Further Remarks on 'Salvation'

The publication of "The Gospel of 'Salvation' in Solidarity Theology" has given occasion to the further study of the topic - both spiritual and practical - of "salvation".

"Salvation" is a concept central to the theologies of each of the three Abrahamic religions, especially their mission-oriented, evangelistic arms.

For example, from the Christian Scriptures, the Apostle Paul wrote, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved [Greek, sozo];)" (Ephesians 2:4, 5).

Although evangelicals usually advocate a spiritual definition related primarily to the state of the soul, "salvation" in its fullness is actually a multi-functional word. According to Strong's Concordance, the biblical usage of sozo may be outlined as follows:

"1) to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction

a) one (from injury or peril)

1) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health;

1) to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue

b) to save in the technical biblical sense;

1) negatively

a) to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment

b) to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance."

Of the total of 110 use in the Authorized Version (KJV), sozo is translated as follows - save 93 times, make whole 9, heal 3, be whole 2, miscellaneous 3.

SALVATION HERE AND NOW

It is clear from this range of biblical usages that salvation is an on-going experience in the here and now. Far from being delimited to an other-worldly deliverance of the soul from the shackles of our material imperfections, salvation demands a distinct courage from its adherents for facing the challenges of life, even the seemingly excessive challenge of making this present world a better place for ourselves and the generations to follow.

Jesus Christ instituted a three-fold approach to bringing this practical salvation to humankind: educational, medical, and pastoral. Matthew 10:7, 8; 11:1. As these functions became subsumed by the paternalistic state, the Church found its role increasingly displaced and its sense of mission in need of being redefined. His agenda has, at least in part, been the victim of its own success, leading to bold claims that God and religion are obsolete.

There will be a need for "salvation" as long as there are people to educate and heal, psychically, emotionally, and socially. Contrary to modern popular claims, neither God nor the Church is dead. They are alive because we need them.

Consistently with a philosophy of dual messiahs complimentary the one to the other, one would expect the Antichrist to extend the work of Jesus Christ along the same lines of education, health care, and social (including spiritual) services. This is in fact part of the Antichrist's agenda. He intends to reconfigure and universalize these systems.

But although salvation is practical, we must not lose sight of its mega-meaning in the here and now.

MESSIANIC SALVATION

Salvation functions at multi-levels, demonstrating both the inter-connectedness of all life and our ultimate dependence on the Life-Giver. We are called each in our own sphere to make the world a better place. Most of us are familiar with micro- and macro-levels, one bigger, one smaller, yet related in kind, similar in concept to a wheel within a wheel. But there is something more and larger yet. It is the realm of the spiritual beings. Over this realm, material beings such as ourselves have no power. This is the domain of demons, angels, and messiahs.

The literature of the three Abrahamic religions is in agreement that there are angels and that they are the agents for weal or woe in the larger Plan of Salvation. In the book of Revelation, for example, angels, positioned at the four corners of the earth, control human strife (chapter 7:1-3), marshal judgments and plagues (15:1ff), and herald the everlasting Gospel (14:6, 7).

Angels stand guard over the messiah and his mission (Matthew 4:6; Psalm 91:10-12). As messiahs, both Christ and the Antichrist even have authority over the Prince of Darkness, Satan himself. Jesus said, "Get thee behind me, Satan" (Luke 4:8). By this, Jesus was bidding Satan to pledge his allegiance and follow Him. Similarly, in Revelation 12:17, the Antichrist under the figure of the Remnant of Her Seed, commands the allegiance of Satan, for which the Antichrist is awarded the throne of planet earth (Revelation 13:2).

A genuine messiah marshals formidable power not only over the hosts of heaven, but also over the earthly elements themselves. "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm" (Mark 4:39). This is not surprising since the two messiahs, Jesus Christ and the Antichrist, co-created the earth. See my article, "Debunking the Creation-Evolution Debate" (December 2006).

According to Matthew 24, the time of the Messianic Age is characterized by the "birth pangs" of the messiah. This term is found only four times in the New Testament. It is an exclusively messianic term.

"And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows [Greek odin, literally, 'birth pangs']" (Matthew 24:3-8).

It is noteworthy that Jesus warned believers against false Christs appearing at the "end of the world". Why would He issue this warning if He believed Himself to be the sole heir to this office? Would He not rather have said, "Take heed that no man deceive you. There is no other Christ but Me." In fact, Jesus always did anticipate a second, genuine co-Christ.

The "famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes" are of no ordinary nature. They are of an extent and magnitude befitting their witness to the arrival of the Lord of the Elements, the Antichrist. The trend toward Global Warming is supernatural and will intensify.

The catalog of signs in Matthew 24 is largely beyond the control of an ordinary human. Even the War on Terrorism is beyond one's ordinary ability to contain. Demons and angels are vying for souls (Daniel 10:12-14; Revelation 7:1-3).

In addition to Matthew 24:8, "birth pangs" is used unmistakably in reference to the Antichrist in the following passage:

"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail [Greek odin, literally, 'birth pangs'] upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

Lastly, on July 21, 2006, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recognized these messianic overtones in her remarks, "Special Briefing on Travel to the Middle East and Europe":

"What we're seeing here, in a sense, is the growing -- the birth pangs of a new Middle East and whatever we do we have to be certain that we're pushing forward to the new Middle East not going back to the old one."

CONCLUSION

There are various types and magnitudes of salvation, necessitating a broad engagement in the ordinary and extraordinary affairs of life.