SOME ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF JESUS We are considering how God has spoken concerning the great salvation that is in Christ Jesus. Both the thrust and manner of His speaking call for the great sobriety of thought. Tomorrow:
"And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight." (Colossians 1:20-22)
Devotion 2 of 31
11. WITH GREAT ACCOMPANIMENTS. "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany SALVATION, though we thus speak" (Heb 6:9). The salvation of God has certain accompaniments – things that blend with it, and are the consequence of it. The fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-25), the love of the brethren (1 Thess 4:9), the love of the truth (2 Thess 2:10), overcoming the world (1 John 5:4-5), and much more company salvation. Where they are found, salvation is found, and where they are absent, salvation is absent.
12. THE SUBJECT OF PROPHET'S INQUIRY. "Of which SALVATION the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you" (1 Pet 1:10). Holy prophets of God spoke of this salvation, and when they did it whetted their appetites and challenged their thinking. They sensed its largeness as well as its effectuality, and therefore probed into it, seeking to comprehend something of its nature and timing. Yet, they were told it was not for them to know such things (1 Pet 1:11-12). They actually prophesied for another generation and time.
13. READY TO BE REVEALED. "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto SALVATION ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet 1:5). The salvation of God is experienced in this world, but only in a first fruits sense (Rom 8:23). There remains grace that will be "brought" to us at "the revelation of Christ" (1 Pet 1:13). We have yet to experience"The redemption of the body" (Rom 8:23), seeing our Lord "as He is," and being "like Him" (1 John 3:2). The bulk of our salvation is ahead of us.
How could a salvation like this, in any way, be characterized by childlike simplicity? The modern church has not done well in its representation of the salvation of God. It speaks of "the salvation of the lost," as though that exhausted the concept of salvation. This is a completely erroneous concept of salvation, and is nowhere reflected in the Word of God.
It ought to be noted that the word "salvation" is never mentioned together with the word "lost" or "sinners." It is true, and it is to be proclaimed, that Christ "came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tim 1:15). But even then, Paul added "of whom I AM (not "was") chief" that is, he himself was still in the process of being saved. However, although salvation is, indeed, for sinners, or those who are lost, it is also related to those who are in Christ Jesus.
We believers are told, "now is OUR salvation nearer than when we believed"(Rom 13:11). The day in which we live is also called "the day of salvation," and is associated with "succor," which is relief or nourishment, which is an aspect of our salvation (2 Cor 6:2). Now, as we do battle with the powers of darkness, we must put on the helmet of "the hope of salvation" (1 Thess 5:8). Obviously, the whole of salvation has not yet been experienced, else we would not require "the HOPE of salvation."
This is a salvation that can be "neglected" by those who possess it, which "neglect" closes off the way of "escape."Thus it is written, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him" (Heb 2:3). You cannot "neglect" what you have received in fulness.
For this reason, and many others, the Holy Spirit spoke to believers frequently about the Lord Jesus, the purpose of His mission, His accomplishments, and His appointed return. Whatever is said of those in Christ Jesus, they are not permitted the seeming luxury of forgetting their Savior or neglecting "so great salvation."That is one of the reasons for this passage.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to see the marvelous extent of Your salvation, and the strength to consistently pursue it.