The Beauty of Salvation (12)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3.16, 17
The writer of Hebrews describes what we have in Jesus as “so great a salvation” (Heb. 2.3). All Christians believe that salvation is great, a wonderful, unspeakable gift. But is this because we’re thinking of salvation in terms of what it does for us? It forgives and saves and redeems us and assures us a place in heaven! Yes, salvation is really great.
But is our salvation greater than just what it does for us? Is it so great, in fact, that it does something for the world? For the entire vast cosmos?
I believe it does. The created world around us groans and travails under the weight of human sin, and it longs for the coming of the sons and daughters of God because we bring the liberty of salvation to the creation, freedom from a kind of slash and burn use of the creation into a loving, naming, caring, and developing relationship that reflects the good intentions of God (Rom. 8.19-22; cf. Gen. 1.31; 2.15).
This is David Bentley Hart’s view of our great salvation. He writes, “It is only in fulfilling—indeed, in being the substance of—[God’s] covenant that Christ makes the story that God tells concerning creation triumph over the false and violent stories that sinful humanity tells of the world.” How could it be otherwise? We who are charged with glorifying God in everything, even in the most quotidian tasks and chores, how could we fail to bring what we have received from Jesus—liberation from the corrupting power of sin—to bear on all of life, every facet and aspect of creation and culture? We cannot. The story God tells of creation is one of newness, a return to goodness and proper care and use, so that creation—and culture—can bear witness to God. Is our salvation great enough to care for the world and its witness?
Resources for being and making disciples
We can begin to recover our witness for Jesus by gaining a clearer vision of what it means to be His disciples, and hence, what disciple-making involves. As we reprise our series of excellent conversations with Dr. Mike McQueen, consider your own vision and calling as a disciple of our Lord.
Other columns of interest: This week: In our ReVision column we continue our series on the Church by unpacking the Biblical vision for the Church. Our Read Moore podcast begins an extensive look at the Kingdom of God in our book, The Kingdom Turn. In our Crosfigell teaching letter, we are looking at the state of pastors and churches during the period of the Celtic Revival, using contemporary witnesses. And in our Scriptorium column we begin looking at the sermon on the mount. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
The Ailbe Bookstore: We need a better vision of what the coming of the Kingdom of God entails. Our book, The Kingdom Turn, offers a full and practical explanation of what we should be seeking as we pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as in heaven.” Order your copy by clicking here for the free book or here for the free PDF. Discipleship entails discipline, and our book, The Disciplined Life, can help you in making the most of the time God gives you each day. Understanding the times a bit better will help us in knowing what we should do. Order your copy of Understanding the Times by clicking here for the free book and here for the free PDF.
Resources for Shepherds: Shepherding is what Jesus did, and what He and the apostles explained to us, following the teaching of the Old Testament. Jesus intends to build His Church by the work of shepherding. Do we even have a clue of what this involves? Our course, Shepherding God’s Flock, is designed to equip pastors and church leaders for this important but mostly neglected work. Watch a preview video by clicking here.
Our spring Reading Groups are now posted at the website. You can join any one of the three which are in progress or sign up to study Miracles by C. S. Lewis. See the line-up and schedules and register for these free groups by clicking here.
From the Celtic Revival
State of the Churches in the Time of the Celtic Revival
A Christian not middling but perfect, a priest not worthless but outstanding, a martyr not lazy but pre-eminent, says: “It is now that I am beginning to be a disciple of Christ” [Ignatius of Antioch]. As for you, like that Lucifer who was cast out of heaven, you thrive on verbiage, not power.
– Gildas, The Ruin of Britain
Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
– 1 Corinthians 4.18-20
Gildas used a lengthy section to put before his readers the faithful shepherds of the Old and New Testament. Then he turned to honor church leaders from beyond the New Testament, especially Ignatius, the early second-century shepherd of the churches in Antioch. Gildas used Ignatius’ example to expose the middling, worthless, lazy ministries of the priests of Britain and to recall them to a ministry, not merely of words, but of the power of the Word of God to make all things new.
Resources from the Celtic Revival (ca. 430-800 AD)
It can be fun reading about the saints of Ireland during this period. Hagiography is a blend of history and story-telling, which fits perfectly with the Irish imagination. Our book, Lives of Irish Saints, uses as its basis the important early-20th century work of Charles Plummer and presents some of the leaders of the early period of the Celtic Revival. You can download it for free by clicking here.
T. M. Moore
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
