What Does It Mean to be Saved?

The Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year C), May 20, 2007

BCP: Acts 16:16-34 or 1 Sam. 12:19-24; Psalm 68:1-20 or Psalm 47; Rev. 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 or Acts 16:16-34; John 17:20-26

RCL: Acts 16:16-34; Psalm 97; Rev. 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21; John 17:20-26

Our lesson for this Sunday of the Easter season is about discipleship and apostolic work: It is about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, one who shares in Jesus’ mission in the world. Terms we discover in the Bible, like “disciple” and “apostle,” are suggestive, especially for today’s reading. The former term means “learner,” from Latin, while the latter comes from the Greek verb meaning “to send.”

We who aspire to be followers of Jesus learn from his words and his ministry, in order that we may grow in our ability to bring his ministry to fruition. We who celebrate Easter live in an in-between time. We can reflect on what Jesus has already done, and live in hope for the day that is fulfilled when Jesus joins heaven and earth together. As the reading from the book of Revelation reminds us, however, that day has not yet arrived: “Behold, I am coming soon!” (22:12a). God’s kingdom has already come in the person of Jesus, signaling the promise that God has begun a new thing; but it is not yet fulfilled in the second coming of Christ.

One observation about apostolic work is that it is an act of faith, but it unfolds in the very concrete circumstances of ordinary life. So despite whatever desire for “getting it right” or critical thinking we may bring to apostolic work, the only perfection that God demands of us is the perfection of faith. Our apostleship is about giving our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole strength to God. We do not become any more or less perfect in our ordinary being because of this. To be an apostle is not the same as being God.

Apostleship is the fundamental posture of allowing God to use us just

as we are, in order that God might use us — imperfect, awkward us — to do the work of love in the world. It is enormously liberating to know that God can transform even our idiocy for God’s greater glory.

In the question-and-answer dialogue on salvation between the jailer and Paul, “What must I do to be saved?”, in effect, Paul tells the jailer to trust his experience of what has just happened and to know that the power behind that experience belongs to Jesus. The earth-shaking freedom Paul and Silas have been offered, like the freedom from fear and shame they are offering to the jailer, is a gift of God’s power and grace. All any of us need to do is trust in that power and grace.

Look It Up

The issue of salvation is addressed every time the church celebrates a baptism. Prior to the pouring on of the holy water, candidates are asked if they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. (BCP p. 302.)

Think About It

What obstacles stand in the way of our being able to trust in the Lord’s power and grace?

Next Sunday

BCP: Acts 2:1-11 or Joel 2:28-32; Psalm 104:25-37 or 104:25-32 or Psalm 33:12-15, 18-22; 1 Cor. 12:4-13 or Acts 2:1-11; John 20:19-23 or John 14:8-17

RCL: Acts 2:1-21 or Gen. 11:1-9; Psalm 104:25-35, 37b; Rom. 8:14-17 or Acts 2:1-21; John 14:8-17, (25-27)