Articles
Another Salvation
On the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), the Apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit to announce to a sinful world that faith in Jesus as God’s Son, sincere repentance, and baptism for the forgiveness of past sins, could save them. Peter urged his audience, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” (Acts 2:4, 22-42). This salvation was offered to all sinners, Jew and Gentile. It was Gospel, the “good news” of the Kingdom of God. It brought joy to all who believed, and were willing to submit to God’s will (Acts 8:36-39, 13:44-48).
Some years after this message of salvation was first proclaimed, the Apostle Peter wrote about another salvation, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice...” (1 Peter 1:3-6a).
This enduring salvation is being prepared for those who have been “born again.” This “living hope” is also a matter of rejoicing. But, from what are we saved? Obedience to the original gospel brought our salvation from past sins. Sin committed after baptism is forgiven to the penitent, praying Christian (Acts 8:13-22). So, what purpose does the “second salvation” serve?
It is God’s reward to those who live a faithful and holy life. Peter, writing to Christians, says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9).
Then, in conclusion, he writes, “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:1 3). The personal experience that “the Lord is good” should be enough motivation for a Christian to “grow up into salvation.” However, we can also be motivated by the warning, “Flee from the wrath to come” (Luke 3:7). The Apostle Paul tells us, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming” (Colossians 3:5 6).
The second salvation will supercede the first. Paul wrote, “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:9). The savior for God’s second salvation is the same as for the first. So, “wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
