I haven’t formulated a full answer to this question.  This is a deep and intricate question requiring a multi-faceted answer that I’m not so sure I will ever be able to articulate.  I did find somewhat of an answer (if “answer” could ever be a proper term for the outcome of this line of thought) that was theological in nature but was also equally as humanist.  Courtesy of BrotherRog via The Center for Progressive Christianity message boards:

Jesus is the Jewish Messiah promised to Israel in the Old Testament (but not the “knight in shining armor/Rambo” type that most were expecting). He taught, modeled, and invited us to “live abundantly” in intimate relation with God and each other instead of being in bondage to the ways of the world/empire. Christians are called to follow and imitate these radical, transformative, and life-giving ways of Christ (to claim Jesus as Lord of their lives instead of other worldly forces & powers), and to invite others to do the same.

Good works accompany faith. If one’s faith is real & authentic, then one can’t help but respond by engaging in service to persons and a world in need (not that doing good works is required for salvation, but rather, if one is saved, good works are a natural “fruit”). Jesus modeled and lived-out a truly liberating way of life – the “Way of the Cross” – the way of humble, sacrificial self-giving and nonviolent direct action. By living such a life, Jesus proved that it is in fact possible for other humans to live this way as well. After His execution, many of His followers had profound and moving experiences of the “Risen Christ” (seeing Jesus in the breaking of bread shared with strangers; in the midst of persons gathered in His name, etc.) in their lives giving them the sense that Jesus truly is Lord and that He and His mission Live on!

Salvation is by God’s grace and can be received by us with or without our awareness. Persons who are aware of this make the decision to accept the free gift of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and all that He meant in their lives. Even before Jesus was executed, He provided atonement (at-one-ment – reconnection with God and social reacceptance) to hurting souls via His gracious interaction in their lives. People are saved from the ways of the world and for the ways of God’s Kingdom when they accept and live-out this truth. Salvation is both Personal and Societal, and it is experienced Here and Now and also later in Heaven (or the Fully Realized Kingdom of God; i.e. when all – or a critical mass – of the world’s people live lives faithful to God).