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This blog records my transition from the Churches of Christ to Eastern Orthodoxy.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Salvation from Hell or Salvation from Sin?

The nature of Christ’s salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day “evangelist.” He announces a Saviour from hell rather than a Saviour from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness

--A. W. Pink

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Isn't a Savior from Sin also a Savior from Hell? I see the limitation in focusing primarily on the "Savior from Hell" but isn't it just as limiting to focus only on the "Savior from Sin"? If we can't see the present and also focus on the future, maybe our perspective's out of whack.

guy said...

yes, i think salvation from sin necessarily includes salvation from hell. But conceptually speaking (though not biblically), salvation from hell does not necessarily include salvation from sin. i met quite a few people in ministry who honestly approached religion as "what's-the-bare-minimum-i-have-to-do-to-stay-out-of-hell?"

--guy

Stoned-Campbell Disciple said...

Guy I have just stumbled across your blog. I'm enjoying poking around in it.

What if we are not simply saved from hell or even simply "from sin" but rather we are saved FOR new creation? I do agree we are not simply escaping hell. Rather we are saved from the vandalism of God's shalom and his creation FOR restoration of harmony with him, with each other and with creation. Just a thought.

I invite you to drop by my blog too.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine
www.stoned-campbelldisciple.blogspot.com

guy said...

Bobby,

Glad you stopped by. i actually do visit your blog, but you only post once in a great while it seems! i enjoy it though.

i think you're right. i've only read a limited amount of A.W. Pink. --his stuff on repentance is particularly meaty. i'm not sure that Pink meant to be taken as saying that salvation is *simply* salvation from sin. i think he's correcting one common misrepresentation. i think Pink would allow that there are more aspects of salvation.

And i think the one you mention is crucial. It was N.T. Wright's Surprised By Hope that really got me thinking about new creation and redemption in much more vivid ways than i ever had. People are saved for God's reclamation project, yes.

But sadly, what i encounter all too often is people who simply want afterlife insurance. That suggests that what is most important is where i go when i die. Of course, that's important. But as Wright points out, not the emphasis of either the OT or the NT. Salvation from sin, Pink phrases it, does bring the emphasis back to this life and spotlights part of God's reclamation project. That's why i thought the quote was worthwhile.

--guy

Stoned-Campbell Disciple said...

guy I used to post much more than now but I am on a "roll" ... six in the last 10 days!!! Check them out.

N.T. Wright is a great expositor but the doctrine of the renewed earth is classic Christianity. My recent post "Whatever Happened to the Land" traces the land promise into the renewed earth point of view (using old Moses E. Lard as a conversation partner!). Alexander Campbell, Barton Stone, David Lipscomb, James A. Harding all taught the renewed earth (you can read on DL & JAH in my book with John Mark Hicks, Kingdom Come).

I can send you some links (13 of them) on renewed earth eschatology that interacts with many of the early Church Fathers and the "Restoration" fathers as well. Say the word and I'll send them your way if you are curious.

Bobby V

guy said...

bobby,

yeah, send it my way. i'd love to see some quotes--especially the early church fathers.

i won't lie, i don't interact very much with restoration authors. i do like to spend time with the second, third, and fourth century writings though. Lately, though, i've been reading Anabaptist authors on pacifism and non-resistance. --i did pick up a couple Mother Teresa books though and finished one and highlighted a ton of the book. Lots of gems there.

--guy

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