DIVYA JYOTI VOL. 61 ISSUE E-6 MONTH-JUNE YEAR-2009

The Holy Bible speaks about the indispensable salvation which is the supreme mission of the Lord, our God, who says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! (2 Cor. 6:2). God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.(1 Thess. 5:9-10). The time mentioned above, the time for conversion, is the intermediary period between the time of Christ's first coming and His glorious return on the 'Day of Judgement' which is granted to the 'remnant' (Rom. 11:5), the leftover and protected believers, and to the gentiles (Rom. 11:25). Though the duration is uncertain, this time of pilgrimage must be regarded as being short (1Pet.1:17; Rev. 10:6; 12:12) and full of trials (Eph. 5:16;6:13) and sufferings which are a prelude to the glory to come (Rom. 8:11). The end is at hand (1 Pet. 4:7) as it is revealed to many believers in these days and as it could be seen from the signs of the end prophesied by the Lord himself. Hence, as the Day approaches near, it is necessary to be on the watch (1Thess. 5:6) and to use the time well that remains (Col. 4:5) for one's own salvation, working it out with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12), and that of others (Gal. 6:10), leaving the final vindication to God (Rom. 12:19; 1Cor. 4:5).
The most Holy and powerful name of Jesus means “God saves” and He was destined to die for the world as its Saviour as the angel had disclosed to Joseph before Mary's conception, “...do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”(Matt. 1:20-21). Jesus also made this declaration that He "came to seek out and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10)
Salvation, as the Bible teaches, is the only divinely provided remedy for sin. Without such a provision, the sinner is both helpless and hopeless. Accepting this blood-bought salvation so freely offered, the sinner can experience freedom from the past with all its failure; victory in present days from sin's tyranny; and hope of escape from sin's full punishment in hell. All who are lost are shut up to God's perfect, peerless salvation. There is no other way out of the gloom and despair of sin. “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name (except that of Jesus) under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”(Acts 4:12) If this salvation is neglected and finally rejected, there can be no escape from the righteous judgement of God (2 Thess. 1:9; Heb. 2:3)
The “great Salvation” is the greatest manifestation of God's power to deliver (esp. the deliverance from satanic bondage) his chosen ones which was made possible through Christ's passion, death and resurrection. This salvation is named great since it gathers into itself all the redemptive acts and processes- as justification, redemption, saving grace, propitiation, forgiveness, sanctification and glorification. “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised” (Ps. 48:1), and everything from His Heart and Hand bears the imprint of His greatness. Following are the reasons why salvation is considered great indeed for all:
Salvation is Great because:
a) of its Divine Author
Salvation antedates creation, being conceived in the mind of God in the dateless past. It came to us according to the eternal purpose of God, not as an immediate, unpremeditated plan to meet a sudden emergency. Salvation, then, is great seeing that God is its Source or Origin. (cf. Rom. 5:8; Eph. 1:4; Tit. 1:2; 1 Pet. 1:20)
b) of the Price paid to procure it
Salvation came down to us drenched with the most precious Blood of Jesus Christ. He had to give His life as a ransom in order to save us. We were purchased by His precious blood. (cf. Rev. 5:9; 2Cor. 5:21; Heb. 2:14)
c) of its agency
It is the Holy Spirit who makes possible the actual work of salvation in the heart of the believing sinner. Repentance toward God and faith in Christ form the channel of salvation. (cf. Jn. 1:12; Acts 20:21; Tit. 3:5-8)
d) of its universality
God's salvation is for all irrespective of nationality, language, condition, age or need and He wills all men to be saved. Jesus died for the whole world and not for a particular race, group, or nation. (cf. Jn. 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4-6)
e) of the Blessings it bestows
Salvation makes us righteous before God, brings us into the fellowship of our Deliverer, gives us satisfaction, forgiveness, joy and peace.
f) it is eternal in its duration
Christ is the provider of an unceasing Salvation (Heb. 5:9; 9:12). Through His wondrous grace, the Saviour imparts eternal security to all He saves. ( Jn. 10:28)
g) it is incomparable
There is no other way God can clear and deliver the guilty save through the sacrifice and mediation of His Beloved Son, Jesus. Man's own worth or works are useless as avenues of salvation in the sight of God. (Eph. 2:7-10)
h) it came to us Personified
We are prone to forget that salvation is not something, but SOMEONE. Jesus, the Word of God, came to us , personified, as our salvation(cf. Is. 12:2; Ps. 27:1; 62:2), as God Emmanuel, as the Way, Truth and Life.