God chose you… to be saved. 2 Thessalonians 2:13
The Bible talks about salvation in three wonderful ways:
First, God has saved you from sin’s penalty
The moment you came to faith in Christ, God forgave you and freed you from guilt, condemnation, and hell. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). This is the beginning of your salvation, not the end.
Second, God is saving you from sin’s power
Sin is still your enemy, but it’s no longer your master. Before Christ, you were a prisoner of war “captive to the law of sin” (7:23). You were blindfolded, your hands were tied, and you were defenseless—at the mercy of your enemy. But in Christ you are no longer sin’s prisoner.
God took off your blindfold and freed your hands. He brought you out of your cell and into a boxing ring. You sat down in one corner, opposite the guard who used to beat you in your cell. Now when the bell rings, you’re in an entirely different position. Before, he could hit you and there was nothing you could do about it. Now you’re in a position to fight back. Though you will bear the scars of battle, in Jesus Christ you will prevail. This is the Christian life.
Third, God will save you from sin’s presence
After numerous grueling rounds, your opponent won’t go down. He keeps coming back. That’s a picture of our battle against temptation. The longer the fight goes on, the more we long to see our enemy hit the canvas—and one day he will. When Christ comes again in glory, your enemy—sin—will be knocked out! Your battle will be over and you will receive the crown of victory.
Which of these do you have the greatest confidence in? The least?
