One challenge that modern students of the Bible will encounter is that it presents a very different perspective on the way we should think about life. For example, the other day while scrolling through some social media accounts, I saw a post that simply said, “Maintain a very high opinion of yourself.” Clearly this insight resonated with many, based on the number of likes and shares. But the Bible adds a caution to that philosophy that we almost never hear today. In Romans 12:3 the apostle Paul reminds every reader “not to think of himself more highly than he ought.” The Scriptures in fact counsels each person to, “in lowliness of mind…esteem others better than himself (Phil 2:3).”
A different perspective indeed.
Maybe there is no teaching in which the perspective of the Bible surprises us more than in its teaching about salvation. I was reminded of that this morning when reading a book called “Things Unseen” by J. Gresham Machen. Machen was a Christian, a respected theologian, and seminary professor. He once gave a series of radio addresses, the content of which make up this book I mentioned.
Salvation Surprising
In one chapter of this book he is talking about a difficult doctrine which we call the doctrine of “predestination.” I’m not going to try and untangle that knot in this post, nor even attempt to explain it. However, in the midst of this discussion, Machen makes a very important point that highlights the radically different perspective on salvation found in the Bible. Here is what he said, “We regard it as surprising that any are lost; the Bible regards it as surprising that any are saved.”
In other words, we rarely think that any departed soul is “lost.” We always assume that that virtually everyone is saved. In the words of the late, great theologian R.C. Sproul, we are no longer talking about salvation by faith, or grace, but simply “salvation by death.” None are lost. All are saved. Sproul and Machen both knew that the Bible presents a different view.
If Machen is right, and I think he is, one of the most difficult challenges we have as Christians is explaining this very different perspective found in God’s Word. We naturally think most people (ourselves included) are pretty good, and certainly worth saving. As such, whatever is needed to save good folk like us couldn’t be very complicated or involved. In fact, we might imagine, the vast majority of the human race may not need any saving at all. That is where the Bible sees things differently. Again, to quote Machen, “we regard it as surprising that any are lost; the Bible regards it as surprising that any are saved.”
Our Response
This little Machen quote gave me something to ponder. Am I still surprised that God saved me? I ought to be. Am I surprised that I’m not still lost in my own selfish perspective on life? I ought to be. Am I surprised when I meet someone with what appears to be a genuine faith in Christ and a life that corresponds to that profession? This should be shocking, because nothing less than the power and grace of God are needed to save someone.
It was this surprise that caused John Newton to write that famous hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! That was Newton’s experience. And it is ultimately the experience of anyone truly touched by God’s grace.
I think we need this “different” perspective that that Bible brings more than ever. I certainly need to have my perspective continually re-aligned. How about you?
