I was on the ride back from a trip to a nearby province. My friend Sidney and I were in a town that was a common stopping point between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap so buses go through that town every half hour. There were 2 seats open in a large van. I sat in the back next to a Brazilian man who happened to be a Mormon. We got talking about Mormonism and Christianity and the differences. My biggest question for him was what about Joseph Smith’s (the Mormon’s unique prophet of whom’s teachings they follow) message was needed and necessary beyond the revelation we have through the Bible already. I don’t know a whole lot about Mormonism, but it really caused me to think about what Christians believe about salvation and the Gospel.
And then I read this today in Galatians chapter 1, “who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father…” (NIV v.4)
This phrase right here distinguishes between two kingdoms, two ages, or worlds. The purpose of salvation is to bring us out of the evil age of this world and into a new way of life. Before when we did not have salvation in our lives we were subject to the ways of this world. We were living for ourselves or our own reputation. We made decisions on whatever seemed good to us. We positioned our lives in a way as to not be disrupted from how we think our life should look. We were not accountable to anyone other than ourselves.
We followed every inclination of our desires. We call this the desires of our flesh. Even some of us Christians still live this way, even Christian leaders. We do whatever seems right in our own eyes. We are slaves to the influences of this world, with no way out. It could even mean following a effective ministry model, or following an organization or company set up by man, without the power of God.
Salvation is about coming out from under the ways of this world and unto the ways of God. Paul says he is an apostle, “not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.” (Galatians 1:1)
Even Paul who was bringing many into the saving knowledge of Christ had to remind himself, he was not from men, the authority of the church, or out of his own power, but from the power of Christ!
This is our salvation, our abundant life! We are not apart of this world, we have been saved from it. Those who have been saved know about this world. For those who have have been playing the games of this world for a long time, it may seem normal, but if you wonder if there is something better, there is. I promise you.
