3. THE GOAL OF SALVATION

CHAPTER 3

 

THE GOAL OF SALVATION

 

 

“Thou madest Him a little lower than the angels;

thou crownedst Him with glory and honour,

and didst set Him over the works of thy hands:

Thou hast put all things in subjection

under His feet . . .”

(Hebrews 2:7-8a)

 

THE Epistle to the Hebrews was addressed to believers in the early apostolic Church who were almost entirely converts from Judaism, who had been saved out of a religion of law works, based on a corrupted, distorted system of superstition and tradition as taught by the apostate priesthood and Pharisees of that day. What this corrupted religion was, and what Jesus thought of it may be seen by reading Matthew twenty-three. These Hebrew Christians had only recently come out of this environment into the unpopular fellowship of a new sect of believers called Christians. To take a firm, uncompromising stand for the truth of the Gospel was for them not an easy matter. It meant giving up friends, parting with dear ones, breaking with their old religious system, and walking the lonely path of separation with Christ and a little company of people who were followers of the despised Nazarene. It meant giving up things they had held dear, and invoking the ridicule of the religious elite of that day, and even inviting persecution.

 

This was the price which these early Christians had to pay to follow the despised Saviour who Himself had forewarned them of this, and said:

 

“In the world ye shall have tribulation

but be of good cheer; I have

overcome the world.”

(John 16:33)

 

It had been easy for them to accept Christ, for that was a free gift, but to “go on” with Christ was quite another matter. It is no wonder then that many of them weakened along the way, and to avoid persecution and ostracism were tempted to go back into the old legalistic way, and to compromise with the world about them. They had lost their separated position of testimony and taken the easy and popular path of seeking the favor of their old companions and friends. They had begun well, but then somehow they had lost their first love and earnest zeal, and had slumped into a condition of lukewarmness, apathy and fruitlessness. After years of Christian experience they were still babes in Christ, immature infants, suffering from spiritual malnutrition, going backward instead of forward. They had walked in the full liberty of grace, and now were going back to the dead works of the law. It was the same situation as with those in Galatia to whom Paul wrote:

 

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you . . .

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit,

are ye now made perfect [mature]

by the flesh [law]?”

(Galatians 3:1-3)

 

They too had begun in faith, but were tempted to continue in the flesh. It was the subtle error of supposing we are saved by grace, and then kept by the works of the law. The same thing applied to these Hebrew Christians and the entire book is designed to teach them that they are saved by grace, but must continue to gain the ultimate victory by depending on this same grace to enable them to gain the crown through their faithfulness.

 

 

WE MUST GROW UP

 

The Christian life is a growth in grace, and should never know retreat or standing still. Conversion is only the first step in a long journey to our ultimate goal. When God saves a person, His final goal for that individual is to make him ultimately just like the Lord Jesus in all perfection. Paul tells us in Romans:

 

“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image of His Son,

that He might be the firstborn

among many brethren.”

(Romans 8:29)

 

Salvation is far more than being delivered from hell and going to heaven when we die. These are incidentals and byproducts — bonuses of salvation. His real purpose is to make perfect saints out of worthless sinners. There are then two possibilities of Christian experience. one is to have salvation, period; and the other is to have salvation, plus. one is to be just saved by grace; the other is to know a life of power, victory, joy, service and fruitfulness and a reward at the end of the way. And it all depends on what we do with God’s gift of salvation. We can develop it or neglect it. We are faced today with a brand of cheap, shallow gospel. Men are told they have but to believe, accept Jesus Christ, raise the hand, sign a card, and they are saved. Undoubtedly many are, but the tragedy is that this seems to be all there is to it. In too many cases there is no change evident, for the preaching of separation from the world of sin and evil is sadly lacking. People claiming to be converted continue right on in their “shady” dealings, questionable and evil habits. They go right on with their worldly occupations and associations. They continue to fellowship with unbelievers, supporting Christ-denying organizations, and giving their endorsement to those who deny the faith once for all delivered to the saints. After conversion they seem to have no sense of duty to separate themselves and come out from among the enemies of Christ. They still continue the unequal yoke, frequent the same places of worldly amusement, indulge in the same habits of entertainment. In short, there is nothing in their lives to indicate that a change has taken place except that they go on Sunday to the “church of their choice.”

 

 

GOD DEMANDS SEPARATION

 

The Bible, however, is clear that when we receive Christ, there must be a break with the old life. There cannot be any compromise, for a compromising Christian can do more damage than an out-and-out infidel. These Hebrew Christians needed to learn this lesson, that they could not follow Jesus and at the same time go back to the works of the law and compromise their testimony. To do so is to remain infants in the faith, and lose out on God’s best. The Lord asks of every believer that he shall yield himself fully to His will, and His will is “holiness unto the Lord.” How much progress have you made? Looking back over the years of your Christian life, how is your growth? Are you as spiritual, as zealous, as eager to do God’s will now as you were those wonderful days right after you were saved? What has happened? Where is that zeal and joy and passion for souls and holy boldness to stand without compromise for Christ? What has happened? Here and there sin came in and gradually you began to slip away from Him. Then the words of Hebrews 2:1 should help you in your diagnosis:

 

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed

to the things which we have heard, lest at

any time we should let them slip.”

 

 

TWO KINDS OF CHRISTIANS

 

There are two kinds of Christians. Paul calls them carnal and spiritual, those who follow men, and those who follow Christ. There are victorious Christians and defeated ones. There are those who have life, and others who have abundant life (John 10:10). Some have the water of life in them (John 4:14); others have it flowing out of them (John 7:38). There are those who have come to Christ for salvation (Matthew 11:28), and others who have learned to follow after Him, to take up His yoke of service and obedience, and to be in absolute subjection to His will (Matthew 11:29). Those who have made the surrender and yielded their lives are in a minority, but they are the only ones God uses to any degree. Almost every servant of God whom God has used in any degree has had two calls; one to come to Him for salvation; and another to yield his life in full surrender to His will. This is the life “more abundantly.”

 

God demands this sacrifice and obedience, if we are to know the joy of service. Listen to God’s pleading in His Word for this life of separation:

 

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God,

without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse

nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world:

Holding forth the word of life.”

(Philippians 2:15-16)

 

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools,

but as wise, redeeming the time,

because the days are evil.”

(Ephesians 5:15-16)

 

“That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro, and carried about

with every wind of doctrine . . .

But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into Him in all

things, which is the

head, even Christ.”

(Ephesians 4:14-15)

 

This is God’s will for every believer, and to come short of it means chastening and loss at the end of the road. The only walk pleasing to God is a separated walk. Paul pleads with us:

 

“Be ye not unequally yoked together

with unbelievers.”

(2 Corinthians 6:14)

 

“Wherefore come out from among them,

and be ye separate, saith the Lord,

and touch not the unclean thing;

and I will receive you.”

(2 Corinthians 6:17)

 

In 2 Corinthians Paul pleads with us to

 

“. . . cleanse ourselves from all filthiness

of the flesh and spirit, perfecting

holiness in the fear of God.”

(2 Corinthians 7:1)

 

In passing, notice the two kinds of filthiness from which we are to purge ourselves. They are filthiness of the “flesh” and “spirit.” All will agree with the first, that there is filthiness of the flesh. How easily we condemn these sins of the flesh — dishonesty, unchastity, robbery, lying, cursing and the like. But filthiness of the spirit is the sin of fellowship with the world, and false religion, and encouraging the unfruitful works of darkness instead of rebuking them.

 

Now to return to the Book of Hebrews, we see that this absence of spiritual progress among these Hebrew Christians was due to their failure to separate from evil doctrine. They had slipped back into the bondage of the law. No matter what the price of obedience may be, they are to ask but one thing, “What does God require of me?” And this request to follow Jesus all the way, to grow into maturity, is reasonable and just. Three arguments are put forth to induce these Christians to consecrate their all to Him, and not stop short of perfection.

 

1. The first argument is the tremendous price at which our salvation was purchased. Gratitude for so great a salvation should evince the ready response of every believing heart. “Jesus paid it all; All to Him I owe.” In Hebrews 2:5-8 we have an account of the infinite price of our salvation in the Incarnation, Christ being made a little lower than the angels. In verse nine we read:

 

“We see Jesus, who was made a little lower

than the angels for the suffering of death.”

(Hebrews 2:9)

 

How can any believer stand at the manger in Bethlehem and realize that there God emptied Himself to save us, and not be deeply moved? How can we behold Him, covered with blood and spittle in Pilate’s hall and realize it was in our place, and not be willing to say, “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.” How can a truly born-again believer stand at Calvary in the awful stifling darkness, and hear the cry of the Son of God that shook the foundations of heaven, “My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” and not fall down before Him and cry:

 

“Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.”

 

Yet it is a sad, sad fact, not only among these early Hebrew Christians, but also among us, that so many Christians are not living all-out for Christ, but neglecting this great salvation, and wasting life, time, energy and money which belong to Him, in selfish gratification. And so if the love of Christ will not constrain us, then the Lord adds a second inducement for us to follow Him. And that is:

 

2. A promise of a reward. The Lord does not have to promise a reward for faithful, obedient service. He owes us nothing — we owe Him all. He has a perfect right to expect our full and devoted service simply on the basis of His redemption and His love for us. But He knows how hard the path sometimes is, and so He in grace promises something extra for faithful service. But it is still a reward of grace. I have a right to expect of my two sons unquestioning devotion and obedience. I ask them to mow the lawn for me, without excuses. I do not have to pay them. They are my sons. They owe their life to me. I have fed and clothed them and provided for their every need. It is not only reasonable and right, but it should be a joy to do this for their father. But I also know those boys, and realize how hard the work seems at times. Their mind is on playing or romping, and so, just to encourage them and give an added incentive, I promise each one a dollar (1959) as a reward. It is not pay or wages, for I owe them nothing. It is a reward of grace.

 

So too our heavenly Father has a right to expect our very best at all times. But He also knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. He knows the struggle with self and the flesh, and how weary we sometimes become, even in His service, and so He promises a reward, an extra reward for faithfulness. It is not pay, not wages, but grace. How wonderful the thoughtfulness of our “faithful High Priest who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, being in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

 

But sad to say, there are Christians who are not constrained by the love of Christ, nor interested in the reward, but in spite of all, continue in a carnal, selfish, fruitless life. What about such? They are saved, and on the way to heaven, but is there no penalty for their disobedience? Indeed there is. And here is the third inducement to obedience.

 

3. Continued disobedience is inviting the chastening of the Lord. To correct such the Lord may send sickness, weakness and as a last resort, death. God may cut short one’s stay on earth rather than have him continue in disobedience (1 Corinthians 11:30-32). And then for others who persist in rebellion, there may come a time when their willful sinning will result in God ceasing to deal with them here, waiting to fully judge them at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Such cannot be renewed again unto repentance (Hebrews 6:6), but become God’s “castaways” (1 Corinthians 9:27). They will see all their works burned, and they themselves suffering loss, but will be saved so as by fire. God will not allow abuse of the grace of God to go unpunished. He will have His people clean, and if not here, unrepented sins will be burned out in the fires of the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

 

Oh, take stock, believer, and ask yourself, “Is my life pleasing to God?” Come to Him, and confess and repent and then “go on to perfection,” for

 

“How shall we escape, if we neglect

so great salvation.”

(Hebrews 2:3)