| Christian Life and Doctrine | February 1978 |
The Things That Accompany Salvation
“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.” —Hebrews 6:9
THE Scriptures bring to our attention two salvations—the “great salvation” which began to be spoken by our Lord at his first advent and which has been offered to his followers during the nineteen centuries of this Gospel Age, and the “common salvation” provided for all the families of the earth, to be offered to the people during the Millennium.—Heb. 2:3; Jude 3
These two salvations are shown in many of the typical features of the Law, and the general teaching of the New Testament reveals them. For instance, at the time of the institution of the passover, the firstborn were spared because sheltered under the blood of the passover lamb, after which there came the deliverance of the whole nation from Egyptian bondage. These events foreshadowed the salvation of the church of the firstborn (the firstfruits unto God of his creatures), to be followed by the “creation itself” being delivered from the “bondage of corruption” during the period of the kingdom.—Rom. 8:21, Diaglott
From What Are We Saved?
In connection with both of these salvations, the Scriptures clearly show us from what we are saved; namely, (1) from sin—“He shall save his people from their sins,” and (2) from death—the judgment that was by one to condemnation, the penalty that passed upon all men. (Matt. 1:21; Rom. 5:12,16) When Israel rebelled against the authority of Moses, they were bitten by fiery serpents, symbolizing the effect of transgression against the divine law; and Moses, under divine direction, made a copper serpent and lifted it upon a pole that it might be clearly seen by the suffering Israelites. (Num. 21:5-9) Those who looked at the copper serpent were relieved of the effects of the serpent bite—a beautiful symbol of the fact that Jesus, the perfect man (copper) who knew no sin, was made sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.—John 3:14,15; II Cor. 5:21
Some look at Jesus as merely a model Jew, an ideal character, a great teacher, and are doubtless profited to some extent by such a viewpoint; but only those who see him as the sin-bearer, our substitute, are privileged to participate in his salvation, being justified freely from all things.
During the Gospel Age the first of these two salvations has been in operation. We, the antitypical firstborns, the church, are “being saved.” (I Cor. 15:2, Diaglott) We are in the process of salvation or preparation for our deliverance in the first resurrection. We are “saved by hope,” as the apostle expresses it. The actual salvation is to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ.—Rom. 8:24; I Pet. 1:13
Accompaniments to Salvation
The apostle, in Hebrews 6:9, tells us that it is necessary that certain things must accompany salvation if we would experience it; that in addition to faith in Jesus as our Redeemer, and consecration to do the Father’s will, we must possess certain other qualifications if we would inherit the promised great salvation—joint-heirship with Christ in his kingdom. These requirements are the fruits and graces of the Holy Spirit, brought to our attention in II Peter 1:5-8.
The apostle is here addressing those called to be partakers of the divine nature; namely, those who have sufficient faith to lead them to full consecration to the Lord, and who have therefore received the free gift of justification and the begetting of the Holy Spirit. He says, “Superadd to your faith fortitude.” (II Pet. 1:5, Diaglott) Having been blessed with the “like precious faith” common to all those favored by the harvest message contained in the Studies in the Scriptures, we then need to have the courage of our convictions and declare God’s message at every opportunity to those with an ear to hear. We thus develop fortitude, firmness, strength, and good courage.
To fortitude must be added knowledge. As we tell others the good news concerning the divine plan, we frequently find that there are items of truth we cannot explain as clearly as we would like. This sends us back to the Word of God, that we might gain more knowledge. Expression also deepens impression; therefore by study, and a faithful witness, we add to our fortitude and the knowledge already possessed, further or additional knowledge and understanding.
“And to knowledge self-control.” As more knowledge of God and his Word comes to us, the responsibility is ours of bringing ourselves into accord with this increasing light; hence more light should result in more self-control.
“And to self-control patience.” As self-control brings us more and more into accord with the Lord’s arrangements, we find we have less and less in common with the world around us, with the world increasingly opposing or ignoring us. Hence the grace of patience is more and more needed in order to continue to walk the narrow and difficult way marked out for us.
“And [add] to patience piety,” that is, reverence, respect, devotion toward God. Increasing appreciation of his greatness and love will assist us in pursuing our course, through evil report and good report. Growth in reverence and devotion should be our experience all along the way.
“And [add] to piety brotherly kindness,” that is, phileo love manifested toward the brethren—a love toward those in whom we see the Spirit of the Lord.
“And [add] to brotherly kindness love,” (Greek, agape) a disinterested love that goes out to all mankind, with a desire to bless and do them good.
“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren [margin, idle] nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (II Pet. 1:8) “If ye do these things [continually seek to develop these various graces of character], ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (vss. 10,11) Thus we see in the foregoing the graces necessary to be cultivated in order to attain the kingdom, in other words, the things that must “accompany salvation.”
It will be noted that the word translated “add” in verse 5 of the Authorized Version really means “superadd.” “Super-add to your faith fortitude,” etc. Just as the laws of heredity operate in connection with the birth of human beings, so that a person inherits the genes and chromosomes of the parents, which result in the formation of character, so it would seem that there is a similar law operating in the spiritual world. Our Heavenly Father’s nature is spiritual, and not material; hence, at the time of the begetting of the Spirit, when we become new creatures in Christ Jesus, the new mind is in measure endowed with spiritual discernment. And this spiritual discernment reveals the necessity of developing the graces the apostle here enumerates in order to attain the new birth on the divine plane of life. So to whatever extent these graces are possessed by the new mind, we must “super add” more and more. Therefore we are urged to “grow” in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Pet. 3:18) Super add to your faith more faith, to your knowledge more knowledge, to your love more love, until the new creature attains to the full stature of manhood in Christ Jesus and is ready for the great change of the first resurrection.
“For so an entrance shall be superadded unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (II Pet. 1:11) “For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: but that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”—Heb. 6:7-12