When studying this passage of scripture we often focus upon grace and faith. It is of equal importance however, that we have a correct understanding of salvation; what it is, and what it accomplishes in our lives.
Throughout the bible we see the word salvation used in multitudes of passages and contexts. It is used to speak of deliverance from captivity, from enemies, from sickness, from severe trials and temptations, and from sin. The word means deliverance; it is to be delivered from something that afflicts us or binds us. In the New Testament concept of salvation through Christ, it is primarily speaking of deliverance from sin. It is sin that is our downfall. Sin (disobedience, rebellion) is what has ruined our lives. Sin is at the root of all of the troubles and evils we see in this world. It is at the core of the heartaches and miseries we face on this earth. Broken marriages, broken homes, unwanted children, are all consequences of sin, among many other evils that we see around us. Sin will drag you down, enslave you, and ruin your life, yet there is more. Sin cuts us off from God. Because our sin is an act of defiance against our creator, we find ourselves at odds with Him. We have offended Him, and incurred His wrath. Sin has not only ruined us in this life, but has also ruined our eternal souls.
For many of us, we know and understand that we must be forgiven for our sins. We realize that we cannot stand before God in our sin, we have offended Him, and He must forgive us if we are to escape His judgment. Yet many of us fail to understand that forgiveness alone is not enough if we keep on going back to the same sin over and over again.
How many of us can relate to this? We feel guilty and ask for forgiveness, only to repeat the cycle of sinning, asking forgiveness, and sinning again, on and on and on. We live in defeat and guilt. The sad truth being, we are still enslaved to sin. We have not been delivered, we have not been set free, we are still dead in trespasses and sins (John 8:34; Romans 6:16; Ephesians 2:1-3).
The bible tells us that Jesus came to set men free, and if we are set free, we are free indeed (John 8:36). He came to destroy the work of the Devil, therefore, to be reborn, is to be delivered from the practice of sin (1 John 3:8-9).
Lets take a look at some of the verses dealing with predestination and election. This topic has been argued by theologians and denominations for centuries. While men have debated the subject, arguing about the sovereignty of God and the free will of man, they seem to have overlooked the point of these verses.
Romans 8:29-30 (NASB),
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Ephesians 1:4-5 (NASB),
Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
1Peter 1:2 (NASB),
Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
Look at what these verses are telling us. The goal of God in our salvation is to make us holy! His desire is to conform us into the image of His Son. He works in us by His spirit to produce obedience, obedience to Jesus Christ. Yes, we are sprinkled with His blood and forgiven, Yes, we are adopted as sons, yes, we will be glorified with Him someday! Salvation goes beyond forgiveness and going to heaven. God's intent is to transform us, to break the cycle of bondage that we face, and to make us a new creation. Salvation is not one without the other; forgiveness while still bound to sin, but a total deliverance. It can be looked at as a "Divine heart transplant." Our stubborn rebellious hearts are replaced with soft, yielded, obedient hearts (Ezekiel 36:26). This is what is promised in the new covenant. We are now given the power to live as God has desired us to live (Hebrews 10:16-17). In this new life of freedom, we now find fellowship with God possible. Our prayers are not shut out, we can come boldly into His presence, we enjoy intimate communion with God, as Christ is formed in us.
This was the gospel as presented by Jesus and the Apostles, and is still the gospel we are to proclaim today.
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