Salvation
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11. Can we, who are Christians, say that we have been saved? |
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Of course,
we can, for Paul says to the Ephesians: “For by grace you have been saved
through faith ….” (Ephesians 2:8 – NKJV), and to Titus: “But after that the
kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:4-5). |
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This
salvation which we have already experienced is the salvation from sin, as it is written: “And having been set
free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:18 – NKJV); the salvation from the curse of the law,
for Paul says: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made
a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a
tree” (Galatians 3:13); the salvation
from our aimless conduct, as it is written: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye
were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain
conversation [conduct] received by tradition from your fathers; But with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1
Peter 1:18-19); the salvation from the
powers of darkness (that is, from the rulers of the darkness of this
world), as it is written: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,
and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have
redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians
1:13-14). |
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Nevertheless,
there is also a salvation which we have not yet experienced, that is, the salvation
from the wrath to come, as it is written: “Much more then, being now
justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if,
when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much
more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:9-10). When
Jesus said: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13 –
NKJV), he referred to this future salvation. “The redemption of our body” (Romans
8:23) is part of this salvation to come, for our body will be redeemed at the
coming of Christ because on that day the bodies of all believers (both the
believers who are dead and those who are still alive) will be transformed and
will be made immortal, glorious and incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:52). |
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Therefore,
whereas on the one hand we can say that we have been saved, on the other hand
we can and must say that we hope for salvation, and we are sure that we will
see the fulfilment of this hope, for the faith God gave to us “is being sure
of what we hope for” (Hebrews 11:1 – NIV). |
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To God,
who appointed us to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, be the
glory now and forevermore. Amen. |