Looking to the Son for Salvation and Guidance Daily

The concept of looking to the Son for salvation and guidance daily is rooted in biblical teachings and has been a cornerstone of Christian theology across various traditions. According to John Calvin, "if we seek for the paternal mercy and favor of God, we must turn our eyes to Christ, in whom alone the Father is well pleased" ^[4]. This emphasis on Christ as the central figure for salvation and guidance is echoed in various biblical passages.

The Bible exhorts believers to abide in Christ and to look forward to His coming with confidence. In I John 2:28, it is written, "And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be confounded by him at his coming" ^[2]. Similarly, Luke 21:36 advises believers to "watch therefore continually and pray that ye may obtain grace to fly all this that shall come and that ye may stand before the Son of man" ^[1]. These passages underscore the importance of maintaining a daily focus on Christ for both salvation and guidance.

The practice of waiting upon God, which includes looking to the Son, is a recurring theme in biblical prayers and exhortations. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists various reasons for waiting upon God, including for salvation, guidance, and teaching ^[3]. Psalm 25:5 is cited as a reference for waiting upon God for guidance and teaching, highlighting the psalmist's trust in God's direction.

Different Christian traditions have articulated the significance of looking to Christ in their theological formulations. The Reformed tradition, as represented by John Calvin, emphasizes that Christ is the fountain of life and the anchor of salvation. Calvin notes that the Father's favor is found in Christ alone, making Him the central figure for believers seeking salvation and guidance ^[4]. The Westminster Confession of Faith, a Reformed confession, outlines the process of effectual calling, where believers are drawn to salvation through Jesus Christ by the Word and Spirit ^[9].

In Catholic theology, as represented by Thomas Aquinas, the daily reception of the Eucharist is seen as a means of receiving the fruits of Christ's salvation daily. Aquinas argues that it is lawful and profitable to receive the sacrament daily, citing Ambrose's statement that Christ's blood is shed for the forgiveness of sins ^[7].

The Patristic tradition also emphasizes the importance of abiding in Christ and keeping His commandments to see Him. Augustine, in his homilies on the Gospel of John, exhorts believers to understand that seeing the Word is beyond human powers but can be achieved through nourishment and perfection by keeping Christ's commandments ^[5].

The daily practice of looking to the Son involves not just a passive waiting but an active engagement with Christ through prayer, obedience, and the reception of sacraments. It is a call to continually seek guidance and salvation from Him, trusting in His providence and mercy. As Calvin puts it, believers are renewed by regeneration into the righteousness of God through Christ, indicating a transformative process that is both a gift and a task to be undertaken daily ^[8].

The eschatological dimension of looking to the Son is also significant. The return of Christ is a recurring theme in biblical exhortations, with believers encouraged to remain vigilant and faithful. The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 is interpreted by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown as a call to perseverance in prayer during the Church's desolate condition, awaiting the Son's coming to redress the wrongs of His Church ^[6].

Sources

Luke “Luke 21:36 (Tyndale) — Watche therfore continually and praye that ye maye obtayne grace to flye all this that shall come and that ye maye stonde before the sonne of man.”
I John “I John 2:28 (DRC) — And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be confounded by him at his coming.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Waiting Upon God — As the God of providence -- Jer 14:22. As the God of salvation -- Ps 25:5. As the Giver of all temporal blessings -- Ps 104:27,28; Ps 145:15,16. For Mercy. -- Ps 123:2. Pardon. -- Ps 39:7,8. The consolation of Israel. -- Lu 2:25. Salvation. -- Ge 49:18; Ps 62:1,2. Guidance and teaching. -- Ps 25:5. Protection. -- Ps 33:20; 59:9,10. The fulfillment of His word. -- Hab 2:3. The fulfillment of His promises. -- Ac 1:4. Hope of righteous by faith. -- Ga 5:5. Coming of Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10. Is good -- Ps 52:9. God calls us to -- Zep 3:8. Exhortat”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 79: and to see him at rest, is to be at rest,” (Bernard, super Cantic. Serm. 14). 5. First, if we seek for the paternal mercy and favor of God, we must turn our eyes to Christ, in whom alone the Father is well pleased ( Mt. 3:17 ). When we seek for salvation, life, and a blessed immortality, to him also must we retake ourselves, since he alone is the fountain of life and the anchor of salvation, and the heir of the kingdom of heaven. Then what is the end of election, but just that, being adopted as sons by the heavenly Father, we may b”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — ON THE WORDS OF THE GOSPEL, JOHN V. 19, "THE SON CAN DO NOTHING OF HIMSELF, BUT WHAT HE SEETH THE FATHER DOING." (part 12): grant that some may have understood. My Brethren, to this end doth He exhort us, that we may see, that the "Seeing" of the Word is beyond our powers; for they are small; be they nourished, perfected. Whereby By the commandments. What commandments "He that loveth Me, keepeth My commandments. "(1) What commandments ? For already do we wish to increase, to be strengthened, perfected, that we may see the "Seeing" of the Word.”
Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 18:8: speedily--as if pained at the long delay, impatient for the destined moment to interpose. (Compare Pro 29:1.) Nevertheless, &c.--that is, Yet ere the Son of man comes to redress the wrongs of His Church, so low will the hope of relief sink, through the length of the delay, that one will be fain to ask, Will He find any faith of a coming avenger left on the earth? From this we learn: (1) That the primary and historical reference of this parable is to the Church in its widowed, desolate, oppressed, defenseless condition during the present absence of her ”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Use or Receiving of This Sacrament in General, Art. 10: Article: Whether it is lawful to receive this sacrament daily? I answer that, There are two things to be considered regarding the use of this sacrament. The first is on the part of the sacrament itself, the virtue of which gives health to men; and consequently it is profitable to receive it daily so as to receive its fruits daily. Hence Ambrose says (De Sacram. iv): "If, whenever Christ's blood is shed, it is shed for the forgiveness of sins, I who sin often, should receive it of”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 58: the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Again, “Be renewed in the spirit of your minds” and “put ye on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Again, “Put ye on 516 the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” 310 310 2 Cor. 3:18 ; Eph. 4:23, 24 ; Col. 3:10 ; 2 Cor. 4:16 . Accordingly through the blessing of Christ we are renewed by that regeneration into the righteousness of God from which we had falle”
Westminster Confession of Faith (Reformed) “Westminster Confession of Faith (Reformed, 1646), CHAPTER 10: CHAPTER 10 Of Effectual Calling 1. All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and, by his almighty power, determining them to that which”

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