The “Salvation of God” stands in wondrous contrast with the Judgment of God. Yet that selfsame God, in whose province it will be, bye-and-bye, to execute judgment, is now known by the precious name of the “Saviour God.” The work which now engages the heart and hand of God is that of Salvation. Once He was busied in the labor of creation, when “He spake and it stood fast;” but when that creation so fair and “very good” had become tarnished by the sin of man, and when man himself had, by sin, become fallen and hopelessly ruined, nothing remained for God but the exercise either of judgment in the vindication of His righteousness, or else the salvation, through sovereign grace, of those who had inherited His judgment. The “day of judgment” will come on bye-and-bye — when the wrath of a holy God will be displayed in all its power against sin, and shall “come upon the children of disobedience;” but in the meanwhile, ere that wrath be displayed; and ere those clouds of judgment break upon the impenitent souls of men, grace is baying its own unhindered course, and the heart of God is indulging itself in the blessed work of salvation.
“Now is the day of Salvation” says the apostle in 2 Corinthians 7 — and a long day it has been; but during its protracted hours no stroke of judgment has fallen — no peel of wrathful retribution his thundered and broken the stillness of its sacred suspense. One word has characterized its precious duration, one sound has been carried on the breeze, one note has rung from the lips of each servant of the Lord — Salvation — Salvation — Salvation! Oh! sweet word of hope, of life, of joy — bright anticipator of the dark drear scene beyond. Oh! word of balm, of rest, of peace, emanating from the heart of God itself, and clothed in all the love of that heart —, the Salvation of God! a Salvation planned by God and worthy of God.
What is this Salvation of God? It is a deliverance wrought by God Himself for the complete and everlasting emancipation from the power of sin and Satan of all those who, through grace, are called. It is the entire reversal, in a manner suitable to God Himself, of all the disastrous effects of Adam’s transgression. It is the translation of people, who, both by nature and practice, were thoroughly ruined and fallen, from their lost condition into one of the favor and blessing of God; and, lastly, it is the establishment of the righteousness of God in view of the whole question of sin — in such a way, that, without the impeachment of His holiness, nay, but as the very expression of it, the sinner may be justified and fitted for “the inheritance of the saints in light.”
This is the Salvation of God — and oh! how far do its limits extend beyond the meagre thoughts of reformation, amendment, improvement of oneself or of one’s ways that suggest themselves to man. Reformation can never save — albeit Salvation will certainly reform. Reformation is the prescription of the philosopher; Salvation is the plan of God — the one deals with what is outward, but leaves untouched the inner springs of life and volition — the other begins with the source of failure, providing a new nature altogether and bestowing a power against the natural evil of the heart.
It is God’s Salvation, purposed, planned and executed by God. The thought, the idea, the scheme and the structure were all of Him. Man was lost and could not work his way back. No law, no order of dealing, no plan of good works could atone for the infinitude of the guilt of sin. But grace provides a Saviour — and that Saviour is “God manifest in flesh,” and. He by “the: blood of the cross made peace.” The Prince of life could not be held by death―He was raised from the dead — but in that wondrous death and resurrection of the Blessed One is found “The Salvation of God.” And what part had man, in that work, None whatever, save the sins that gave the occasion to it.
Mark the wondrous truth in Heb. 1:33Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)―” Who, when He had BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High.” Yea, by Himself — unaided by man, apart from the prayer, work, or repentance of man, did the Son of God make expiation on the cross, and then, the work being finished, He sat down — and the Salvation of God could sound forth with tidings of free pardon and eternal life for the sinner.
Notice, likewise, that this Salvation takes its diameter from the source whence it flows and not from the soul in which it is made good, Thus Christ died for the sinner as such, and. Salvation is for him too. Again, the work of Christ has a present value — and therefore, “now is the day of Salvation” — it may be had now.
Lastly, the value of the work of Christ is, eternal, and so is the Salvation of the believer — free, present and eternal. With it there are no “ups and downs” — no “doubts and fears” — no “cloudy skies” — DO, “dark days” — all is settled, all is secure, all is imperishable.
“‘Tis everlasting peace,
Sure as Jehovah’s name;
‘Tis stable as God’s steadfast throne,
For evermore the same —”
And therefore let me say, dear reader, it becomes all who need and who seek this salvation to be done with those vain futile efforts of human legal righteousness which can issue in sorrow and disappointment alone — and learn the infinite value of the truth of “the Salvation of God.” J. W. S.