Saved - from what and into what?
I like how this commentary on Luke 1 speaks of salvation:
"Christ redeems them by price out of the hands of God's justice,
and redeems them by power out of the hands of Satan's tyranny,
as Israel out of Egypt."
I also liked Mr. Henry's discussion of what it means to serve God (Luke 1:74-75). It's behind the cut, along with the full citation
Thirdly, It is a qualification for, and an encouragement to, the service of God. Thus was the oath he sware to our Father Abraham, That he would give us power and grace to serve him, in an acceptable manner to him and a comfortable manner to ourselves, v. 74, 75. Here seems to be an allusion to the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt, which, God tells Moses, was in pursuance of the covenant he made with Abraham (Ex. 3:6-8), and that this was the design of his bringing them out of Egypt, that they might serve God upon this mountain, Ex. 3:12. Note, The great design of gospel grace is not to discharge us from, but to engage us to, and encourage us in, the service of God. Under this notion Christianity was always to be looked upon, as intended to make us truly religious, to admit us into the service of God, to bind us to it, and to quicken us in it. We are therefore delivered from the iron yoke of sin, that our necks may be put under the sweet and easy yoke of the Lord Jesus. The very bonds which he has loosed do bind us faster unto him, Ps. 116:16. We are hereby enabled, 1. To serve God without fear - aphoboµs. We are therefore put into a state of holy safety that we might serve God with a holy security and serenity of mind, as those that are quiet from the fears of evil. God must be served with a filial fear, a reverent obedient fear, an awakening quickening fear, but not with a slavish fear, like that of the slothful servant, who represented him to himself as a hard master, and unreasonable; not with that fear that has torment and amazement in it; not with the fear of a legal spirit; a spirit of bondage, but with the boldness of an evangelical spirit, a spirit of adoption. 2. To serve him in holiness and righteousness, which includes the whole duty of man towards God and our neighbour. It is both the intention and the direct tendency of the gospel to renew upon us that image of God in which man was at first made, which consisted in righteousness and true holiness, Ps. 50:14.
Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Luke 1." Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar 1996. 2011. 16 Mar 2011.
"Christ redeems them by price out of the hands of God's justice,
and redeems them by power out of the hands of Satan's tyranny,
as Israel out of Egypt."
I also liked Mr. Henry's discussion of what it means to serve God (Luke 1:74-75). It's behind the cut, along with the full citation
Thirdly, It is a qualification for, and an encouragement to, the service of God. Thus was the oath he sware to our Father Abraham, That he would give us power and grace to serve him, in an acceptable manner to him and a comfortable manner to ourselves, v. 74, 75. Here seems to be an allusion to the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt, which, God tells Moses, was in pursuance of the covenant he made with Abraham (Ex. 3:6-8), and that this was the design of his bringing them out of Egypt, that they might serve God upon this mountain, Ex. 3:12. Note, The great design of gospel grace is not to discharge us from, but to engage us to, and encourage us in, the service of God. Under this notion Christianity was always to be looked upon, as intended to make us truly religious, to admit us into the service of God, to bind us to it, and to quicken us in it. We are therefore delivered from the iron yoke of sin, that our necks may be put under the sweet and easy yoke of the Lord Jesus. The very bonds which he has loosed do bind us faster unto him, Ps. 116:16. We are hereby enabled, 1. To serve God without fear - aphoboµs. We are therefore put into a state of holy safety that we might serve God with a holy security and serenity of mind, as those that are quiet from the fears of evil. God must be served with a filial fear, a reverent obedient fear, an awakening quickening fear, but not with a slavish fear, like that of the slothful servant, who represented him to himself as a hard master, and unreasonable; not with that fear that has torment and amazement in it; not with the fear of a legal spirit; a spirit of bondage, but with the boldness of an evangelical spirit, a spirit of adoption. 2. To serve him in holiness and righteousness, which includes the whole duty of man towards God and our neighbour. It is both the intention and the direct tendency of the gospel to renew upon us that image of God in which man was at first made, which consisted in righteousness and true holiness, Ps. 50:14.
Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Luke 1." Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar 1996. 2011. 16 Mar 2011.