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Home›Topics›Salvation›Historical Examples

Historical Examples — Salvation

311 illustrations

All (1,952)⛪ LensLines™ (1,404)🏛️ Historical Examples (311)📖 Stories & Illustrations (65)⛪ Tradition Perspectives (60)🎯 Application Points (34)💭 Theological Reflections (31)🙏 Devotionals (28)🔍 Biblical Insights (17)🎬 Movie Analogies (2)

Historical

Christ's Healing as Symbol of Spiritual Restoration

The prophet envisions a transformation so complete that the wilderness itself becomes verdant, streams break forth in the desert, and the lame leap like deer.

Isaiah 35:5-6

Universal

spiritual transformation through Christ

divine power and restoration

Alexander Maclaren

256 words

Historical

The Solitary Winepress: Christ's Lone Victory Over Evil

The winepress figure denotes supreme contempt—the Mighty Conqueror compares His victory over enemies to the crushing of grapes beneath His feet.

Isaiah 63:3UniversalChrist's substitutionary atonementdivine isolation in redemption

Joseph S. Exell

207 words

Historical

Christ's Reign: Enemies Subdued Beneath His Feet

For He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet.—The reign of Christ establishes this world as His battlefield now; when this conflict ends, His reign concludes also. "He shall reign till," and no longer. Who are...

1 Corinthians 15:25Universalspiritual warfareChrist's sovereignty

Joseph S. Exell

240 words

Historical

Clearing the Way: Jehovah's Royal Preparation for His People

The prophet employs striking, elevated language to convey God's gracious thoughts toward His erring but repentant people.

Isaiah 57:14Universaldivine preparationspiritual obstruction

Joseph S. Exell

214 words

Historical

Christ the Heavenly Physician: Diagnosing the Soul's True Condition

The Heavenly Physician addresses those who neglect His healing: those depending upon their own moral virtue, those trusting in religious duties alone, and those resting in correct doctrine without transformation.

Matthew 9:12Universalspiritual diagnosisdivine remedies

Joseph S. Exell

186 words

Historical

The Kiss of the Son: Reconciliation, Allegiance, and Worship

The kiss signifies multiple progressive meanings in Scripture.

Psalms 2:12Universaldivine kingshipreconciliation with God

Joseph S. Exell

212 words

Historical

One Man's Disobedience, One Man's Obedience

He possessed dominion over all terrestrial creatures and stood in a state of perfect communion with his Maker.

Romans 5:19UniversalAdam and Christ typologyimputed sin and righteousness

Joseph S. Exell

210 words

Historical

Christ the Strong Swimmer: Salvation in the Depths of Sin

Isaiah 25:11 presents a figure of Yahweh frustrating the drowning efforts of Moab in the dungpit—a scene that Professor S. B. Driver interprets as divine power subduing iniquity. The homiletic tradition that follows offers this vivid image: God as a...

Isaiah 25:11Universaldivine rescueChrist's sacrifice

Joseph S. Exell

237 words

Historical

Salt and Fire: The Two Paths of Divine Justice

2:13), where every meat-offering required salt as a preservative, Christ establishes a profound contrast between two destinies.

Mark 5:49Universaldivine judgmentsanctification

Joseph S. Exell

207 words

Historical

The Pedigree and Position of Believers Separated from the World

The pedigree of true believers consists of two movements: first, they were once *in* the world, characterized by practical atheism (living without God in spirit and conduct), imperial materialism (recognizing no spiritual universe), and dominant selfishness (each governed by selfish...

John 15:19Universalspiritual separationregeneration

Joseph S. Exell

214 words

Historical

David's Public Thanksgiving After Deliverance

First, David's afflictions reveal that even the righteous face enemies and dangers.

Psalms 18:49UniversalGod's sovereignty in deliverancepublic witness to divine faithfulness

Joseph S. Exell

213 words

Historical

Children of Promise: Freedom Through Supernatural Grace

Just as Isaac's birth defied natural law—Sarah was barren, Abraham aged—so Christian conversion transcends fleshly effort.

Galatians 4:31Universalsupernatural power versus natural limitationfreedom through covenant

Joseph S. Exell

206 words

Historical

Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness: The Test of True Desire

Hunger and thirst are primitive, involuntary appetites that govern survival itself; Jesus elevates moral longing to this primacy.

Matthew 5:6Universaldesire and fulfillmentspiritual hunger

Joseph S. Exell

204 words

Historical

Man Made Lower Than Angels, Yet Destined for Glory

Paul applies this text to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, revealing depths beyond the original words about humanity.

Psalms 8:5Universalhuman dignity and restorationChrist's incarnation and exaltation

Joseph S. Exell

217 words

Historical

God's Judgments: The Word and Work of Salvation

First, Yahweh operates through dual instruments: the judgments of God's mouth and the judgments of God's hand—the word and the work of God.

Revelation 9:13Universaldivine justicerepentance through awe

Joseph S. Exell

178 words

Historical

The Light That Outblazed the Syrian Noon

Such a theory stands 'clean against facts.' A man does not persecute unto death those he secretly believes in.

Acts 22:6-16Universalsupernatural encounterChrist's appearance

Alexander Maclaren

278 words

Historical

Christ the Light: Five Marks of Divine Illumination

The Word visited men before the Incarnation through nature and conscience, came fully at the Incarnation, and still comes through the Spirit who interprets His name (John 14:25; 16:13).

John 9:5Universaldivine nature of Christrevelation and illumination

Joseph S. Exell

227 words

Historical

Adam's Sin and Christ's Righteousness: The Great Exchange

These are few, extraordinary, and universal in scope.

Romans 5:18Universalredemption through Christthe Fall and its consequences

Joseph S. Exell

212 words

Historical

The Husbandman's Seed: Christ and Faithful Servants

The metaphor derives from the husbandman's practice: he reserves a portion of grain annually for seed, though small compared to his harvest.

Psalms 22:30UniversalChrist as the perfect seedfaithful obedience through suffering

Joseph S. Exell

213 words

Historical

Christ in the Midst: Cross as Universal Throne

Jesus hung 'in the midst' of two robbers—a placement orchestrated by Pilate's mockery, yet divine in its symbolism.

John 19:17-30UniversalChrist's universal authorityjudgment and accountability

Alexander Maclaren

256 words

Historical

The Rent Veil: Christ's Opening of the Holy of Holies

Paul, writing to the Hebrews, calls this inner barrier "the second veil," describing it as the threshold beyond which lay the most sacred articles of Jewish worship.

Mark 5:38UniversalChrist's intercessiontemple typology

Joseph S. Exell

231 words

Historical

Heaven and Earth Called to Sing Redemption's Glory

Exell identifies five particulars demanding our song: First, redemption's Author: "The Lord hath done it." Yahweh alone conceived and executed this work without counsel or co-laborer.

Isaiah 44:23Universaldivine accomplishmentcompleted redemption

Joseph S. Exell

199 words

Historical

Faith as the Work God Demands of Us

The crowds, seeing their bellies filled, wanted to make Him king—a prophet useful for material provision.

John 6:28-29Universalthe nature of true faithChrist's redirection of desire

Alexander Maclaren

240 words

Historical

Earthquakes as Ministers of Divine Will and Judgment

The Victorians, with Bible in hand, understood that Yahweh—who is "wise in counsel, benevolent in purpose, and almighty in power"—employs even the most destructive forces of nature as ministers of His will.

Psalms 18:7Universaldivine judgmentGod's sovereignty

Joseph S. Exell

214 words

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