Saved For

Saved For

This blog post will ring in the 4,000th pageview since the inception of amostunlikelydisciple back in late October of 2015. I just want to take a brief moment to thank those of you who are reading, digesting, grappling, hearing, and responding to this field of ministry that God has blessed me with a passion for and a treasured audience, which is growing daily. I truly appreciate your readership, shares, likes, and even your differing points of view. May the next 4,000 pageviews bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to more countries, cities, homes, families, and hearts for His eternal praise and glory!

Often times here in the West Christians of the Protestant variety tend to focus on a very narrow aspect of Christian faith, i.e. personal salvation. At youth camps, VBS (vacation Bible school), evangelism crusades, and even worship services our push push push is to get those lost souls converted. Once having accomplished this task the American church looks like a pre-teen at a school dance - we have no idea what to do.

Am I suggesting that we cease to preach salvation by grace through faith? Absolutely not, but there is a huge difference in preaching about what people are saved from and what people are saved for.

There are the fire-and-brimstone televangelist types who are constantly preaching about the end of the world, the fires of Hell, and eternal torment. Do I believe all those things are real? Absolutely, but I think preaching “at people” regarding their depravity, wickedness, and the consequences of sin is vestigial and boorish. It is only the masochist who endures such preaching for more than an instant.

Beyond the rudimentary preaching of what humanity is saved “FROM” is the fresh air and light of preaching “to people” about what they are saved “FOR.” Our glorious and majestic God of Triunity created us for the purpose of intimate fellowship. That is not a promise to be realized exclusively in some future eschatological state of glory, but rather something that we can experience - at least partially - right now in this life.

When the focus of our preaching, teaching, mission, and discipleship is merely on personal salvation then we reap the tragically limited crop we have sown. But when we preach, teach, evangelize, and disciple folks in the spirit of what they have been redeemed “FOR,” then characteristics like unity, altruism, love, compassion, kindness, expectancy, and faithfulness abound!

Through faith in Christ we are certainly saved FROM the fires of Hell and eternal torment, but that would be like continually focusing on the fact that you’re not out in the rain when given an all expense stay at Ashford Castle, County Mayo, Ireland - one of the top 3 finest hotels in the world - and never enjoying the pleasures and treasures of the resort.

Eternally greater and infinitely beyond “simply” being saved FROM torment there is what we are saved FOR. Please don’t read that previous statement as my minimizing the work of Christ at the Cross, quite the contrary; but what we have been saved FROM is relatively insignificant in comparison with what we have been saved FOR.

Ephesians 2:10 notes, “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We have been saved FOR good works not to merit our salvation, but to demonstrate our faithfulness to God for our benefit - and in doing so for God to continually remove the dross, filth, and putrescence from our hearts and lives.

We have been saved to be part of the Bride of Christ - not autonomous “spiritual” beings. 1 Peter 2:5 informs us, “you (plural) also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood…”

We are redeemed by the love and grace of Christ so that together as the Bride & Body of Christ we can advance His kingdom as mediators (priests) between the Creator and fallen humanity. To simply be saved FROM Hell does nothing to provide such wonderful purpose and eternal perspective for the future.

Let us stop living in a salvation that is selfish and shallow, and let us begin living out our faith in community and the extravagance that God has always intended for us.

Blessings,

-Kevin