A Dose of Theological Reality

Charles Ladd in his A Theology of the New Testament says “Salvation is primarily an eschatological gift.”(73) Today the church's paradigm for salvation assumes that salvation is primarily a present gift. This is a dangerous confusion. In our service Sunday the scripture passage read during the service was from 1 Peter. As this passage was read I was impressed again just how the NT writers held to the belief that their salvation was significantly a future event where we would 'obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven.' (v1:4) We are 'born again' now, but 'to a living hope' (v1:3) 'protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.' (v1:5) the 'proof of (our) faith...may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the (future) revelation of Jesus Christ;' (v1:7) 'obtaining as the outcome of (the process/proving of) your faith the (future) salvation of your souls' (v1:9).

And given the futureness of our salvation we are challenged to 'obey Jesus Christ' because 'we are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit' (v1:1,2) 'As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy"' (v1:14-16) And 'if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth.' (v1:17) We are to 'long for the pure milk of the word, that by it (we) may grow in respect to salvation, (having) tasted the kindness of the Lord.' (2:2,3)

These passages in 1 Peter are not at all unique in the NT. We all need to examine our thinking on this subject and take care to not assume we are in a position that the very Apostles refused to claim for themselves.