What is salvation and why are we saved? Many believers mistakenly think salvation is an event. I believe in my heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and confess this truth with my mouth. I am saved from the second death, God’s judgment of wrath for my sin, and eternal separation from God in hell. And while all of this is true and a marvelous demonstration of God’s love and grace towards us, our confession of faith is only the beginning of a lifelong process. We are saved for a purpose – to glorify God by becoming, over time, more and more like His beloved Son.
The Bible tells us God Himself oversees the process of sanctification. His Holy Spirit not only does the work of transformation, but also stimulates our desire for change and prompts our cooperation.
Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We are the “first fruits” of His Creation, given a spiritual rebirth through His Word of Truth (James 1:18, 1 Corinthians 15:23). We put off the “old man” and become a “new creation” in Christ Jesus. We progressively exchange our sinful habits, negative beliefs, fleshly appetites, and worldly values for His Righteousness:
- Death for life
John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15:22-23 “For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order” Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s (own will be resurrected with incorruptible, immortal bodies) at His coming.” AMP
Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love which He loves us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved.”
- Condemnation and judgment for forgiveness
Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnations for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- Weakness for Strength
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
- Deprivation, lack and want for abundance
John 10:10 “I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows.” AMP
- Worldly values for God’s values
Romans 5:5 “And do not be conformed to this world (any longer with its superficial values and customs), but be transformed and progressively changed (as you mature spiritually) by the renewing of your mind (focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes) AMP
- Human effort for grace
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.”
Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
- Pride for humility
Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”
1 Peter 5: 5b “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’”.
- Fear for faith
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.”
1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you. I will uphold you with My Righteous Right Hand.”
- Exhaustion for rest
Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
- Grief and pain for joy
Isaiah 61:3 “and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” NIV
Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in Your Presence there is fullness of joy, at Your Right Hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalm 126:5 “He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”
- Strife and conflict for peace
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
- Outcast for child of God
John 1:12 “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
Romans 8:16 “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.”
Zephaniah 3:17 “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.
As one of your resolutions for the coming New Year, I urge you to fully embrace God’s exchange program. You don’t want to miss out on even one of the blessings He wants to give you and that His Son died to make available.
