1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

R5078 page 249SCRIPTURAL USAGE OF THE TERM SALVATIONHIGHER CRITICS and Evolutionists havemuch trouble in their endeavor to hide fromthe common people the fact that theirtheories are diametrically opposed to allthe teachings of the Scripture respectinghuman salvation. These latter-day philosophersdo not like to be called "infidels,""unbelievers," but prefer to take their textsfrom the Bible in their weekly endeavorto undermine faith. If Evolution theorieswere true, the word "salvation" would be wholly inappropriate.If mankind have been climbing upward for sixthousand years, out of monkeyhood into perfect manhood,and if they are gradually to become angels by processesof evolution, then the word "salvation" is altogether outof place when applied to them. They should rather belet alone in their glorious upward progress. They wouldneed no Savior, or Redeemer; for according to thistheory, mankind never was lost--never fell from perfection.But the Bible proposition is the very reverse of theEvolution theory. The Scripture teaches that man wascreated perfect and holy, in the moral likeness of HisMaker. It declares that when on trial to determinewhether or not his life and favors might be continued tohim everlastingly, Adam sinned and was sentenced todeath. It tells that through Jesus, God has made a provisionfor the recovery of mankind out of the sin anddeath condition into which he fell; that the work of Jesusprimarily is that of the satisfaction of Justice; that Hedied, the Just for the unjust, and that sinners are to bereconciled to God through the death of His Son. TheBible teaches that this redemptive process, this salvationof mankind from sin and death, has already begun inthat Christ has already given His life a Ransom-price,and has been exalted and declared to be the Savior, theLife-giver of the world.But the world has not yet been saved. It lies in theWicked One. Satan is still the "Prince of this world."Sin and death reign. The world has only the Divinepromise which was given to Abraham, but of which themajority of mankind do not even know. That promise,however, is sure--that eventually all the families of theearth shall be blessed by Messiah; and that to effect thissalvation Messiah in due time will set up a glorious reignof righteousness, the Kingdom of God under the wholeheavens. It shall rule; it shall conquer; it shall destroysin, death and everything opposed to Divine righteousnessand to the best interests of mankind. Thus eventually theknowledge of the Lord shall be made to fill the wholeearth (Isa. 119), and every knee shall bow and everytongue confess the Lord. (Isa. 4523.) Thus shall come