“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: Luke 2: 30 – 31″
Introduction
This presentation deals with Jesus, who is the source of salvation for all people. Jesus has become our salvation. He is our strength and our song. The presentation will touch on the meaning of salvation. It will focus on the African perspective of salvation, how the Old Testament and the New Testament viewed salvation. Finally, I will touch on how Jesus’ contemporaries saw him and how he is seen in our contemporary world would be highlighted.
Definitions
- Source
“Source” is defined as a place or a person where something can be obtained. In other words it is the origin of something.
- Salvation
Literally, “salvation” means preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin or loss.
Theologically, “salvation” means deliverance from sin and its consequences. The process of being saved, the state of having been saved (from hell).
The Hebrew word for salvation is yasa which means deliverance.
The Greek word is soteria which means deliverance and preservation from danger.
- African view of Salvation (“usindiso” in Xhosa)
Africans believe that salvation is:
- An ideal condition for human well-being and ultimate self fulfilment.
- Protection from evil forces of destruction.
- Freedom from evil forces
- It deals with preservation of cosmic, social order and harmony
- It deals with the restoration of a broken life.
Due to all the above, there is a need for equilibrium and harmony and these come through sacrifice and rituals of animals. In Xhosa culture, part of the animal’s skin is put in the neck and the wrist of the person who has obtained salvation. This is for identification purpose. But now, it is not animal blood which can save mankind but the blood of Jesus which was shed on the cross. We are identified as children of God (Rom 8:14-17).
By Rev Eric Amoah Bampo