by Milton Johanides

Created on: June 21, 2009

If we put the question another way, for instance "is Love the only way to salvation?" would there be many detractors? People get all mixed up with doctrine and dogma and religious argument, and forget the most important thing, that Jesus was the perfect exponent of the one thing we all need more of - love. At the end of the day we can argue about sonship, we can argue about divinity, we can argue about religious denomination, but can we argue with the statement "my command is this: love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (John 15.12). It is possible John Lennon, Ghandhi or Martin Luther came up with statements of altruism almost as moving, but none has been the equal of Jesus. Jesus talked the talk and walked the walk. When he went up to Calvary with the cross on his back, an incident recorded in much secular literature of the time so we know it happened, he carried humanity with him. More than anyone else in history he outflanked evil practices and corrupt power models, and he did so not with a sword in his hand, but with love in his heart.

There is no other route to salvation, because salvation is perfectly encapsulated in Jesus' life. The only way to freedom both during this earthly life and in the spirit life to come, is to turn your attentions outward away from the self. Over concern with self, with ambition, with personal gratification is negative and self-destructive. It is an unreliable way to live your life by promoting your own vanity. Firstly, we cannot see ourselves as others see us, therefore we have no way of knowing if the goals we chase for ourselves have any long term validity. The chances are these goals, the ones revolving around selfish interest, end up doing us more harm. Secondly, we cannot physically enrich ourselves without impoverishing someone else, so life based on rivalry and competition becomes nasty and harming.Yet by giving to others before thinking about ourselves, we build bridges of trust. This is both good for ourselves and good for others.When Jesus suffered torment on the cross, he was guaranteeing his position in eternity at the right hand of God and saving mankind from the machinations of evil. How good a "win-win" is that?

Salvation from what? Salvation is feedom from the yoke of sin which leads to death. Sin by definition is that which leads us away from God into unknown terrain. Sin is addiction to harmful behaviour. Sin divides us from each other. Sin separates us from love. The physical appetites of the body can never be satisfied so by sinning we embark on a low road to never-ending, insatiable desire which is most often accompanied by frustration, anger and depression. Sin looks for prey among the weak and the vulnerabl.e.

Jesus stood up for everyone, sinners and righteous alike, but by his example he leads us to righteousness. No other prophet, sage, philosopher in history could make that bridge. He achieved the ultimate by being persecuted horribly,having done nothing wrong. And his resurrection and ascension, witnessed by many at the time, reveal the spiritual nature of our salvation. Freedom from sin in life leads to eternal freedom from pain and death after life. There is no point looking for another model for physical and spiritual salvation, there isn't one. Jesus was both the fulfilment of ancient prophecy and the future hope of a new age, free from sin, restored to our Father in Heaven.

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