Sin and Salvation

For by grace ye are saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8a)

When we ask Christ into our lives and accept the salvation he offers, we undergo some changes. One of these is that we look at sin differently. It no longer has the same appeal, and we are no longer amused when we see others engaged in those activities. If you don't begin to hate sin (never the sinner, though), then you might want to question whether or not you've really had a change of heart.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Believers may still be tempted and sin again, but their response will be different. They will feel guilt and remorse and be compelled to repent. Most likely, they will feel so bad about their lapse that they will be determined never to act like that again. We began to find more joy in following Christ and pleasing God than we ever had before coming to know Him.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

As my husband likes to say, a Christian can do anything he or she wants to, but God just changes the follower's want-to. As we grow in faith, worldly things have less and less value because we know our real treasure is in heaven. The Lord is what really matters. That's where we find true value and worth.

___________________________