Illustrations of Salvation

Sports Team — God’s salvation is like one who is invited to be a member of a championship team but who never played. I have a friend who worked for a major college football team. He has three national championship rings. He never put on a uniform or even played one down for the team.

Jesus Christ has done everything for His team (1 Pet 2:9), which is always being lead in His triumph (2 Cor 2:14). God demonstrated Jesus’ victory by raising Him from the dead and enthroning Him in heaven with a crown of glory (Ps 8:5; Heb 2:7). Those who have been appointed to eternal life (Acts 13:48) have been positioned “in Christ” by virtue of their baptism by the Holy Spirit (Rom 6). Christians are in union with Christ, who is the Victor over sin, death, judgment, hell, and the eternal lake of fire.

My friend did not choose to be a champion. He was made to be a champion by virtue of his position (equipment manager). Someone else did the work, but my friend shares in the glory. Jesus did all the work of salvation, and His people share in His glory (Heb 2:10), through the grace of being chosen by God to be on Christ’s team (Rom 4:5; 11:5; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Thess 2:13).

Inheritance — God’s salvation is like one who receives a great inheritance. An inheritance is received by an heir at the death of the testator. The last will and testament is read, and the legal transfer of titles is made. An heir does not work for an inheritance, for it is bequeathed. A person does not choose their inheritance; they are chosen for the inheritance. Heirs are chosen by the will of the one giving His wealth away.

Jesus Christ is the heir of all things (Heb 1:2), and we are co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17), being heirs of God. Heirs of God have the covenant promise of eternal life (Heb 9:15). Children of God, heirs of God, inherit eternal life (Mt 19:29). In His will, God has gladly chosen to give His children His kingdom. This is the saint’s inheritance reserved in heaven for us (1 Pet 1:4). “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve (Col 3:23–24).”

Birth — God’s salvation is like one who is born. Babies do not choose their parents. Their lives are conceived when the sperm meets the ovum. Each baby is woven together in its mother’s womb, and it is birthed at a certain point in time.

Salvation is about one being born again of the Spirit (Jn 3:1–8). The implanted seed of God’s Word meets the recipient Holy Spirit, who conceives spiritual life in the soul of a person (Jas 1:21; 1 Pet 1:3). The Holy Spirit indwells the soul of the elect one (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11). The person becomes spiritual (1 Cor 2:15). There is a new interest in the things of God (ie. prayer; Bible; church; etc.). They grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18). A person does not choose to be born of God, she is chosen for salvation (Jn 15:16; Eph 1:4–5; Rom 8:30; 9:23), even from before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8; 17:8).

Courtroom — God’s salvation is like one who is a criminal in the courtroom. The criminal is guilty of crimes under the law. Charges are brought, and a penalty is set for payment by a judge. Sometimes the crimes are paid by pecuniary means, and other times penitential means. Payment must be made for justice to be satisfied. In some cases, the fiduciary responsibility can be met by another party. As long as justice has been remunerated, it is content, regardless of who paid the debt.

Sinners are guilty criminals before God, the just judge. The penalty for sin is death. The first death is the body, but the second death is eternal hell in the lake of fire. Payment must be made for justice to be satisfied. One pays the penalty for his sins, or his sins are paid for by Jesus Christ, the fiduciary. Justice accepts both forms of payment, either from the sinner or the substitute. Under the legal terms of the covenant of grace, one does not choose grace for herself, it must be given by the will of the One who is able to make all grace abound to her. Grace is not given to all (Rom 9:22). Grace is evidenced by faith (Eph 2:8–9), which is granted by God to whom He wills (Jn 1:12–13; Rom 9:16; Phil 1:29).

Tree — God’s salvation is like a branch grafted into a living vine. Jesus gave this illustration (Jn 15), and Paul did, too (Rom 11). Jesus claimed He was the true Vine, and His disciples were the branches (Jn 15:5). The life of God is our salvation. God the Father is the Vinedresser (Jn 15:1), and he grafts the chosen branches into Christ (Rom 11:17). He also cuts off unfruitful dead branches. A branch does not choose to be grafted in or cut off. This is the choice of the Vinedresser.

To be grafted into the life of Christ means the living branch has the Spirit flowing in her. This is evident by the production of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22–23). The life of God in the soul of man is like the life-giving sap that brings nourishment to the bud, the flower, the leaf, and the fruit. The life of Christ is internal, but it has external evidence. These are indicative of salvation.

Drowning — God’s salvation is like a drowning victim being saved by a lifeguard. The swimmer has been rendered helpless, possibly by a rip tide. She fights for her life, but it is to no avail. She will eventually drown from lack of strength or buoyancy. The lifeguard comes to the rescue, for he is able and willing to save the drowning swimmer. It is his job to save people who are unable to save themselves.

The sinner is rendered helpless by the wayward current in a sea of sin. She fights for righteousness, but all of her good works are worthless. She will eventually die in her body of death. Jesus Christ comes to the rescue, for He is able and willing to save the helpless sinner.

Defiant swimmers and sinners insist they can save themselves, but this demands the first acknowledgment in humility. “Lord, save me!” is how Peter expressed his humility and inability. When a sinner comes to the knowledge of the truth about her predicament, she will cry out to Jesus Christ, having believed He alone can save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). Swimmers and sinners do not choose to accept salvation, they are dragged to shore by the one who mercifully came to their rescue. Jesus preached, “No one can come to Me, unless the Father drags (Gk. elkuse) him (Jn 6:44).”

Dead man — God’s salvation is like a dead man being raised to life. The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “For you were dead in your trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1).” Dead men do not choose life, but life chooses them. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11). At no point did Lazarus give consideration as to whether he believed Jesus could raise him, nor did he ever consternate on whether he would accept life or return to the dead. He arose, went forth, and followed Jesus’ command to live. Lazarus had no choice but to live.

Spiritually dead men cannot choose life. Paul wrote, “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised (1 Cor 2:14). The spiritually dead man must first be made alive (Eph 2:5), “even when we were dead in our transgressions, (He) made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”

This is a major stumbling block for spiritually dead men who are proud of their free will. Having been taught the fallacy of free will, they champion free will over and above God’s free will and choice. Their pride in participating in the work of salvation is evident by their boasting in themselves, as to whether they will accept or reject the salvation of Almighty God. Shockingly, they do not tremble at the prospect of their being the judge of Almighty God’s will and good pleasure. Who are you, O man?

Paul asked, “For who will resist His will (Rom 9:19)?” The answer is implied, “No one.” God is the Potter, and we are the clay (Jer 18; Rom 9:21). It is His choice to make us either vessels of mercy, prepared for glory (Rom 9:23), or to make us vessels of wrath, prepared for destruction (Rom 9:22). Mere clay does not choose to override the will of the Potter. Dead men do not choose to make themselves alive.

Exodus/Freed Slaves — God’s salvation is like when Israel was delivered out of Egypt; or when slaves are freed from their enslavement. Through the sacrificial lamb on the first Passover celebration, the blood of the sacrifice on the door posts and mantle was a typological substitution. The angel of death passed over, and the captive children of Israel were set free from slavery to Egypt by the blood of the lamb. They passed through the waters of the Red Sea, and they received provision and discipline in their wilderness wandering. The presence of God was with them in the pillar of fire by night and cloud by day.

Jesus Christ leads His people out of enslavement to sin in the world. He baptizes them with the presence of His Spirit and with water (Jn 3:5; 1 Jn 5:6, 8). They receive every spiritual blessing in the heavens and daily bread for their journey in the wilderness of this world, and toward the Promised Land of New Jerusalem.

Jesus Christ was made a ransom for many (Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45). Good news is preached to the captives (Is 61:1). It is a favorable year when it can be said, “Today, is the day of my salvation.” God released Jonah from the belly of the big fish. He released David from the tyranny of Saul. He brought back the exiles from Babylon when His good hand was upon them. Hosea bought Gomer back from prostitution.

Jesus Christ paid for the release of His people from bondage to sin (Rom 6:6; Rev 1:5). Sin no longer has dominion over those who have been delivered from the domain of darkness (Col 1:13). Sin and death have given up those whom God has chosen, whom Christ died for, and it is the Spirit who comes to these elect ones to apply the benefits, which include the truth which sets us free (Jn 8:32).

Adoption — God’s salvation is like an orphan being adopted. Orphans do not choose their parents. Their parents choose them. God the Father takes legal ownership of the adopted child of God through the redemption payment of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son, by His precious blood (Jn 3:16; 1 Pet 1:18–19). He is bringing many sons to glory (Heb 2:10).

Living in the orphanage of this world, under the care of their father, the devil (Jn 8:44), is no blessing. When the transfer from the darkness to light, that is, the kingdom of His beloved Son (Col 1:13), occurs, the child of the devil becomes a child of God (1 Jn 3:10). Legal title of ownership never passes to the child. He was the possession of Satan, but he was bought for a price (1 Cor 6:20; 7:23). The redemption brings ownership to Christ. The Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19).

Marriage — God’s salvation is like marriage. A man covenants with a woman in matrimony. The terms of agreement are stated with vows. Christ laid down His life for His bride, the church (Eph 5:25). He paid the dowry in love for her, just as Jacob worked for Rachel, his beloved. The covenant of marriage is unbreakable, but by death. Christ loved His bride and gave Himself up for her. He has promised, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you (Heb 13:5).” When the bride is weak, He is strong. Goodness is with Him, and He sets His love upon her. Salvation is a covenant of love that comes with blessed assurance. Christ is faithful and true (Rev 3:14; 19:11). God always keeps His promises (2 Cor 1:20).

Crops — God’s salvation is like a harvest of crops. The farmer cultivates the field. He plants the seed. He waters the plant, and God gives the increase (Mk 4:26). When the crops are ripe, he harvests them. The harvest banquet of celebration follows the labor.

God’s chosen lady has received the seed of the Word (Mt 13:23; 1 Pet 1:23). She treasures up His Word in her heart. The water of the Word and the light of the Spirit give an increase in understanding. The goal is maturity, which is Christlikeness (Rom 8:29). The harvest is coming to the whole earth, and there will be a separation on the day of harvest (Jn 5:28–29). Just as the wheat is separated from the tares, so the children of God will be separated from the children of the devil.

The firstfruit of the harvest has revealed to us the quality of the full harvest. It is the glorified body of Christ. We shall see Him face to face, and we shall be like Him. The token of the firstfruit has been given as evidence of the good things to come.

Sheep — God’s salvation is like a lost sheep found by a shepherd (Lk 15:1–7). This was taught by Jesus. A lost sheep has typically fallen into peril, or it would be with the flock. The Good Shepherd calls His sheep by name (Jn 10:3). The lost sheep, perched on an impassible craggy ledge, will cry out with the voice of distress. Where will her help come from? It comes from the Great Shepherd of the sheep (Mic 5:4; Heb 13:20), who gives her eternal life (Jn 4:14; 6:27; 10:28). He makes His sheep to be at peace (Ps 23). He is coming for the lost, and He will lose none of His own, for no one can snatch them out of His hand (Jn 10:28–29).

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

May 7, 2021