by Bill Steele

Created on: September 02, 2008

Of course we all want to be saved from damnation, but that statement poses a few questions. What does the damnation consist of? Who, or what, is going to damn us? Jesus did say that he was "the way, the truth, and the life", but what does that mean?

These questions are often clouded, particularly for non-believers, in Christian jargon taken from Biblical, or in some cases first century middle-eastern concepts. I suppose we know what salvation means or we can look it up. It means we are avoiding a penalty which would otherwise happen. I'm not suggesting that Jesus provides salvation from parking fines, but you get the point.

Jesus provides salvation from the eternal damnation which would otherwise occur as a result of original sin, compounded by a sinful lifestyle. Leaving aside the word sin, it can fairly easily be seen that following the dictates of one's basic human nature rarely leads to happiness. The failure to follow Jesus' teachings in the areas of personal morality, financial or sexual behaviour does not lead to contentment. Although it appears counter-intuitive, following Jesus' teaching does. Study after study has concluded that people who are married and faithful are happier and their children more successful. They also cause much less unhappiness to other people infidelity in sexual behaviour harms many more people than the perpetrator. Following Jesus' teaching is sound practical common sense, whatever happens after you are dead. Jesus then "saves" you from a life of unhappiness and lack of fulfilment.

To be fair, many other religious leaders followed similar principals. Many societies other than Christian ones devised personal morality rules along the same lines. But Jesus is distinguished from other religious leaders because of his resurrection. Don't forget that we have more historical evidence for Jesus' resurrection than we have for many other historic events that we have no trouble believing in. If you believe that there is a god and whether the earth arrived here through an event or a process, somebody or something started it then there must have been a reason. He must have left a message. And the resurrection makes Jesus' message deserving of special attention as being potentially a little more authentic.

It is human nature to try to find explanations for why we are in the predicament we are in. An apparently futile span of time on earth, to be soon forgotten. Jesus provides some explanations (and also many questions) but more than the others. And therefore salvation from confusion and bewilderment.

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