Train Metaphor

Years ago I stumbled across this train metaphor used by some Christians to describe how they believe the doctrine of salvation works:

We have, Jesus, his friend (the Holy Spirit), and God, in a train station. In this train station there are no ticket booths. Just a bunch of people wandering around living their lives. Now you are standing there with no ticket and Jesus' friend comes up and tells you to jump on the express train which has the most expensive ticket price. You ask for the ticket so you don't get kicked off train after its left the station. Jesus' friend tells you that you don't need one. Just get on the train and don’t worry about the ticket, it's all covered. So now you have a choice, either stick around the train station, or jump on the train without a ticket.

If you stick around the train station, Jesus' friend may come back and tell you to jump on another train, or he may not. Until you board a train you're left in your old life, stuck in the train station. You may be happy with this arrangement or you may not. It doesn't matter. If you decide to jump on the train you'll grab a seat expecting that God, the ticket master, will eventually come along and kick you off. To your surprise, the ticket master comes along and gives you a ticket that has been fully paid for in advance by Jesus. Now all you need to do is stay on the train and ride it to the end, where you'll receive a bunch of stuff you never deserved and you'll live in harmony forever with the those who built the station, the railroad, the train, and paid for your ticket. If you take this option, your life will change. Your old life will be left behind at that station.

You can jumping off the train if you so choose (express trains don't stop), but if you do you'll find yourself back in the train station with everyone else who hasn't taken up Jesus' friend’s offer to ride the train.

Jesus has paid for everyone's tickets and at some point you'll be asked to get on the train without a ticket. When God decides to shut down the train station, everyone who hasn't made the trip or boarded a train is stuck and the railroad is demolished soon after along with any hope of safe passage. (Anonymous)

Issues With This Metaphor

There are many unbiblical aspects to this metaphor. Let’s consider the following three:

  • "So now you have a choice" - if salvation comes to those who are dead in trespasses and in sins (Ephesians 2:1), and who are therefore incapable of making spiritual choices (Romans 8:7), and if salvation is not of him that willeth (Romans 9:16), then we can be absolutely certain that one's eternal salvation is not the result of anyone's choice to hop aboard the Salvation Express.

  • "You can get off the train at any time by jumping off" - This bears no resemblance to the salvation described by the Lord Jesus Christ who gives unto his sheep eternal life and they shall never perish (John 10:28). Indeed, who can separate us from the Love of God? (Romans 8:38-39)

  • "Jesus has paid for everyone's tickets" - Jesus testimony is that he gave His life to purchase tickets for the sheep, not for the goats. (John 10:11,26, Matthew 25:41)

THE TRAIN METAPHOR REIMAGINED

Were I to use a short train metaphor to teach the biblical doctrine of salvation, I believe I would put it this way:

  • There's a dead man in the train station. (Ephesians 2:1)

  • God the Father purposed to deliver that man along with a host of other dead men to a blessed final destination via the train. (Ephesians 1:4-5)

  • God did not purpose to deliver ALL dead men to this same blessed destination by the train (John 10:11,26) neither was he obliged to do so. (Exodus 33:19)

  • Jesus made a covenant promise to deliver the man along with a host of others, and he will do it without losing one. (John 17:2)

  • Jesus bought the dead man's ticket and put him on the train. (Romans 5:6)

  • The Holy Spirit resurrects the man. (Galatians 4:6)

  • Once on the train, the man will be delivered to his destination along with all of the others on the train and nothing can prevent them from reaching their destination. (Romans 8:38-39)

  • During the journey some of the passengers are blessed to hear the story of how they were put on the train by God and why. (Matthew 1:21, Hebrews 10:14)

  • By the time any of them believes what God has done for him he has ALREADY on the train, headed for glory (John 5:24), else he would still be dead, still be in the train station, and still be incapable of receiving this testimony (I Corinthians 2:14).

  • Their belief is evidence of their existing state of grace as a passenger already on the train (Hebrews 11:1) not a prerequisite required for boarding the train to obtain grace. (I John 5:1)

While all metaphors have their limitations, I believe this revision more accurately depicts the way that sinners are saved according to the scriptures. But don’t take it from me, I invite you to search the scriptures to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11).

- Elder Daniel Samons

Daniel Samons