Personal salvation alone is selfish
With over 200 "Christian" denominations in the United States and a staggering 45,000 globally, so much emphasis is placed on personal salvation that individuals often lose sight of (or never gain sight of) the bigger picture. They get swallowed up in the selfishness of eternal life for themselves and never become effective in growing the Kingdom of God here and now – for the sake of others' souls! Of course, Jesus cares about us individually. He loves each of us in a way that is beyond human comprehension. However, as born-again believers, He has set us free and renewed us for a purpose beyond ourselves.
We were once prisoners, slaves to our flesh, in bondage to sin. As we repented and turned to Jesus in water baptism, He freed us and came to abide within us through the Holy Spirit, thereby marking us as one of His own with all of the associated blessings and promises. But Jesus never intended His followers to receive from Him without giving through Him. The same key that unlocked our shackles now dwells in us so that our spiritual testimony, countenance, and messages can be the working of Jesus through us upon the hearts and minds of others – those in our households, communities, nations, and even far beyond. But, if we idolize what Jesus has done for us on a personal level, we risk resurrecting the "god of self," and we become hardened and/or blind to being used as an on-ramp to Jesus.
Let's pretend for a moment that every church around the globe is fully preaching how to become a dwelling place for Jesus – a part of the temple of God on Earth. They share powerful, Scripture-based messages that both humble and inspire, purge and build. Now, rather than concluding their fellowship gatherings with a call to new believers to obtain personal salvation (as is currently common practice), what if their messages were centered on service toward Jesus as Savior and King? What if the speaker asked, "Who wants to be recruited by Jesus to help save others' souls – to fight as a soldier in Jesus' Kingdom army in the spiritual battle that is waging on this Earth?" What if the urging was, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation (Acts 2:40) so that you can be set free and fully equipped to help others do the same!"? It's certainly not as pleasant-sounding as a "repeat after me and you'll get to go to heaven" type of invitation. However, it's a solid foundation that will prepare people for the reality of what's ahead as they sign up to fight on the winning side. Jesus has already won the victory; it's now being played out through His Church (the Body of Christ).
Jesus' death was the perfect example of self-sacrificial love, and He called each of His disciples to take up their own crosses and follow after Him. 2 Corinthians 5:15 sums this up so well: "He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them." The final verses of this chapter highlight being an "ambassador" for Christ. This encompasses not only being a messenger for Jesus; it's also about disciplining yourself as one of Jesus' representatives that you may be a positive spiritual influence on others – even your enemies (Matthew 5:44). Even when you don't feel like it, you are called to fight as a Kingdom army soldier against everything that opposes the light, love, wisdom, truth, and righteousness of Jesus – even if that's your own fleshly thoughts, emotions, defaults, habits, temptations, etc. It's an ongoing battle of overcoming and replacing evil with good, first within ourselves and then outside of "self."
This is what we don't hear enough of in public churches: "Are you ready to enter the battle, and stay there for the long haul? Are you ready to be fully equipped by Jesus, putting on the whole armor of God and taking up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and go in victory to reclaim lost souls for Jesus, beginning with your own?" After all, the sinner’s prayer that is so widely preached for salvation is just the beginning. It is this repentance that leads to emptying oneself in a spiritual sense – losing one’s life for Jesus’ sake that the person may then be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit and become part of the temple of Jesus on Earth. The scripture, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it” (Mathew 10:39) is very clear about this. It is a surrender and renewal (Acts 2:38).
What matters most is what we do with our lives following being born again. It's way easier to want to rest in the comfort zone of our own relationship with Jesus as a hideaway in this sin-cursed world. But, this is where faith (faith "in" and faithfulness "to" Jesus) comes in, entrusting all to Jesus – that as we open our mouths and discipline our conduct after Jesus' ways, everything (no matter how large or small) will somehow, in some way, have a positive effect in growing the Kingdom on Earth. Seeds will be planted, watered, and transformed. Strongholds of the enemy will be toppled and replaced with the rightful authority of Jesus. But it requires ongoing effort. It requires loyalty, humility, obedience, and more than anything, loving others more than ourselves. This is what marriage is about, and having a family. It's what fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ is about. It's what being an honorable citizen of Jesus' Kingdom is about. It's the Christian way of life – willingly allowing Jesus to use His saving of us as individuals in service to all of the world.