Saving Humanity

In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis wrote, 

"What, then, is the difference which He has made to the whole human mass? It is just this; that the business of becoming a son of God, of being turned from a created thing into a begotten thing, of passing over from the temporary biological life into timeless 'spiritual' life, has been done for us. Humanity is already 'saved' in principle. We individuals have to appropriate that salvation. But the really tough work--the bit we could not have done for ourselves--has been done for us. We have not got to try to climb up into spiritual life by our own efforts; it has already come down into the human race. If we will only lay ourselves open to the one Man in whom it was fully present, and who, in spite of being God, is also a real man, He will do it in us and for us. Remember what I said about 'good infection' One of our own race has this new life: if we get close to Him we shall catch it from Him." (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, pp. 156-157).

Yes, he has already done all that is necessary for our salvation.  In other words, there is nothing that you can add to Jesus from your life, in order to be saved.  The work is finished in Christ.  There was once a time that I took issue with this quote.  After all, how can anyone say that all humanity is already saved, isn't this universalism as its worst?  Oh, but Lewis said "already saved in principle".  The work of Jesus Christ has been done on the cross once and for all, it does not need to be repeated.  We have such a loose usage of the term "saved".  We like to tell people that they need to "get saved" or ask them "have you been saved?".  Perhaps we understand what we mean by this, "have you a personal relationship with Jesus?" or "have you embraced the person and teaching of Jesus as your way of life?".  
There is a powerful message behind Lewis' words that I simply cannot get over.  Christ has given all of himself for each one of us.  You cannot earn Jesus, He has given Himself for you.  His salvation rests at the doorstep of your heart.  However, we must appropriate this gift, we must delight in His life and be formed into His image.  Repentance, Yes!  Justification, Yes!  Regeneration, Yes!  But these are not our works, they are all the works of God. 
The Christian can become discouraged at times, believing that the task is too hard and the challenge too great, to overcome the perverted worldview that seems to have overwhelmed our country.  However, let us never forget, the victory of Jesus is complete.  Over the screams of those who say, "I don't believe in Jesus and I don't want anything to do with Him", we possess the foundational truth that Jesus is God, and he has offered his salvation to all, no matter what they might scream.  He is God, and this will never change!  One can distort reality, but he/she will never possess the power to change reality.  Christ has already saved all humanity, but we must receive and appropriate it, this is the task of the church, to call the world to receive and be reformed by the life and message of Jesus.  Let us be busy about our task!