<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?\u201d (Romans 6:1,2).<\/p>\n
WHAT SHOULD THE WORD \u201cSALVATION\u201d MEAN TO US? In the real world, there are probably as many different concepts of salvation as there are people who suppose they\u2019ve been saved. But if and when we desire to be \u201csaved,\u201d what should we desire?<\/p>\n
Think for a moment about the first stanza of one of our greatest traditional hymns, \u201cRock of Ages\u201d by A. M. Toplady. The well-known words are these: \u201cRock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee; let the water and the blood, from Thy riven side which flowed, be of sin the double cure, cleanse me from its guilt and pow\u2019r.\u201d What is the double cure for sin we seek in Christ? From what two things do we desire to be saved? If all we want to be saved from is the guilt<\/em> of sin, we desire less than we sing when we worship with this song. Beyond wanting absolution from the guilt that would keep us out of heaven, we need to be released from the power<\/em> of sin. In other words, we need to be saved not just from the consequences of sin, but from sin itself.<\/p>\n Those who would be saved by Jesus Christ are required to accept Him as their Lord,<\/em> and not just their Savior.<\/em> His purpose is to reform us and remake us in His image, starting today, and our deepest desire needs to be that reflected in another of the old hymns, \u201cHave Thine Own Way\u201d by Adelaide Pollard: \u201cHave Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way! Thou are the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.\u201d<\/p>\n Christ went to the Cross to make possible more than mere insurance against the catastrophic loss of our souls in hell, an expedient that would allow us to live in sin until we cry out to be \u201csaved\u201d at the very end. He sacrificed Himself to save us from sin<\/em> \u2014 both its guilt and its power. Our deliverance from sin will culminate in heaven, but the process is meant to begin right now! Is that the kind of salvation we\u2019re interested in?<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018But,\u2019 you ask, \u2018don\u2019t all Christians desire to have Christ to be their Savior?\u2019 Yes. But here is the catch: many want this only for the next<\/em> world. They want Christ to help them into heaven when they die. This is not wanting Christ to be your Savior. It must be had in this<\/em> world. If Christ saves you it must be done in this life, by changing and altering everything about you\u201d (William Law).<\/p>\n Gary Henry \u2013 WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com<\/p>\n