Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary time Year B 25th August 2024.
Lectionary readings:
Joshua 24 v1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34 v15-22; Ephesians 6 v10-20; John 6 v56-69.
Eternal Life and Salvation
In the reading from John’s gospel, Simon Peter says “Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words give eternal life. We have faith in you, and we are sure that you are God’s Holy One.”
(John 6 v 68,69).
In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes, “God’s Spirit now lives in you and he will raise you to life by his Spirit.” (Romans 8 v11b).
This is part of a famous passage of scripture which ends with the following words, “I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love – not life nor death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not the powers above or the powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!”. (Romans 8 v38,39).
‘The Collins dictionary of The Bible’ offers us the following definitions:
Eternal life
The most important gift given to those who put their faith in Jesus (John 3 v16). It refers to a quality of life by which a person can know God for ever through Jesus (John17 v30). The experience of eternal life always begins in this life, but its benefits will only be fully appreciated in the life to come. These benefits are guaranteed for ever, however, since death is accompanied by the promise of resurrection and the enjoyment of God’s presence.
Salvation.
The major theme of the Bible. It is presented in the form of a story that describes the outworking of God’s eternal plan to deal with the problem of human sin. The story is set against the background of the history of God’s people and reaches its climax in the person and work of Christ. The Old Testament part of the story shows that people are sinners by nature, and describes a series of covenants by which God sets people free and makes promises to them. His plan includes the promise of blessing for all nations through Abraham and the redemption of Israel from every form of bondage. God showed his saving power throughout Israel’s history, but he also spoke about a Messianic figure who would save all people from the power, guilt and penalty of sin. This role was fulfilled by Jesus, who will ultimately destroy all the devil’s work, including suffering, pain and death (1John 3 v8). Jesus will finally replace the present evil world with a new heaven and a new earth over which he will reign for ever.
Alongside this grand story is an emphasis on the need for individual salvation. According to the New Testament, this salvation is a gift from God which everyone may receive by exercising faith in Christ and repentance for their sin (Acts 20 v21). Through this salvation, people become part of a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5 v17), their sins are forgiven, they receive eternal life and become the children of God. They also receive the Holy Spirit, who enables them to live a new life based on God’s requirements and to spread the gospel to others. (Acts 1 v8, 2 v38).
The basis of salvation is the person and work of Jesus. It centres on his role as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1 v29). Jesus’ resurrection vindicates his death and his victory is confirmed by his exaltation to God’s throne. For this reason, the New Testament portrays Jesus as the only Saviour of human beings (Acts 4 v12), and the early church regarded his salvation as a message for everyone, Gentiles as well as Jews (Acts 13 v47).
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.