Today Salvation Hs Come To This House

"Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV; italics mine).

Future salvation means two things:  deliverance from mortality, and perfected fellowship with god.  What will the resurrected life be like?  We will have something in common with the angels, namely, the possession of immortality.  This immortal resurrected life is the life of the Age to Come.  "But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die, for they are like the angels.  They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection"  (aluke 20:35-36 NIV; italics mine). The sheep will be separated from the goats and brought safely into the fold (Matthew 25:32).  The most common picture is that of a feast or table fellowship.  Jesus will eat and drink at this table in the kingdom with His disciples (Luke 22:30).  All of these metaphors picture the restoration of communion between God and human beings that had been broken by sin. 

the futre salvation is set in contrast to what it means to be lost.  In Matthew 7:13 the word destruction is translated from the Greek word "apoleian" which carries the meaning of perishing, the state having been destroyed and is used of a future destruction as well.  to lose one's life is to lose everything.  "What good is it for a man to gain the whoe world, yet forfiet his soul? (Mark 8:36 NIV; italics mine).  It is within God's power to destroy both body and soul.  This destruction is described in terms of fire of Gehenna.  "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (geheena) (Matthew 10:28 NIV; italics mine).  The word for destroy in the Greek in this passage is in the present tense meaning it is happening now in real time and it is being carried out the (active voice) by the "One" who is applying the action.  Gehenna is described in terms of eternal fire (Matthew 18:8; 25:41) and darkness (matthew 8:12).  Fire and darkness are not homogeneous concepts, the focus is not on the form but found in the words, "I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers" (Matthew 7:23: luke 13:27 NIV; italics mine).  Here is the meaning of destruction: exclusion from the joys and pleasures of the presence of God in His Kingdom.

Hallelujah, Jesus came into this world; we are about to celebrate that coming.  Jesus' mission is to save the lsot sheep of the house kjof Israel (matthew 10:6).  They had strayed and their lostness is both in the present and in the future.  was this his only mission?  No!  For He has "other sheep."  "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen (that is us!)  I must bring them also.  They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd" (John 10:16 NIV; italics mine).Jesus came to save the lost, to bring them into a present salvation and as well into the salvation that is consummated in the Age to Come.  The salvation Jesus brought to Zacchaeus was a present salvation with  its blessing reaching into the future (Luke 19:9-10).

This gift of salvation is a gift that is a present fellowship in anticipation of the future consummation as illustrated by the table of Fellowship.  Jesus did not promise the forgiveness of sins; he bestowed it.  He did not simple assure people of the future fellowship of the Kingdom; He invited them into fellowship with Him.  This is the meaning of the presence of the Kingdom.  To receive the Kingdom of God, submit yourself to God's reign and receive the gift of the Kingdom and enter into the enjoyment of its blessings.  The age of fulfillment is present, but the time of consummation still awaits the Age to Come.

We Bring gifts to one another at this time of year but Jeus has brought to all, the greatest gift; the gift of salvation.

Daily Prayer:

With a thankful heart I come before you Lord.  I accept your gift of salvation, so freely given, and allow your kingdom to rule my life.                Amen