NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!

by Dan Goddard

 

“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain, (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)

This passage appears in the middle of Paul’s discourse exhorting the Corinthians to turn from sin and live holy before God.             In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul wrote concerning the resurrection and subsequent judgment of each soul according to the things done in the body.  He implores them on Christ’s behalf to “be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). And in the 6th chapter he exhorts them to do the “NOW.”

Webster defines “now” as: “at the present time or moment.” In 2 Corinthians 6:2 “nun” is translated “now” denoting the “present time.”  To exemplify the meaning of “nun” notice Matthew’s record of the reviling toward Jesus upon the cross: “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God” (Matthew 27:42-43).  The Jews wanted to see Jesus come down from the cross now, immediately—not a day, week, or a month later.

This lesson is also expressed in the usage of “parachrema” which is translated “immediately” and “at once.”  “Parachrema” is a word favored by Luke as he writes from a historical view emphasizing order and time.  Luke often uses this word to express the immediacy of miracles.  But one of the best examples of “parachrema” is in Luke 22:60 where Luke records Peter’s third denial of Jesus saying, “And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.”

Luke describes the time frame of events between Peter’s denial and the rooster crowing— “parachrema”—immediately.  And notice, Peter had not completed his denial of Jesus before the rooster crowed.

Throughout the Bible we see individuals rendering immediate obedience to God, but the word “parachrema” appears in only one record of conversion.  In Acts 16 we find Paul and Silas in the inner prison praying and singing psalms at midnight.  There was a great earthquake shaking the foundation of the prison during which the prison doors were opened and the prisoners’ chains were loosed.  Luke describes the time frame of these events with “parachrema” saying, “. . . immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed” (Acts 16:26).

Later that night Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to the jailor and his household.  Then Luke again uses the word “parachrema” to describe their obedience saying: “And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway” (Acts 16:33).

It is human nature to procrastinate.  But when it comes to obedience to God, there is no room for procrastination.  Obedience to the Lord should be immediate—no man is promised tomorrow.

NOW is the day of salvation! Tomorrow is the day of...?