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Is Salvation Something We Are Given or Something We Earn?
"In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” - Luke 10:21-22, ESV
Is salvation something we are given or something we earn? What is the difference? What distinguishes someone who is grateful for what God has given and revealed and someone who is discontented and still striving to justify himself?
In today's reading in Luke, Jesus clearly proclaims the wonderful grace of God in salvation, first in a prayer to His Father (vv. 21-22) and then in a private statement to His disciples (vv. 23-24). In His prayer, Jesus says very clearly that God has hidden the truths of salvation from some people ("the wise and understanding") and has revealed them to other people ("little children"). He then tells His disciples that they are greatly blessed to be able to see and hear the things they have seen and heard. It is clear that Jesus views knowing Him and seeing His kingdom as great blessings given by the grace of His Heavenly Father.
Jesus' view of salvation is immediately contrasted by a man who desires to justify himself and then by Martha, "anxious and troubled by many things." First, a man asks Jesus, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” The flaw in his question is obvious: He things eternal life is something to be earned, the kind of thing you do something to inherit. Since he's thinking this way, Jesus pushes him toward the Law, hoping to humble him to the point where he will see his need for saving grace. But he's still trapped in the bonds of legalism, wanting to justify himself, and so he asks Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" He's hoping to get the requirements of the law down to a manageable task.
When Jesus tells this man the story of the Good Samaritan, He is showing him what a transformed heart and life look like. In the story, the priest and the Levite were concerned about their legal obligations for cleanliness, and they fail to love their neighbor. Only the Samaritan, already and unclean outcast, has the evidence of a changed heart that overflows with mercy to others.
After Jesus tells this story, we see Martha busily slaving away, serving Jesus. She resents the fact that her sister, Mary, is content to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from him. The problem with Martha is that she thought her service to Jesus was more important than learning from Him. She had not learned the contentment of resting at His feet and listening, and so she was "distracted with much serving" and was "anxious and troubled about many things." Mary, on the other hand, knew that only "one thing is necessary." And so Jesus said she had "chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
If we understand that salvation is a gift, to be received and not earned, given and not deserved, grace transforms our hearts. But if we are seeking to justify ourselves or are "distracted with much serving," we remain restless, discontented and anxious. Those whose hearts are freed by grace are filled with mercy for others and a longing to learn more from Jesus. They bind up the wounds of the fallen and they sit at the feet of their Savior, not because they're doing so to earn salvation, but because they know how blessed they are.
Prayer from Psalm 119:121-152:
Ayin
I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
Give Your servant a pledge of good;
let not the insolent oppress me.
My eyes long for Your salvation
and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise.
Deal with Your servant according to Your steadfast love,
and teach me Your statutes.
I am Your servant; give me understanding,
that I may know Your testimonies!
It is time for the LORD to act,
for Your law has been broken.
Therefore I love Your commandments
above gold, above fine gold.
Therefore I consider all Your precepts to be right;
I hate every false way.
Pe
Your testimonies are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
The unfolding of Your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for Your commandments.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is Your way with those who love Your name.
Keep steady my steps according to Your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
Redeem me from man's oppression,
that I may keep Your precepts.
Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
and teach me Your statutes.
My eyes shed streams of tears,
because people do not keep Your law.
Tsadhe
Righteous are You, O LORD,
and right are Your rules.
You have appointed Your testimonies in righteousness
and in all faithfulness.
My zeal consumes me,
because my foes forget Your words.
Your promise is well tried,
and Your servant loves it.
I am small and despised,
yet I do not forget Your precepts.
Your righteousness is righteous forever,
and Your law is true.
Trouble and anguish have found me out,
but Your commandments are my delight.
Your testimonies are righteous forever;
give me understanding that I may live.
Qoph
With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD!
I will keep Your statutes.
I call to You; save me,
that I may observe Your testimonies.
I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I hope in Your words.
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on Your promise.
Hear my voice according to Your steadfast love;
O LORD, according to Your justice give me life.
They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
they are far from Your law.
But You are near, O LORD,
and all Your commandments are true.
Long have I known from Your testimonies
that You have founded them forever.
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