What Is Salvation?

John Wesley

 

 And first let us inquire,

"What is salvation?"

The salvation which is here spoken of is not what is frequently understood by that word, the going to heaven, eternal happiness. 

It is not the soul’s going to paradise, termed by our Lord, ‘Abraham’s bosom.’

 It is not a blessing which lies on the other side death, or (as we usually speak) in the other world. 

The very words of the text itself put this beyond all question. 

‘Ye are saved.’ It is not something at a distance: it is a present thing, a blessing which, through the free mercy of God, ye are now in possession of. 

Nay, the words may be rendered, and that with equal propriety, ‘Ye have been saved.’ 

So that the salvation which is here spoken of might be extended to the entire work of God, from the first dawning of grace in the soul till it is consummated in glory.” 

~ John Wesley (The Scripture Way of Salvation)

Sin, Suffering, and Jesus

“Never since the world began

has it been heard that anyone opened

the eyes of a person born blind”

(from John 9:1-41).

Otto, a fish in the children’s book, A Fish Out of Water, is overfed even after careful feeding instructions.

"When you feed a fish, never feed him a lot. So much and no more! Never more than a spot, or something may happen! You never know what."

What happened was Otto outgrew every container until he finally became too large for the town swimming pool.

The man born blind story appears to have undergone similar development, as much of the discussion centers on the story of his healing.

This is a typical pattern in John. Jesus performs a miracle; people try finding the meaning and usually miss the mark.

In the parable, Jesus is asked, “Who sinned?”

The question comes from the ancient people’s belief that a sin was committed since there is suffering and sickness.

Jesus questions that kind of theological thinking creating a complex answer: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned.”

In other words, he may have been born blind due to an infection or some other natural causes.

Jesus heals the man, but the Pharisees miss don’t see God acting among them.

The healing from the suffering of blindness happened because of Jesus’ intervention.

Sin, suffering, and healing are all connected in the story, but it is Jesus’ actions that transform these realities.

This sin, suffering, and healing distinguishes our spiritual needs and physical ailments.

Jesus’ healing touch does more than address physical ailments.

Jesus also meets deeper spiritual needs, such as forgiveness.

When Jesus enters someone’s life, both physical issues and deeper spiritual needs are met which restores a relationship to God offering hope and peace.

The Well, the Woman, and Jesus

  

Pozzo, Andrea, 1642-1709

Many of the Samaritans from that town 

believed in him because

 of the woman’s testimony,

 “He told me everything I ever did.”

(from John 4:5-42)

The Well

Back in Jesus’ day a wells were used for more than drinking water.

A man would go to a new place, meet a woman at the well, and chat about water.

The man and woman drink water together, she tells her community about him, the community welcomes him.

 This usually results in a wedding.

This explains why Jesus talks to the woman about her marriage situation, expecting some kind of marriage story to follow.

Remember the well is a well with running water so when Jesus mentions living water, it’s confusing.

The Woman

The woman shows up around noon probably pushed aside by her community.

 She’s unmarried to the one she’s living with and had five husbands.

Probably, her marriages ended due to circumstances beyond her control.

Yet she’s someone people listen to because others want to go and hear Jesus.

She talks to Jesus about deep questions of faith.

Later, she helps others find their way to Jesus

THIS IS THE POINT OF THE STORY.

Jesus

As Jesus and the woman talk, he uses word play contrasting living water and running water.

The woman doesn’t quite get what he’s talking about, so Jesus keeps explaining until finally she gets in her own way.

The Gospel Message

The story’s message describes responding to Jesus is like being a source of living water, offering limitless relief from spiritual thirst.

No matter how thirsty, there’s an endless supply available to quench one’s thirst.

This is the message of hope we need to recall ourselves and share with others.

Nicodemus: A Spirit-filled Story

“The wind blows where it chooses,

and you hear the sound of it,

but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.

So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus' story is more than sorting out Jesus and the Pharisees differences.

It’s more than figuring out how Jesus gets the authority to do many “signs”.

The Nicodemus story is really about people coming to see and understand the amazing things Jesus does.

It’s all about understanding God’s Spirit, following Jesus and wanting to change to see God's kingdom in a new way.

Since the Spirit works mysteriously, it’s compared to the wind blowing wherever it wants.

It’s about God and people working together, so followers of Jesus notice and experience God’s work through him.

The “signs” Jesus does are meant to show God getting involved in the world God made and loved enough to send his Son.

Nicodemus’s story is a great example the Spirit’s work.

Nicodemus, story makes it clear something’s happening: he gets braver and acts more fairly because God’s Spirit is moving in his life.

Looking at Nicodemus’s whole journey you see something bigger.

You see Nicodemus’ story inviting everyone to see themselves in the narrative: starting out with questions, moving to standing up for what’s right, and eventually saying “yes” to Jesus, even when it’s risky.

The Spirit shows how God is always at work in the world getting people to respond.

Belief is how we see what God’s doing and get to be a part of it: “So must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life”.