Last week we began our journey through the New Testament to see how it depicts ‘divine salvation’. We started with the ‘salvation pictures’ in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Today we will continue our search and look into the Gospel of John. Of course we will not repeat the pictures which we already mentioned last time.
‘Divine Salvation’ is pictured as:
• Salvation from God’s judgment
(John writes:) “God did not send his Son [Jesus the Messiah] into the world to condemn it, but to save it. There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God.” John 3:17-18
• Being born of God and thus being His child
(John writes:) “But to all who believed him [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan-- this rebirth comes from God.”
John 1:12-13
“Jesus replied, ‘The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of ... the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don't be surprised at my statement that you must be born again.’” John 3:5-7
• Having eternal life
(Jesus said:) “And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:14-16
• Having the light of life [i.e. Jesus the Messiah]
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’" John 8:12
• Being set free by Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God
“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ ‘But we are descendants of Abraham,’ they said. ‘We have never been slaves to anyone on earth. What do you mean, 'set free'?’ Jesus replied, ‘I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free.’” John 8:31-36
• Being a sheep of the Good Shepherd's flock
(Jesus said:) "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.... My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me.” John 10:14-15 and 27-28
• Having resurrection life
“Jesus said to her [Martha, Lazarus’ sister], ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26
• Having a place in heaven, prepared by Jesus the Messiah
(Jesus said:) “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:2-3
• Having received the Spirit of truth [i.e. ‘the other Counsellor’]
(On the evening before he died, Jesus said to his disciples:) “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth [other translations: He is the Spirit of truth]. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later (see Acts 2:1-13) will be in you.” John 14:16-17
• Being loved by God the Father and God the Son
(Jesus said:) “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
John 14:21
• Being a ‘branch’ of the ‘vine’ [i.e. Jesus the Messiah]
(Jesus said:) “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
• Being a friend of Jesus the Messiah
(Jesus said:) “You are my friends if you obey me. I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants [literally: slaves]. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.” John 15:14-15
• Being with Jesus forever and seeing his glory
(Jesus said:) “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”
John 17:24
• Having Jesus Himself and the love of God living in us
(Jesus said:) “And I have revealed you [God the Father] to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them.” John 17:26
As we said last time, all these ‘pictures’ are like facets of a diamond. They all display something of the present or future aspects of divine salvation.
I pray that these ‘pictures’ will give you much food for thought and prayer.
Next time we will look for the ‘salvation pictures’ in Acts and Paul’s letters. So, hold on!
The Bible verses John 8:12, John 11:25-26, John 14:2-3, John 14:21 and John 17:24 are quotes of the New International Version. All other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
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