Throughout this study it will be extremely
important to keep the distinction between objective and
subjective salvation in mind. This can not be emphasized
too strongly. Many misunderstandings will develop if we forget
this distinction.
We can see the importance
of this distinction by considering that the apostle Paul said: "I
have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I
might save some" (1 Cor. 9:22). Did Paul ever "save"
anyone? Of course not, Jesus is the only Savior! This irrefutable
answer alerts us to the fact that the Bible makes a good and absolutely
necessary distinction between "objective" and "subjective"
salvation.
OBJECTIVE
SALVATION
OBJECTIVE SALVATION
refers to the work accomplished by Christ nearly 2,000 years ago.
By his perfect life and sacrificial death he objectively saved every
human being who will be finally saved. Their salvation was made certain
when he said, "It is finished." "By one sacrifice he
has made perfect forever those who are being made holy" (Heb.
10:14). Second Cor. 5:18, 19 speak of this as an act of God "who
reconciled [past tense] us to himself through Christ," and that
"God was [past tense] reconciling the world to himself in Christ."
"But now he has reconciled [past tense] you by Christ's physical
body through death" (See Col. 1:19-22).
Some
other examples of OBJECTIVE salvation can be found in: John 3:17;
Col. 1:22; Heb. 9:12, 10:10 and 1 John 2:2.
(See
Posting # 24 - "Reconciliation! - A Past Event)
Because objective salvation
is a past event the Bible occasionally speaks of "the gospel
[good news] of your salvation" (Eph. 1:13).
In this study the expressions
"elect in Christ," and "those who will be saved"
refer to those whose salvation has been objectively accomplished by
their identity with Christ in his death and resurrection. They are
those who will surely come to fullness of new life in Christ.
SUBJECTIVE
SALVATION
SUBJECTIVE SALVATION
occurs when the Holy Spirit transforms the sinner's heart, soul and
mind so that he or she desires to live in obedience to God's will.
That is to say - their regeneration, their new birth, their conversion
may occur at any point in time during their earthly life.
Some
examples of SUBJECTIVE salvation can be found in: John 3:16, 3:18;
Acts 2:41, :47, 16:14b; Romans 1:13 and 1 Cor. 9:22.
Because gospel is the effective
means that the Holy Spirit often uses to transform the heart, soul
and mind of those for whom Christ died, at times the gospel is spoken
of as "the power of God for" salvation (Rom. 1:16).
OBJECTIVE
SALVATION A PAST EVENT
Paul recognized that he was
objectively saved before he set out for Damascus. He was chosen
"in Him before the creation of the world." Therefore Paul
speaks of "this grace that was given us in Christ Jesus before
the beginning of time." Paul was "separated unto the gospel
from his mother's womb." Was Paul a "Christian" or
"converted" before he started toward Damascus? Absolutely
not! So, a person can be "objectively" saved and yet be
neither a Christian nor converted.
It is only in the subjective
sense that Paul or anyone else can be an instrument used by God to
subjectively save those who are already objectively
saved by Jesus Christ. Therefore the premise of Biblical Universalism
provides the only effective basis for missionary enterprise (See Posting
# 10, "The Message of Missions").
Dr. John Murray has used this
illustration to distinguish objective from subjective
salvation: When President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation
every slave in the confederate states was objectively a free person;
however, no slave was subjectively free and able to enjoy that freedom
until they heard about, believed, and acted on the basis of that proclamation.
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NOTE: BIBLICAL UNIVERSALISM is the teaching
that all persons are elect in Christ except those who the Bible expressly
declares will be finally lost, namely, those who ultimately reject
or remain indifferent to whatever revelation God has given of himself
to them whether in nature/conscience or in gospel presentation.
