What Does Salvation Mean? We’ve Been Delivered from the Penalty of Sin - Continuation of Part 1
· In continuing with Part 1 of what salvation means, I want to go back to Adam’s sin of disobedience caused the entire earth to be cursed. But of those who are born again, Jesus took or He became the curse for us (Galatians 3:13).
· There are generational issues that affect us. When we go to the doctor and fill out certain forms, there are a list of diseases to be checked off if our immediate family member had.
Example: If someone in our immediate family had hypertension or cancer, it can be passed on to us. We suffer the effects because we live in a cursed environment (fallen world). But the Word of God says: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all (Psalm 34:19).
· Some people believe they have eternal life by being good. The Word of God says: There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. (Romans 3:10-11). When I asked someone if they were saved, or born-again, they would say, I go to church.
·
Eternal life/entrance into heaven is through the obedience of Christ; God credited us with Christ’s righteousness, and His obedience. Just as all inherited Adam’s sin and rebellion against God (Romans 5:12), when one is born again, they are born into righteousness with God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). And we also have fellowship with God (1 John 1:3).
· The reason a born again believer is not a sinner, is because Christ was not a sinner. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth (1 Peter 2:22). Also, the reason we cannot lose our salvation is because Christ paid the penalty for all our sins, therefore we have no sin left.
· Does that mean we don’t sin? Of course not! But the penalty for our sin was paid for by Christ; God judged Christ instead of us. According to the law, if someone is being tried for a crime and the judge declares them not guilty, they can never be charged for the same crime twice. Once Christ has set you free from sin, you are no longer guilty.
Another example- Once a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, it can never be a caterpillar again. This is called metamorphosis (transformation).
Brothers and sisters, we are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:18). This is what we were. Jesus answered them, most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin (John 8:34). But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:17-18).
I don’t know a better slave-owner than our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Tomorrow – We are Being Set Free from the Power of Sin
~ Betty A. Burnett ~
Comments