The Common Salvation
Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
What does “the common salvation” as referenced in this verse mean? It certainly isn’t common in the sense that it is mediocre or that everyone possesses it. It is common because all who are saved, are saved the same way. No matter what age, ethnicity, dispensation of time, economic class or any other factor, all are saved by grace through faith and are a part of one family, have the same Heavenly Father and will live in the same eternity. Some might say, how about those who lived before the New Testament or even before the law of Moses was given? By grace through faith. We all have one thing in common: we are all sinners, needing salvation and can’t save ourselves, so God, who is rich in mercy and love, saves us because He purposed to do so before the creation of the world. Jonah 2:9 “..salvation is of the Lord”
Ephesians 4:1-6
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
This is a passage that amplifies the “common salvation” theme. While in practice, Christians have made a habit of segregating themselves into denominations, fighting among themselves over endless ideas and dogmas, portraying their specific group as superior to all others and so on, the truth is that God only created one church, one people, one heaven and anything else that suggests differently is error. Sadly, most all the fragmented groups and denominations when confronted with this truth would say, “yes, and we are the correct ones who believe and follow it.”
Still, we are faced with this scripture, Psalms 133:1-3 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” If God’s Word declares it is “good and pleasant” when unity exists among God’s people, it is a great shame when we practice the opposite.