Salvation.

What is Salvation?

When Zacchaeus said to Jesus: "'Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.'"  Luke 19:8 (NRSV)

Jesus said: "'Today salvation has come to this house."'  Luke 19:9 (NRSV)

So is basic honesty and charity Salvation?

When John the Baptist was asked: "'What then should we do?'"  Luke 3:10 (NRSV) he responded with instructions to practise basic honesty and charity.

When a rich ruler asked Jesus: "'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'" Luke 18:18 (NRSV) Jesus said: "'You know the commandments: "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your mother and father.'"  Luke 18;20 (NRSV)

Then he added: "'Sell all you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.'"  Luke 18:22 (NRSV)

But perhaps the most important instruction is when Jesus says: "'I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you.'"  John 13:34 (NRSV)

This is consistent with Jesus' statement that the most important commandment is to love God with all your heart. soul, mind, and might; and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself.

So, if we are able to overcome our fears and practise basic honesty and charity, and we open our hearts to love God and love our neighbor, then we have achieved Salvation.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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