Article August 5, 1911 Issue

SALVATION

ELEANOR MONEY COUTTS.

THE teachings of Christian Science throw a clear light on what is meant by salvation. In all of Mrs. Eddy's writings we find the eternal fact reiterated that we are saved, here and now, by the spiritual understanding of man's real status as God's perfect child, made in His image and likeness; his Father being that Mind of whom Jesus spoke, saying, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

The word "saved" has sometimes been used to imply a very contrary teaching, however; in fact, the old Calvinistic doctrine would have us believe that there are two entirely different species of mankind, one "saved" and sure of eternal life, and the other eternally certain of damnation. It is most interesting to go even farther back than this and to study the constant use of the word as found in the book of Psalms, that wonderful compilation of poems by many authors and of widely different dates. We first come upon it in the Third Psalm, where we read: "Salvation belongeth unto the Lord." This is one of the few psalms which can be ascribed with any degree of certainty to King David himself, and the poem is thought to have been written by him at the time of Absalom's rebellion, when the king fled from Jerusalem. The psalmist speaks of the derision of those that "trouble" him and "rise up against" him; who say "there is no help [or salvation] for him in God." But David knew better, and the lonely fugitive begins at once to describe his calm trust and sweet rest even in this bitter experience in the face of seeming danger. Why is this? "Arise O Lord;" he cries, "save me, O my God: .... Salvation belongeth unto the Lord." Knowing this, David knew his "salvation" to be absolutely unshaken trust in his highest understanding of God, good, and the consequent powerlessness of evil.

A note from Dr. Kirkpatrick's very interesting book on the Psalms is helpful in this connection: "In the revised version margin we read 'victory' instead of salvation. This unduly limits the thought, though no doubt it is the particular form in which David desires to see Jehovah's saving power manifested. 'Save' is the constant prayer, 'salvation' the constant desire, of the psalmists. The Hebrew words thus rendered denote primarily enlargement, liberation, from a state of confinement and distress; power to move freely and at will; and so deliverance generally. Such deliverance comes from Jehovah alone: it is eagerly sought as the proof of His favor ... the word grows with the growth of revelation, till it gains inexhaustible fulness of spiritual meaning in the New Testament."

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