The Way of the Saints – Lesson 2 Salvation: The Starting Point of God’s Purpose Toward Humanity

The Shadow of Salvation—Blood and Promise, Unrelated to Our Own Deeds

The Bible shows us many characteristics of salvation, but one of the most important is this:Salvation has nothing to do with what kind of person we are or how great our sins may be.

Two vivid examples that show this truth are the Passover in Exodus 12 and the scarlet cord of Rahab in Joshua 2.

When the Israelites had lived in Egypt for 430 years, God brought plagues upon Egypt to deliver His people from slavery. Yet even after nine plagues, Pharaoh refused to release them. The final and most dreadful plague was the death of every firstborn in Egypt. To save His people from this judgment, God gave them a way of escape—the ordinance of the Passover:

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you.” (Exodus 12:13)

The angel of death did not look at who was inside the house, whether they were good or evil, nor at what they were eating. He looked only for one thing—the blood on the doorposts and lintel.Where there was blood, he passed over; where there was none, judgment fell.Even if an Egyptian firstborn hid inside an Israelite’s house marked with blood, he too would have been spared.

Rahab’s story is similar. The city of Jericho was doomed to destruction, yet Rahab and her household were saved because she believed in God’s promise given through the Israelite spies:

“When we come into the land, tie this scarlet cord in the window… and gather your family into your house.” (Joshua 2:18)“She bound the scarlet cord in the window.” (Joshua 2:21)

When Jericho fell, every inhabitant perished except those in Rahab’s house marked by the scarlet cord.No matter who they were or what sins they had committed, anyone within that house was saved.

The spies had promised Rahab,

“When the Lord gives us this land, we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” (Joshua 2:14)

That phrase—“kindly and faithfully”—signifies more than just treating her well.As Proverbs 16:6 says,

“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged.”Mercy and truth refer to the grace of Jesus Christ.

Thus, salvation has nothing to do with one’s nationality, personality, or past deeds.It depends only on God’s promise.Whoever was inside the blood-marked house during Passover, or inside the house with the scarlet cord in Jericho, was saved.Likewise, if the blood of Jesus Christ is applied to our hearts, we are saved.

Why Jesus Accomplished Eternal Redemption

The Bible explains the way of salvation clearly and simply.By following God’s guidance and believing in Jesus Christ, we are cleansed by His blood and receive salvation.But why did God grant us salvation?

Salvation is not the goal of God’s purpose—it is the starting point.A wedding ceremony is not the end of marriage but its beginning.No one marries just for the joy of a single day; rather, the joy comes from beginning a lifelong union.In the same way, salvation is the doorway into the spiritual life.God desires that those who are saved live not for this world, but in the reality of the spiritual realm.Salvation is the beginning of an eternal relationship with Him.

Israel’s Two Captivities and Their Spiritual Meaning

The Bible also illustrates those who, though saved, still seek happiness in the world.The Israelites, God’s chosen people, symbolize the saved believers.They experienced two major periods of captivity:

1. Egyptian slavery (400 years) – representing the state of sin before salvation.

2. Babylonian captivity (70 years) – representing the struggles of believers who drift from God even after being saved.

In Egypt, the Israelites worked hard making bricks for Pharaoh.No matter how diligently they labored, their work served Pharaoh’s kingdom, not God’s.Likewise, before salvation, no matter how “religious” people may seem, they live under Satan’s authority.

Through the Passover and Exodus, God freed His people from Pharaoh’s power—just as we are freed from sin and Satan by the blood of Jesus.

But note this: Israel’s hardship in Egypt began only after a new king arose “who did not know Joseph.” (Exodus 1:8)As long as Joseph was remembered, Israel lived in peace.When Joseph (a shadow of Jesus Christ) was forgotten, oppression began.In the same way, when Christ is not manifested in our lives, suffering and bondage return.

Later, when the Israelites entered Canaan and established a kingdom, sin and idolatry caused their downfall.The northern kingdom fell to Assyria, and the southern kingdom (Judah) was taken to Babylon for 70 years.Prophets like Daniel, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah lived during this period, remaining faithful to God even in captivity.

Their story teaches us that the suffering of believers often arises when they turn from God.But when they return to Him, their peace and joy are restored.The Bible continually calls believers who have grown worldly to return to God and live in the joy of the Spirit.

A New Life Begins When We Belong to God

All Scripture ultimately leads our hearts back to God.When we belong to Him, our old selves are abandoned and a completely new life begins—a path we have never walked before.

The end of salvation is to return fully to God.This is the message that runs through all 66 books of the Bible.

Why, then, do many believers still struggle and fail to live a new spiritual life?Because they have not yet fully turned from self to God.

Moses, once a prince of Egypt, discovered his true identity as one of God’s chosen people and left the palace to tend sheep—a new life directed by God.Peter, a fisherman, left his nets and followed Jesus the moment he encountered Him.This was not forced—it was the natural response to meeting Christ.

Those who are saved should discover God’s purpose and heart flowing throughout Scripture.When believers realize that they belong not to this temporal world but to the eternal realm of God,they can live as instruments of the gospel, expressing God’s life rather than striving for their own.

When we return to God, we cease living for ourselves and begin living under His care.May every saved believer come before the Lord, exalt only Him, and begin a truly new life in Christ.