God loves us. God calls us. God woos us. God saves us. In the end this affirmation is for our comfort and hope.
The next article will be our next to last look at salvation. The question we will address is whether or not we as humans can choose not to be saved.
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