Salvation

Abstract

Spasenje je univerzalna tema Svetog pisma. Sve su druge velike teme njezine podvrste ili pojašnjenja. Oblik spasenja varira, ali temeljna struktura je ista: Bog posjećuje svoj narod i izbavlja ga od problema ili sila koje ugrožavaju njegov opstanak. Od samog početka, kad je Bog odjenuo krive i posramljene roditelje ljudskog roda, do dana kad će Božji narod ući u novi Jeruzalem, vidljivo je da je Bog aktivno uključen u izbavljenje ljudskog roda. To je toliko točno da je riječ “Spasitelj” ne samo uspoređena s imenom “Bog”, već postaje njegovom definicijom, imenom za Boga. “Bog našega spasenja” (usp. 1 Ljet 16,35; Ps 79,9; Hab 3,18) ponekad je oslovljen i kao “Spasitelj” (2 Sam 22,3; Iz 43,3; 45,15; Jr 14,8; Lk 1,47; 1 Tim 1,1; 2,3; Tit 1,3; 2,10; Jd 25). Bog se može poslužiti različitim ljudskim oruđima da ostvari svoje nakane, ali je On jedini koji spašava (Iz 43,11; 45,21). “U Jahve je spasenje” (Ps 3,9); On je svoj narod izbavio, izbavlja i izbavit će ga “iz svih tjeskoba” (Ps 34,18). On neće da se itko izgubi (2 Pt 3,9), već da se svi spase (1 Tim 2,4) po Isusovom imenu (Mt 1,21; Dj 4,12; 1 Sol 5,9; Rim 10,13). Dijeleći ljudske patnje, Isus je postao pretečom i uzrokom vječnog spasenja svih koji Ga slijede (Heb 2,10; 5,9).Salvation is the universal theme of Scrip ture. All other major themes are subdivisions or explications of it. Th e form of salvation varies, but the underlying structure is the same: God visits His people and delivers them from those problems or powers that imperil their existence. From the beginning, when God clothed the guilty and shamed parents of the human race, to the day when God’s people enter the New Jerusalem, God is viewed as dynamically involved with the de liverance of the human race. Th is is so much the case that the word “Savior” is not only coordinated with the name “God,” but becomes a definition of it, a name for God. As God is the “God of our salvation” (1 Chron. 16:35; Ps. 79:9; Hab. 3:18), so He is called and sometimes addressed as “Savior” (2 Sam. 22:3; Isa. 43:3; 45:15; Jer. 14:8; Luke 1:47; 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3; Titus 1:3; 2:10; Jude 25). God may employ various human agents to eff ect His purposes, but it is He alone who saves (Isa. 43:11; 45:21). “Deliverance belongs to the Lord” (Ps. 3:8), who has, does, and will deliver people “out of all their troubles” (34:17). He wishes none to be lost (2 Peter 3:9), but all to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4), through Jesus’name (Matt. 1:21; Acts 4:12; 1 Th ess. 5:9; Rom. 10:13). In sharing human suff ering Jesus has become the pioneer and source of eternal salvation to all who follow Him (Heb. 2:10; 5:9)