“Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:9-10 NLT)
What are the “components” of salvation? When does salvation begin? How do I know I’m saved? Once I’m saved can I ever be “unsaved?”
Since I wrote the articles a few days ago about “Eternal Security” and “Once Saved Always Saved,” the Lord and I have been in much conversation about what the real essence of salvation is. When it happens and to whom? What constitutes a “saved” person, and what role does our free will have in the process?
Salvation, like Sanctification, Consecration, and other terms in Scripture that end in “tion” have past, present, and future implications. For example, I was saved (past tense) when I was a teenager, I’m presently saved as I’m continuing to walk in submission to the Lord’s authority and recognize His Lordship over my life, but one day soon I will be saved (future) as I complete my faith journey with Jesus.
Based on examples in Scripture I see a pattern that can apply to us that, at least for me, answers a lot of my questions. Let me “map” it out, then go back and put some of the pieces together.
Was Judas ever saved? There’s no account of how or when he began to follow the Lord, other than as a disciple (like the other 12), but according to the pattern of Scripture, Jesus hand-picked the twelve. Were they “saved” when the Lord “called” them? Did Jesus only pick Judas because He needed a “scapegoat?”
We’re tempted to make assumptions because from our current perspective we know, based on Scripture and tradition, how each one turned out. Yet, according to Mark 6 and other companion passages, all twelve were sent out to tell people “to repent of their sins and turn to God.”
Yes, of course, Judas was the betrayer, but my sense is he began as the others, with a heart to serve God and to be an effective disciple of the Lord. I think of Thomas the doubter and Peter the denier, James and John who were proud and wanted to be seen as the “closest” to Jesus. Each one had their faults, like each of us, yet, ultimately, only one went astray.
Of course, I’m not going to build a case for someone walking away from God based on what Judas did, largely because there are other factors. For example, NONE of the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. When they went out to preach they were “armed” with Christ’s authority, which, as I understand it, would have been an anointing of the Spirit for a specific assignment. But were any of them “saved” in the same sense as we are “saved” today?
Food for thought.
Let’s pick this up tomorrow.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 