The Salvation Incantation

Saving Private Ryan is a brutally realistic view into the horrors of war.  It is the story of an American squad sent on a rescue mission.  A mission to save one person, the titular Private Ryan.  They do not know where he is, and most of the squad don't want to be on the mission.  Why should they risk their lives to send one schmuck home?  But they follow orders and after a long search, they find him.

By the end of the movie, most of the squad has died in the course of their mission.  Including their captain, played by Tom Hanks.  As he lays dying after a vicious battle, he waves Ryan over and rasps to him, "Earn this."

That floors me every time I see it.  Earn this.  How?  How can you live a life knowing that others died so that you can live?  How do you ever live up to that request, to earn their sacrifice.  Well, Ryan clearly struggles with that thought for the remainder of his life.  The scene fades and we see the elderly Ryan at the captain's grave, and he says to his wife, "Tell me I'm a good man."

He lived his whole life wondering if he lived up to the lives that were given so he could go home.  Even though he didn't ask for it.  His salvation ate at his mind his whole life.

I'm glad Jesus did not have the same mind set.  He did not ask us to earn the salvation he purchased for us.  He said, "It is accomplished!"  Done.  Finished.  Salvation was delivered to us.  We just have to accept it.

But salvation is not a once and done thing.  There is a moment.  An instant when someone believes and salvation begins.

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Romans 10:9-10

 We are also told to "work out our own salvation," (Philippians 2:12)  Think of it this way.  You train to be a doctor and graduate med school and eventually say the Hippocratic oath.  You're a doctor now  Yay!  What happens if you never show up for work after that?  You never practice medicine for the rest of your life.  Are you still a doctor?  Were you ever really a doctor?

Now, I'm not saying to question your salvation.  If you believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, and have confessed Jesus is Lord, you are saved...but it doesn't stop there.  If you truly believe that Jesus is Lord, you will behave and live a certain way.  Bearing fruit that comes from having Jesus in your life.  Remember his analogy about the vine and the branches?  (John 15)

We need to remain in him.  So we can bear fruit.  Fruit that comes from God, through Jesus, and out of us.  "Jesus is Lord," is not just a statement of fact.  It is a declaration of your devotion to him.

Salvation is not just an incantation at the end of a church service.  It is not an emotional response at a conference or retreat.  It's not just a moment in a small group or home gathering.  It very well may happen in one of those places or come out of situations like that, but it is so much more. 

It is a clear decisive choice that Jesus is Lord of your life. 

There will be changes in your life.  Some might be instant.  Others will take the rest of your life.  But they will come out of your love for him.  How you grow with him in your life and with others who follow him.

Unlike Private Ryan, we don't have to wonder if we earned it.  Because we can not earn the salvation that Jesus won for us.  Only he could.  But the good news is, because he won it, we don't have to wonder if we can have it.

It's already accomplished.  Salvation ≠ Recitation.  Saying the Hippocratic oath does not make you a doctor.  Saying the sinners prayer doesn't make you a follower of Jesus.  You have to actually follow him to be a follower.  And that is discipleship.  Learning about Jesus.  Who he is.  What he has done and taught.  Then, you go and teach others about Jesus.

grace, peace + hope-Bear