Complete Salvation
by Jack Hayford

In Isaiah 49:8 and 2 Corinthian 6:2 we read, "In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.  Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation."  In both passages—Old Testament and New Testament—God is calling people to a sense of urgency by reason of one great fact; God's hour of favor toward us, delight with us, and desire for us is NOW.

I can hardly describe my sense of joy in relaying to you this beautiful and magnanimous "call" of our loving Lord!  Please listen!"  If any passage unveils the heart of God toward human loss, hurt, and need, it is this one.  Here we see the open arms of the Father, the gentle grace of His mercy, and the enormous breadth of His acceptance.  He delights to RECEIVE us—to "accept" us, if we'll receive the gift of His acceptance.

And all this "delight" He takes in us comes to a focus in the action that's in view—TO SAVE!  His "salvation" is that commodity, if you will—that resource of heaven's bounty—He is urging upon us.

  • He wants to "save" in the sense of salvation's forgiveness—the gift of new life we are offered through the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:13-14 "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."

Colossians 2:13-14 "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."

  • He wants to "save" in the sense of restoration and recovery—to bring back what has been lost through sin, failure, blindness, or rebellion.

Matthew 18:11 "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost."

Romans 5:20b-21 "But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

I Corinthians 15:56-57 "The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

  • He wants to "save" families, by bringing about reconciled relationships and the healing of broken homes and hearts, establishing peace.

Acts 16:31 "So they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

Luke 1:77-79 "To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins...To guide our feet into the way of peace."

Jeremiah 30:10 "...For behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity."

  • He wants to "save" careers and businesses, by bringing clear focus to practical, sound-minded pursuits based in His principles for success.

Psalm 118:25  "Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity."

Proverbs 3:9-10  "Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine."

  • He wants to "save" bodies, minds, and emotions, by bringing an entry of His healing power and instituting wise practices that sustain health.

Jeremiah 17:14 "Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise."

James 5:15 "And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."

Here, then—set before us as a giant invitation to receive His broad sweeping grace—is an invitation.  It's the Holy Spirit saying, "Here is a full year of the Father's pleasure, offered to you!"  And in saying that, He's also calling us beyond what we may see in this promise as answer to our own need.

He wants us to turn with this abundance of grace to show it to everyone we can!  It's His year of salvation: so let's reach as well as receive.

As we step forward together, let's open our hearts as widely to receive and to reach as His heart is opened to give and to save.