Salvation belongs to God, and Christ’s deliverance is our salvation. When we consider scriptures that speak of ‘abundant life, we are not referring to material wealth but to a life filled with the spiritual riches provided by Christ at His resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection has extended our life to an eternal existence, the true meaning of abundant life in Christ. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. In John 10, He uses the analogy of the relationship of a shepherd with his sheep. This illustration helps us understand how our heavenly Father sees us.
Sometimes, we misinterpret scriptures about abundant life, equating it with material prosperity. This interpretation, however, contradicts the essence of Jesus’ core message of hope and salvation for humanity. The abundance He offers is not a surplus of material possessions, which can often distract us from the true nature of salvation. It’s a spiritual wealth that transcends the material, redefining our expectations of salvation.
Is the message of possessions aimed at those who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior so they might receive God’s offer of redemption? Or is the point of following Jesus all about possessing material things? The Christian faith does not promote pursuing material wealth as a means of salvation. If this is the highlighted message, then it is a misguided message that portrays God as one who bribes people to love Him. Instead, the focus should be on the spiritual wealth and blessings of a relationship with Christ.
Rescue is another way to explain salvation. God has rescued us from eternal death through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. That is why salvation belongs to God. Christ’s deliverance is the Good news of the Gospel; He has rescued humanity from becoming the living dead by securing life for us both now and throughout eternity. This salvation is not about material wealth but a spiritual relationship with God.
The Never-ending Privilege of Salvation
The benefits of salvation are numerous. The salvation God desires for us is the eternal privilege of His love, which makes us whole in Him. God’s love is not contingent on the material wealth He bestows upon us. God doesn’t give us these things to buy our love and obedience. Still, He already loves us unconditionally, regardless of our economic status. Salvation is a gift from God, who has chosen us to be heirs of His love. As the Scripture says, ‘Has not God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him’ (James 2:5).
You are God’s servant. It doesn’t matter whether you have or do not have access to the finer things of life. It matters that you do not dilute your love for God by an inaccurate definition of love. If you do this, your love for God will remain genuine, not fade away, and not depend on your possession of tangible things.
We Are God’s Chosen People
“Has not God chosen the poor in this world?” All of humanity is poor without sincere love for God. Our Heavenly Father desires that everyone be rich in faith in Him. Therefore, God has considered the disadvantage of the poor. He has chosen the poor — those who do not have the magnitude of this world’s wealth — so that even the poor can obtain treasures in heaven through faith and pure love for Him.
As heirs of the kingdom promised to those who love Him, we are privileged to have faith in God through salvation. God is pleased to establish us through His love, worship, and relationship. His gift of salvation has opened the door, removing the veil of the sanctuary. Today, we can have intimate communion with Him. God has made His deity known through the simple premise of salvation. And it is this accessibility that has given us refuge.
Redemption Through the Cross
The intervening hand of God on the earth is salvation, and it belongs only to God. By faith, we can have an explainable personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, spiritually independent of our vessels of clay. By carnal standards, salvation is when we allow the primary focus of our earthly inheritance to be the acceptable goal. If this is true, we are redefining redemption by proclaiming a message different from the Gospel of Jesus. No matter how many disciples or followers of Christ were rich in worldly possessions, Jesus did not exalt earthly wealth as His Kingdom ministry. The focal point must remain in its proper place, a direction that leads to the gospel message of salvation, proclaiming Jesus Christ. We must not confuse God’s salvation with the partial message of promoting self-attainment instead of promoting Christ Jesus.
“Now, after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. And saying the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15)
Abundant life has its roots in the Kingdom of God rather than this world’s kingdom. We know worldly wealth is not a sin, but can we justify a change in focus from the spiritual bride of Christ to a carnal bride of Christ and still please God? Never! God the Father has delivered us through faith in His Son, Christ Jesus. That is why salvation belongs to God.
