Q 30: Does the obedience of civil governments to God’s Law result in salvation?

A 30: Salvation is not by obedience to the Law, but only through Jesus Christ; nevertheless, it is of great benefit to the governed when civil governments follow the counsel of God’s Law. (Rom. 3.19-23; Rom. 6.23; Acts 10.1-22; Lk. 7.1-5)

“Salvation” is a term with many nuances. We tend to think of it as consisting of eternal life with God, and, of course, this is certainly true.

However salvation also involves increasing in the righteousness of Jesus Christ and extending His grace and truth, and all the benefits of these, to others. Thus it is to be expected that the salvation which true believers know will touch the lives of others in positive ways, not unto redemption, but certainly so that they share in a measure of God’s common grace that they might not otherwise know. When civil governments “borrow” on the salvation of God by enacting and enforcing laws consistent with His Law, the benefits of that obedience, though they be only temporal and merely “feigned” (Ps. 81.15 NASB), reach to the people served by that government.

If you are not receiving Crosfigell, our thrice-weekly devotional, sign up at our website today. T. M.’s latest book, Satan Bound: A Theology of Evil, is now available in our bookstore.