Just How Will We Be Saved?
Good Morning Friends,
Today’s lectionary selection includes one of the Bible’s greatest stories, the parable of the Good Samaritan. It tells us a way in which we can help others while strengthening our souls. The emotions are real, and the drama worthy of the story being told, as it relates to how we too are to survive. Now here I could ask a question about pleasing people or responding to one’s calling but instead I am going to share in the mystery and Spirit of the true Gospel, by asking something to clear the air. So, one more time for emphasis if you have not yet processed the revelation, Just How Will We Be Saved?
Scripture: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed! Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1: 6-12 (NRSV)
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV)
Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Acts 16: 30-31 (NRSV)
Message: Being a victim of bandits on the Jericho Road was a clear example of someone needing divine help and frankly we are no different when it comes to our sins. Thankfully no matter where we are and what our situation we cannot hide from God. And that is a good thing for God has a plan for our wellbeing. For just as God provides a good Samaritan man to help the unfortunate traveler, so too God provides for our salvation through Jesus. Of course, it is best we do not think of ourselves as victims but better victors in the reality of life. Now, maybe you are stubborn and rebellious like those who passed the victim but still hope to change and believe. Maybe you are an outcaste like the Samaritan but still have a kind heart and hope to be used by God. Maybe you need mercy and a helping hand. Who doesn’t? Maybe you are like the young lawyer hearing the story of the Good Samaritan but just does not get it yet. Maybe you, like the lawyer are convinced that the storyline to success and salvation is based on institutional religious power and wealth. Maybe you do not believe that God keeps us from sinning so we can be used for a heavenly purpose while at the same time enjoying an abundant life. Friends, the beauty of salvation is that the whole entire Gospel message is based on love. The main message of the gospel is that God loves the world and that Jesus both human and divine demonstrated this love on the cross to set us free from sin, death and the fear of death. The message of the Gospel is that we are called to share as the Good Samaritan on the Jericho Road because God shares a path to eternal life out of these painful situations. The problem is that we are all infected with sin and we actually choose to sin and that makes us unsaved and separates us from God unless we have an intervention from God. The thing is that all sin is ultimately committed against an eternal and infinite God. And because of that, the just penalty for our sin is also eternal and infinite. Payment still has to be made and only the love of God can do it here to provide a path alternative to destruction.
And So, the story of the Good Samaritan illustrates this message of our need to comfort and be comforted, to encourage and be encouraged. For believing in Jesus in these moments gives us courage on the journey to experience God, even in unexpected places as we too are moved to love. The point of the salvation story is that we too are led to feel compassion not in a Temple but on the Wilderness Road. Notice that compassion does something in our lives, that it creates in us a feeling so deep that it must be expressed. Realize that compassion costs us something. It is not free. Understand that compassion demonstrates our relationship to God regardless of the form of its delivery. See in this story of compassion the great commandment… a Jesus on the cross, where the sinless is paired with the sin…where love is paired with pain…where mercy is combined with justice. Friends…neighbors…it may take reason, risk and faith, but the reward of life is experiencing compassion and acting on it. That is being a good neighbor. There are three philosophies of life illustrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan as an answer to the lawyer testing Jesus. They reflect Jesus’ deep understanding of us in the characters of the robber, the priest and the good Samaritan….” What’s yours is mine and I’ll take it.” “What’s mine is mine and I’ll keep it.” And, “What’s mine is ours and we’ll share it.” Here in the story Jesus teaches us to change from a shallow expression of life into a deeper one where God shares the opportunity for us to have salvation. Friends, there is no more important issue than our eternal destiny. And thankfully, even though there is great mystery about the details, the Bible is abundantly clear that the only way a person can be saved is through a belief in Jesus. The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, what he must do to be saved. Paul and Silas responded that he was to believe in the Lord Jesus as the solution. It is that simple and we discover the transformation when we risk loving.
Pray we believe in Jesus. Pray we have neighbors who grow in the face of pain even as they help. Pray we have neighbors who are heroes that care for the outcasts. Pray we are the kind of neighbor we would pray to experience as our own neighbor. Pray we realize that the real issue of life is not how many blessings we have but what we do with our blessings on our journey. Pray we trust in Jesus to forgive our sins. Pray in response we glorify God through the way we live. Pray we realize that God is sovereign and has always been and will always be in control. Pray God gets our attention so we might respond in a way that bring a little of heaven to earth in us. Pray we are willing to admit our mistakes and ask God for help. Pray that when called to give a witness to God’s salvation we have a story of how God saved us and then used us to forward the Kingdom of God. Pray our love and the love of God come together to guide and comfort us into greater unity.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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