c. scott andreas

note: this is part two in a multi-part series

I should be clear about a few things. Before we begin to explore the life of a saved human being, it is important that we first examine the purpose of salvation.

It is an incredibly mysterious thing, that the Creator of the Universe, finding his creation lacking and corrupt, would seek to reform and renew it rather than wipe it off the face of the earth. Yet this is precisely the case. Moreover, this atonement required a sacrifice of blood under the law of the Covenant. Only a sacrifice “without blemish” (ESV; Lev. 1:3) was acceptable — only that which God cherished most could atone for the sin of all mankind. So He gave His Son, “one in being with the Father” (Nicene Creed), to bear the iniquity of all. This beloved person of the trinity was cursed and “hung on a tree,” put “under God’s curse” (ESV; Deut. 21:22).

I’ll not attempt to “solve the mystery” as I’m not convinced it can be done. Such incomprehensible, undeserved, and unearnable love is beyond explanation. But I think it reveals something about God’s purpose.

A mere dwarf standing upon the shoulders of giants, I have arrived at the same conclusion in which many before me have found rest. In all things, God’s purpose is to glorify Himself. Jonathan Edwards delivers a profound explication upon this subject, rooted deeply in scripture and true to life. He introduces this concept with Isaiah 48:11 in which God speaks to Israel concerning his reasons for purifying the people:

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,
for how should my name be profaned?
My glory I will not give to another. (ESV)

The ultimate purpose of redemtion, therefore, is that God might be glorified. Though this appears somewhat selfish prima facie, it is perhaps the most beneficent of all He could do. Dan Waugh dedicated a significant portion of a message to unpacking this concept, available at http://www.connexiononline.org. Unfortunately, I cannot recall the title of the message - please leave a comment if you do.

The purpose of this series, however, is to unpack the idea that “being saved” as the ultimate aim of man is a very limiting view, indeed. I submit that we must set our sights much higher — upon the glory of God. Though it is by nothing of ourselves that we work toward bringing him what he deserves, we have been endowed with the tools to do so (again, by nothing of ourselves).

And it would be a shame not to use them.

more soon.

-scott