Saved as a people

Zechariah says three things about salvation when he celebrates the birth of his son, John and the coming of the Messiah (Luke 1:68-79). Actually, they're really three different vantage points of the same truth––salvation is communal.

Salvation is experienced and expressed communally through a fulfilled promise, the gift of mercy, and a righteous bondage.

Salvation is a fulfilled promise to a people. God made a promise through the prophets, to a community, and fulfilled his word in Christ for the sake of this community.

Salvation is a mercy given to a people. The salvific work of God is victory over enemies. And enemies throughout Israel's history oppressed them as a consequence for their disobedience. God's liberation from enemies is an act of mercy. He does not give us what, by our sin, we deserve.

Salvation is a new bondage for a people. Being freed from sin does not mean we can now do, say, and think as we please. If sin and death are the chains of life without Christ, then serving the Lord and living in righteousness are the shackles of a redeemed people.

So when we say, we're in this together. We aren't just talking about camaraderie through the struggles of life (i.e. a global pandemic). In Christ, we are saved and bound together as the people of God forever.