Aspects of Salvation Part 2

We are continuing to look at a list of what is offered to us through our salvation.  So many people think our only benefit is heaven (which is a great benefit, don’t get me wrong).  However, it is just one on a very long list.  Maybe if people knew all they were missing out on rather than focusing on all they are giving up there wouldn’t be so many people that would put their decision about salvation off until they are on their death bed. 

7.  We are reconciled.  First, the word reconciled means to be put in a right relationship, it also implies that a wrong was done and forgiven.  Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.  And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”  Wow, these are powerful verses on many levels and one day I may expound on them, but first God reconciled us to himself through Christ by healing our sin problem by no longer counting our sins against us.  God does not want to hold your sin against you, His solution is Christ.  We can be ambassadors of this message of reconciliation to the world.  Most people think God is some sort of evil judge who is just waiting for you to step out of line so he can whack you over the head, and then laugh heartily when you fall.  This could not be further from the truth, God does not want to count your sin against you and even more, he wants you to tell others that as well.  

8.  We are glorified.  Romans 8:18-19, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.”  There will come a time when we will meet our full potential and shed this body of flesh that holds us back.  I can’t wait for this future hope.

9.  We are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ.  Baptized here means identified, the Holy Spirit is our identification, help, and promise for our salvation.  1 Corinthians 12:13, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”  Romans 8:16, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”  God does not leave us to stumble and bumble and wonder about who we are in Christ, He gives us the Holy Spirit which identifies us as part of the Body of Christ. 

10.  We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  There is much power when we understand how the Holy Spirit can transform our life.  As modern Christians I believe we have failed in understanding this aspect of our salvation.  When you understand the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, you begin to live a life that is so far above your earthly potential.  Read Ephesians 1:13-14, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession to the praise of his glory.” 

11.  We have eternal life with Him.  Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  This is the very basic of all the aspects of our salvation and the part that is usually emphasized during a message on salvation so I don’t feel the need to expound on this one, except to say that we must not forget that we deserved death, but God gave us eternal life when we trusted in Jesus. 

12.  We are new creatures.  Look at all the aspects of salvation I have shared, trust me there are more.  If this list does not convince you that we are new creatures, then maybe this verse will.  2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”  You don’t need to be a victim to your sin nature, you have the tools to live, act and think differently.  I love the story Laurie shared; she and her sister were canoeing down a river when the canoe tipped over her sister was thrashing around afraid she might drown.  Laurie yelled, put your feet down and stood up so her sister could see the water was only up to her knees.  If you are thrashing around, helpless to your own sin I am here to tell you, put your feet down, sin has no power over you.  Romans 6: 11-14, “So you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires, and do not present your members to sin as instruments  to be used for unrighteousness,  but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments  to be used for righteousness.  For sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.”  Let’s stop fooling ourselves, when you sin it is your choice, you have all the power and the tools to make another choice.  Find out what that means, meditate on each on the previous points until you can live in the victory that is yours in Christ.

So what should our response be to these great gifts?  First, you should know them, believe them and then use them.  However, another important response would be to share them, read 2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making this appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf:  Be reconciled to God.”  Go and be Christ’s ambassador, be His hands, His feet, His mouth.  Not in your own strength, but in the power that you have through your salvation.