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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Without Sin Unto Salvation
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31)
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (II Corinthians 3:18)
The Christian redemption does not consist principally of the forgiveness of men but rather of their transformation into new creatures in Christ. Salvation is not directed toward forgiveness alone but toward forgiveness as part of our change into righteous behavior.
Forgiveness is a major aspect of salvation. Forgiveness authorizes us to enter the procedures of salvation. Salvation includes our deliverance from the person, works, and effects of Satan and brings us all the way to the fullness of the image of Christ and total union with God through Christ.
To forgive us is not to save us. To forgive, deliver, and transform us is to save us, in the scriptural sense. The Christian salvation is not the changing of God so He is willing to accept us as we are.
This article presents one central truth. It is that the Christian redemption does not consist only of the forgiveness of men but includes their transformation into new creatures in Christ. Salvation is not directed toward forgiveness alone but toward forgiveness as part of our change into righteous behavior.
Forgiveness is an important aspect of the Divine redemption.
Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (Acts 13:38)
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)
However, the Divine salvation in Christ is not primarily our being forgiven by the God of Heaven. It is, rather, our deliverance from the nature and works of spiritual darkness.
To forgive us is not to save us to the extent God desires. To forgive, deliver, and transform us totally is to save us, in the larger sense.
Today's Christian has been saved in the sense of having been sealed to the day of salvation. But he has not as yet been redeemed from the hand of the enemy. Rather, he has been forgiven.
Our salvation will take place in the future. It is he who endures to the end who will be saved—saved meaning forgiven, delivered, and transformed.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
The Day of Redemption, of salvation, is yet ahead of us. What we have now is forgiveness and a sealing.
When an individual receives Christ he is redeemed through the blood of Jesus. But he has not been fully redeemed until he has been released from the power of Satan, formed in the image of Christ, and brought into restful union with God.
To be continued.