The Lord Has Made Salvation Known
Daily Old Testament Reading: Psalm 97-99
Daily Focus Passage: Psalm 98
David declares the righteousness of the Lord and how the Lord is the righteous judge who judges all people fairly. While centering Psalm 98, David proclaimed, "The Lord has made his salvation known.” This statement amid a discourse on the righteous and fair judgment of the Lord toward all of humanity must not be overlooked. Let us see how the statement of David ties into the truth of the New Covenant by which salvation is offered through Jesus Christ.
THE LORD HAS MADE SALVATION KNOWN
David states that the Lord made salvation known. In the New Covenant, we understand that salvation became known in the work, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The incarnation of Christ provided the mode of salvation but also declared the truth of making salvation available. The work of Christ on the cross took the needed punishment that sin demands, and the resurrection offered victory over sin. Thus, Christ offered redemption through faith in him alone and made known the exclusive nature of salvation in Christ alone.
The apostle Paul declared that the Lord made salvation known through the created order. (Romans 1). The evidence of God’s goodness and presence exists as we gaze into the created order. Creation gives us a glimpse into the nature of the Lord. Creation declares the presence of God and, as a result, points us to the needed salvation that the Lord has made available to us in Christ.
Like creation, the Lord has used and continues to use witnesses to declare the gospel's message. The act of evangelism makes known the offered salvation of the Lord and invites people to respond to the offer. The Lord intentionally shares witnesses and works in people’s lives to make the world see his work and goodness. Ultimately, Christ commanded believers to be these witnesses so that the whole world would know about the avenue to salvation (Matthew 28, Acts 1).
THE LORD BRINGS RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT
The Lord has warned of the consequences of failing to respond to the gospel. Sin demands eternal punishment under the eternal wrath of God in a place called Hell. Jesus clarified that the way of the world and the flesh would lead people away from the Lord and toward the reality of these consequences. Thus, as the Lord makes his salvation known, he also makes known the consequences of rejecting him. Since the consequences and redemption are known, we must understand that his judgment is righteous and just.
The Lord does not make the rules up as he judges. Instead, he has made known what is needed to become acquitted of the guilt that sin carries. Thus, when David announced that the Lord judged in “equity,” he simply meant that the Lord judges in fairness based on the person's decision. The Lord does not send anyone to Hell, but he does convict people to Hell who choose to reject him. The judgment of the Lord is a direct response to people's decisions.
The Lord has made salvation known so that people do not have to face the eternal consequences of their sins. The Lord offers forgiveness and reconciliation through Christ so that we might have eternal life. The Lord is righteous because his judgment extends to us based on our free choice to receive the salvation made known or to reject salvation. Ultimately, the verdict of God comes as a response to his offer of redemption in salvation. What judgment do you face before the Lord based on your response to his revealing and offering of salvation?
