In a world where everything seems unreliable and in constant flux, we often find ourselves dragged through chaos—like the tail of a dragon wreaking havoc across the earth. Political turmoil, societal unrest, economic upheaval, and personal struggles intertwine, creating an atmosphere of despair and confusion. Each day, we navigate a landscape of these shifting tectonic plates, feels increasingly hostile and unreliable, leaving us grappling for solid ground.

Amidst this turmoil, one truth emerges: what people everywhere desperately hunger for is salvation from these dark forces and liberation.

It is in this place of longing, for a mythic place called “home,” that the promise of salvation shines most brightly—a beacon of hope that offers not only deliverance from chaos but also restoration to wholeness and is able to truly repatriate us “home” with God.

SALVATION THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS

Sōtēría (σωτηρία), the Greek term for salvation, encompasses a vast spectrum of meaning that transcends a mere escape from judgment.

Salvation encompasses not just forgiveness but also healing, provision, and deliverance, preservation and safety, among other aspects.

It represents a powerful transformation from absolute “lostness” to absolute “savedness” that includes restoration in every area of our lives. This divine force enables God to save us completely—spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, financially etc.

Philo of Alexandria (c. 20 BCE – c. 50 CE) often discussed the concept of salvation in the context of the soul’s relationship with God:

“For the highest good is to be saved, and the greatest evil is to be lost.”

Philo, On the Life of Moses, II.150.

In the Biblical sense, salvation is a comprehensive gift that addresses not only the root cause of sin but also its consequences that manifest as brokenness, lack, and dysfunction. Once Christ’s sacrifice has resolved the issue of sin and our separation from God, the necessary conditions for returning “home” are restored.

“The distance between God and the sinner is infinite; the distance is as great as hell is from heaven.”

John Owen (1616–1683)

Let’s delve deeper into the multifaceted nature of salvation and explore its implications for our lives today.

The Nature of Salvation: Sōtēría (n.) / Sōzō (v.)

Sōtēría is not merely about avoiding hell or gaining entrance to heaven; it is a holistic concept rooted in the very essence of who God is. It encompasses:

• Healing: Our brokenness—physical, emotional, and spiritual—is addressed through salvation. In Matthew 9:21, a woman touches Jesus’ cloak, believing she will be healed (sozo) and finds herself restored (sozo) to wholeness.
• Deliverance: Salvation involves liberation from sin, the demonic, and any form of oppression. In Luke 8:36, the formerly possessed man is described as saved (sozo), illustrating the deliverance from demonic oppression and freedom that salvation brings.
• Preservation: It signifies God’s ongoing protection and guidance. As we trust in Him, we are preserved from the chaos that seeks to overwhelm us.
• Provision: Salvation encompasses God’s promise to meet our needs in every area of life.
• Perfection: He who began the work in us, a work we couldn’t even start, will also finish what we cannot ever hope to complete.

“SALVATION” IN A NUTSHELL

Righteousness, plays a crucial role in understanding salvation. How does righteousness relate to salvation?

• Righteousness is not merely about moral behaviour; it is about being 100% right-with-God.
• Christ alone is 100% right-with-God.
• We are not 100% right-with-God.
• Sōtēría (salvation, being safe) is a direct result of righteousness (dikaiosynē).
• Another word for being-right-with-God is alignment.
• To be brought into proper alignement with God is called justification.
• Justification is what happens when we swap our imperfect “righteousness” for Jesus’ perfect righteousness.
• When we do, we receive all the blessings and benefits that come from an unbroken relationship with God.
• When we don’t, and instead try to be good enough, “qualify” or even be good Christians, we disqualify ourselves from receiving further benefits. This is becasue we have stopped relying on Christ’s work and instead rely on our own effort (work).
• Faith then is trusting that what Christ has done, was good enough, is good enough and will always be good enough and that nothing we can do can add to the work He has already done.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

Justification Rooted in Sacrifice

At the heart of justification is the sacrificial death of Christ. His death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice, bridging the gap between humanity and God. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul writes,

“For our sake, He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

This profound exchange, putting our sin and penalty on Christ and Christ’s righteousness on us, illustrates how our unrighteousness is exchanged for Christ’s righteousness. It is often referred to as the Great Exchange.

Living in the Light of Salvation

As we reflect on these profound truths, we recognize that our response to salvation should be one of rejoicing. The chaos of the world may still swirl around us, but in Christ, we find stability, healing, and hope. The kingdom of God then becomes the garden of Eden in the midst of the chaos of the world.

Since there is no more work for us to do, as the victory has already been won, there remains only one proper response to this great salvation—rejoicing! Romans 5:11 proclaims,

“More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

Sōtēría is a call to live in the light of our salvation, celebrating the profound truth that we are no longer bound by sin or chaos. Instead, we are equipped to navigate life’s challenges with the assurance of God’s love and grace.

This celebration is an active statement of faith that expresses itself in thanksgiving and praise.

Conclusion: Hope Amid Chaos

In a world filled with uncertainty and turmoil, the message of salvation—sōtēría—reminds us of the hope we have in Christ our rescuer (soter). Our longing for healing, deliverance, and peace is met in Him. As we embrace our new identity as the righteous, declared just by faith (trust in what He has done for us), we can face the chaos with unwavering confidence.

We are no longer subject to the the chaos, in Christ we the chaos is now subject to us!

Let us celebrate this incredible gift and share the good news of salvation with those around us, for it is the answer to the hunger that lies deep within the hearts of humanity.

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Original image by Dino Reichmuth