THE GREAT SALVATION by H. A. St. John

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Feb 1, 1905

THE GREAT SALVATION.

By H. A. St. John

BY H. A. ST. JOHN.

THE salvation so freely proffered to the children of men through Jesus our Lord, is so great that we can only begin to see and sense its greatness, in this life. And yet that measure of that great salvation which we may know and have, even now, is so satisfying, is so good and so glorious, that when really and consciously possessed, may justly and truly cause the soul to rejoice with exceeding great joy, and spread the glad tidings of great joy to all men everywhere. Can it be possible that a soul possessing even the first-fruits of this great salvation, should need to be urged, exhorted, or even asked, to tell it out with gladness? Will they not rather, like the psalmist, be calling to all around, "Come and hear what He . . . hath done for my soul." In considering this great salvation, it may properly be divided into three instalments.

1. Salvation from sin. "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Thus saith the inspired Word of God. The first instalment of the great salvation provided, is pardon full and free for all of our transgressions, upon condition of repentance. "Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins." There comes with this pardon, or salvation, the witness of membership into our heavenly Father's family. Truly such a soul may be excused for singing aloud, "Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it; redeemed by the blood of the Lamb." An heir of God, a joint-heir with Jesus Christ, who is heir of all things, is surely enough to fill the soul with rejoicing, and yet this is only the beginning of God's good work for us, only the first instalment of the great salvation.

2. Salvation from sinning. Upon the condition of entire consecration, the yielding of the body as a living sacrifice, the soul receives another uplift, another instalment of salvation, whereby the soul is enabled to show what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Sanctification, or entire conformity to the will of God, is a state of perfect love, wherein the soul walks with God, as did Enoch of old. This is the high prerogative of every child that is born of God. Being filled with the Spirit, baptized of the Holy Ghost, sanctified wholly, body, soul, and spirit, is a glorious uplift in the great salvation in which the soul may be preserved blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Salvation from the results of sin. This third and last instalment of the great salvation provided will be bestowed when Jesus comes in glory, and changes our vile bodies, and fashions them like unto His glorious body. Then all the results of sin in the redeemed, and in all things they shall ever behold, or with which they will ever have to do, will be forever removed. "There will be no more curse." O, the soul can never praise God enough for the great salvation which begins to be enjoyed in this life, and will be forever unfolding in the life to come. With joy the saints may draw and drink from the wells of salvation now. But when they shall come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads, it will be not only wells of salvation, but perennial fountains, and streams, and rivers, and fields, and fruits, and flowers—in short, everything in the better world, in and around, above and beneath, will be praising God for the great salvation.

"Salvation!—let the echo fly The spacious earth around; While all the armies of the sky Conspire to raise the sound."