Continuing in our examination of the two sides of salvation – life before, and after…
In the days before salvation is realized, we walk this earth with an incongruity in ourselves – a clash between the sins desired by the flesh versus the innate Law of God that He planted in our souls. The Law is not meant to create hostility, however. It is for revealing right thinking and acting (by way of conviction), as well as to generate a hunger for the love and peace of God that can only be satiated by the salvation found through Christ.
The Law warns of death for the unrepentant, while the gospel of salvation promises eternal life for the saved. The gospel reveals that you are not godly in your present state, but that your godly Savior will render you so by covering you with His righteousness. Indeed, it is only when one is first convinced of their ungodliness, can they enter the door of reconciliation with their Creator – i.e. only after the Law has done its job.
Again, you can only be found by Jesus when you realize that you are lost. Without that knowledge, you’re unaware of your need for God’s mercy. And because of the pride built into your flesh, you don’t seek it out.
God put the Law in place, but after it’s done its work, He wants to comfort you from it with His righteousness, justification and sanctification through His Son:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies… Ps. 103:3, 4. NKJV
Another possible obstacle to salvation is if the unsaved falls victim to ‘religion,’ that is, scripture and religious practices perverted to serve the will of man. It is a vehicle for glorifying oneself, so it flies in the face of the example of Jesus’ pursuit of selflessness in service.
The philosophies of man are false doctrines which are usually opposed to divine truth, making them noxious to the soul.
There are no manmade works that can bring salvation to anyone. It comes purely by the free grace of God. However, good works should be an outcome of that grace:
For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your’ works [nor attempts to keep the Law], so that no one can boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. Eph. 2:8 – 10. AMP
Our part in our salvation is to know and accept our redemption through the gospel message of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins and give our lives to Him by living by His Father’s words.
Jesus gave His life for our redemption. And only He could have done that, because through His virgin birth, He was spared from the damning contamination of Adam’s sin. Only Christ could make a sinless offering of Himself – shedding His blood in death so that our souls would be cleansed. In so doing, we can enter into the Father’s presence for all eternity.
Unfortunately, even after you’ve received your divine reconciliation, you will continue to fall. The good news is that in our saved state, we can approach the throne of our Father in earnest repentance and reap the restoration of His mercy.
Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in time of need. Heb. 4:16 NASB
You may have sinned, but you are now a ‘saint.’ That old sinner in you has died:
For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3:3 AMP
Once saved, God does not call you to condemnation. And who is the worst condemner? It’s you. It’s a negative that habit you formed in your childhood; but you can get rid of it by paying attention to what God says about you. He sees you through the eyes of Christ, your divine Mediator, which makes you perfect, lovable, good enough and acceptable…
Hallelujah!
Goodnight and God bless.