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Providential
Salvation
In previous essays, we have
studied our eternal salvation from sin including salvation
from sin's condemnation, salvation from sin's bondage, and
salvation from sin's corruption and noted that God has
sovereignly saved us by his grace. Then we proceeded to
study many of the timely deliverance that come to God's
elect including salvation from ignorance, salvation from a
condemning heart, salvation from death of fellowship, and
salvation from an untoward generation! We learned the
importance of the faith and good works of God's elect in
effecting these timely deliverance.
In this essay, we take an
overview look at four providential deliverances (salvation)
presented to us in the scriptures. God in his providence
works in the daily lives of his children. Sometimes he
delivers us from circumstances either to save our lives or
to deliver our lives from what we would consider to be
adverse circumstances. I invite the reader to consider the
faith and works of God's obedient people that is
demonstrated during these scriptural episodes.
The first episode we will look
at is found in Matt. 8:23 27, "And when he was entered
into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there
arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was
covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples
came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we
perish. And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of
little faith? Then, he arose, and rebuked the winds and the
sea; and there was a great calm. But, the men marveled,
saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and
the sea obey him!"
The second episode is Matt.
14:25 31, "And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus
went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples
saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It
is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway
Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be
not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be
thou; bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come.
And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on
the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind
boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried,
saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth
his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of
little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
The third episode we present
is Luke 18:35 43, "And it came to pass, that as he was
come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way
side begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked
what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth
passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David,
have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him,
that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the
more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me: and Jesus stood,
and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was
come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I
should do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive
my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy
faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his
sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people
when they saw it, gave praise unto God."
The fourth
episode is found in Heb. 11:7, "By faith Noah, being warned
of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared
an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned
the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by
faith."
While I only chose four
episodes the old and New Testament are full of such episodes
of God delivering his people with such timely deliverance. I
marvel when I hear some people say they don't believe in
timely salvation. Are they reading the same bible I am
reading? The fact is God is not only the God who has wrought
our eternal salvation from sin, but he is the God who is
with us in the midst of our lives and in the circumstances
of our lives. He is not a God afar off, but one who is near.
He has told us to cast our care upon him for he careth for
us. If we would stop to consider God's providential mercy
and grace upon each of us then we are drawn to the
conclusion that we have been saved many times from many
adverse circumstances and trials and tribulations in our
lives. Furthermore, when we read of such deliverance in the
scripture and consider our experiences of life and God's
dealings with us in providence, then it encourages us to
"lift up our eyes unto the hills from whence cometh our
help" when we come face to face with future trials and
trying circumstances.
NEXT -
Providential Salvation
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