By ontological I mean how salvation must address creaturely finitude. Simply put, salvation must address the curse of death. Forensic visions of salvation tend to marginalize the ontological aspects of salvation. To be sure, the forgiven go to heaven. But when salvation history is read through a narrow forensic lens much within the economy of God's love can appear ancillary rather than fundamental. For example, in the Orthodox tradition the Incarnation itself effected our salvation. That the Word was made flesh had salvific effect. From a purely forensic view, however, Christmas simply exists to get us to Good Friday. The Incarnation is a soteriological means to an end, rather than an end in itself.
That said, a purely ontological framework tends to marginalize the evangelical aspects of salvation.
As I expect you know, the words "evangelism" and "evangelical" come from the Greek euangelion, meaning “good news” or “gospel.” The word combines eu, meaning “good,” with a verb meaning “to announce” or “proclaim.”
The announcement of the good news brings a person to the point of a decision. In the gospels this is the call to repent. The Greek word translated "repent" is metanoia. Metanoia literally refers to a change of mind or a fundamental reorientation of one’s thinking and way of life. The word comes from meta, meaning “change” or “beyond,” and nous, meaning “mind” or “understanding.” In the New Testament metanoia describes a turning of the whole person, a reorientation of your life, loyalties, and desires toward God and his kingdom.
So, when I describe salvation as being evangelical I mean this demand for metanoia. Salvation requires a turning toward God.
Concisely stated, where the ontological aspect of salvation address our being (in its finitude) the evangelical aspect of salvation addresses our will, mind, and consciousness. Salvation, in short, demands our consent and participation. This is the only way properly spiritual creatures, like ourselves, can be saved as spiritual creatures.
I bring all this up to make a comment about Jesus' first words in the gospel of Mark. Mark is the earliest of the gospels, so these words from Mark 1 are, canonically speaking, the first words Jesus speaks to the world:
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
