Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

Kaden picked up from my non-verbal communication that I was going to head out for a jog. He exclaimed, “I want to go.” So I complied. He actually did pretty good this time.

I’m hoping I can give the sawmill a good workout today…after knocking out a few other preliminary objectives. Yesterday I think I commented on seeing the track hoe out this window on the trailer. I see it there again this morning. But the next move for this morning is to remove it from the trailer. I did some serious work with it yesterday.

Have another great day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

SALVATION is a good word. The psalmist uses it often (e.g., 118:14, 21). And here we are given an expression that helps to define it. In short, Biblical SALVATION is a divine gift that not only provides for the continuation of life after death, but also prevents the condition of death after life. I think we need to clarify.

In a very real spiritual sense, we humans are born dead. Paul clarifies, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). I do not claim to know exactly where God draws the line of responsibility or accountability. All I know is that the NATURAL SIN NATURE resulting from “the fall” renders everyone spiritually or eternally dead and requires that everyone be BORN AGAIN—“born of the Spirit” (John 3:5-8)—in order to gain the benefits of ETERNAL LIFE (John 3:16, Romans 6:23).

My basic Biblical orientation leads me to believe that human conception not only commences physical existence but also eternal existence—which has two modes: Either eternal life (heaven) or eternal death (hell). Without attempting much exercise in theological gymnastics, let me repeat my above statement and add capitals to help clarify that which is physical and temporal (in small letters) and that which is spiritual and eternal (in capital letters). “Biblical SALVATION is a divine gift that not only provides for the continuation of LIFE after death, but also prevents the condition of DEATH after life.”

The psalmist understands that it is not the living physical body that needs SALVATION (which simply returns to the dust from which it was originally fabricated—Psalm 103:14; 104:29), but the living spiritual and eternal soul. And it is the gift of LIFE to the spiritual and eternal soul that allows one to live pleasing before the LORD while operating within one’s temporal living physical body—“…in the land of the living”—among other people with temporal living physical bodies. This idea so inspires the writer that he exclaims, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (116:15). That can only be because their death is their access to the eternal fullness of LIFE.

Are you excited yet? Just make sure you catch the important connections—in order to make the best of life, you need LIFE—and because your LIFE exempts you from DEATH, you don’t have to worry a lick about death (John 11:25-26). I sure hope I’m not confusing anyone.