-- Karl Barth, upon being asked in 1962 exactly when he "got saved"
I think this quote--this mindset, this reality--is wonderful and wonderfully clarifying. It's true that the redemption accomplished by Christ is applied to us in the here and now by the Holy Spirit. But we can never let our first moments of light and faith (if known) overshadow the fact that it is Jesus Christ who is our Savior. It was his self-emptying and curse-bearing death and his glorious, aeon-flipping resurrection which accomplished our salvation, not some moment we "accepted Christ" or "committed my life to Christ" or anything else like that. Jesus' final words? "It is accomplished" (John 19:30).
9 comments:
So what do I call August 6, 1980 - the day Christ's salvation was revealed to me?
Actually, I think that would be a great way of saying it. It was revealed to you in such a way that you believed in it and trusted it, and thereby received the benefits of his salvation.
Of course I don't want to take this too far--in a very real sense we aren't saved or experience subjectively our salvation until we trust Christ. But what I think is good is that our salvation rests on a completed foundation even before we believe in Christ.
Yes, that is pretty wonderful, isn't it?
Andrew,
Of course! All things were reconciled to God through Jesus by his death that day. Of course God's Amen to that was manifest at the resurrection of Jesus. And through the ascension of Jesus the implementation of that, in a sense, began. Then from the Father, Jesus poured out the Spirit, and we have Penetecost and a multitude beyond that time coming to salvation. So Easter, the Ascension, and Pentecost are big days as well, each essential to our salvation, and to the reconciliation and new creation of all things. Though at the basis of each is the Cross, Christ's death, without which none of them happen.
I would like to read more of Barth. I appreciate interacting with you, as you push me to realize I need to read more. I've actually read very little of him, next to nothing, though we've all been influenced by Barth by others we've read, surely one example being Eugene Peterson (a guess).
Reading McKnight's book on fasing right now, and he recommends as one of the books people read, Piper's book on fasting. So many good books to read.
My date: October 22, 1973, in the bottle washing room in the dairy in which I worked, where at 17 and a half years, I asked God to forgive me of my sins because of what Christ did for me on the cross. Words like or close to that. And I've never been the same, since.
Of course the Spirit brought me around where I was ready to commit my life to Christ, and that was in my understanding or part of my prayer, that Monday afternoon. (my wife Deb made her profession of faith just the night before, as I remember right now; she's in bed having caught my cold!)
I'm confused about my spiritual birthday. I know it was two days before Good Friday. I know where I was and everything that happened, but for years I thought it happened in 1990, which would have made it April 11th. However, now as I go back and retrace my history, I think it may have actually occurred in 1991, and two days before Good Friday in that year would be March 27th.
I'm not sure which date to celebrate anymore!!
...but as I retrace my history again I'm confronted with the year 1990. I was born 8/69 and I am sure I was 20 years old when I got saved, which would make it 1990, but other data suggests 1991. I am so confused!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nevertheless, I am forever thankful that the Lord came into my life, whenever that first was.
BTW: I completely agree that "Applied salvation" rather than "Getting saved" makes sense biblically to the day salvation was first revealed to us. I guess I am still stuck a bit in the wrong Christian lingo.
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