Salvation Means Deliverance
The entrance of sin into our world has brought in its train indescribable wretchedness. Guilt and remorse sting the conscience and fill the soul with shame. Sinful habits form the links of an iron chain, which binds the life in utter despair. A chain of bondage which defies all human strength. Burning lusts are set on fire from hell, all clamoring for unholy indulgence; the gratification of which is only followed by greater misery. Restless and unnatural desires deprive the soul of peace; and the half-awakened fears of death and judgment hang dark and gloomy over the life. Hope dies, and with it, manhood and womanhood give up their struggle, and surrender the life to dark melancholy or open shame. Reader, salvation means deliverance from all these elements of woe and misery. And should even this picture fall short of the deep shades of your case, salvation yet means complete deliverance from the strongest chains of habit, the lowest depths of sin, the deepest hell of intemperance and debauchery. Deliverance from darkness into light, from the power of Satan unto God. From the woes of a guilty conscience into peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; from remorse into the joys of pardon; from the thralldom of sin into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God. O how wonderful! wonderful! deliverance by the almighty arm of Him whose name is Wonderful!
And when all this blessedness is reached by the divine miracle of regeneration—if the new-born soul continues to “desire the sincere milk of the word, [and] grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2)—he will soon come to the privilege of another great and glorious epoch in divine grace: the entire sanctification of his nature; the utter destruction of all inward bent to evil, and the restoration of the “divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:4) Perfect deliverance from the “body of sin,” (Romans 6:6) into the “image of God,” (Genesis 1:27) and his perfected love.
Beloved, this is not an overdrawn picture, nor a tale of human fancy. Nay, it is the very substance of the sure Word of God: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15)
And “where sin aboundeth grace did much more abound.” (Romans 5:20)
Here saving grace is placed over against all sin. And even in hearts and lives where “sin abounded,” grace, the saving mercy of God, much more abounds. Though your sins tower up like dark mountains unto heaven, grace towers far above. Though they be as deep as hell, the grace of God with omnipotent arm reaches unto you. Though great wickedness spreads over all your past life, grace super-abounds to save you. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
“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) “And the blood of Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) To meet your wants as a great sinner, God has sent to you “a saviour, and a great one.” (Isaiah 19:20) Though your soul is cursed by “your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins,” (Amos 5:12) you may “make [your] supplication to the Almighty.” (Job 8:5) Though your lusts and wickedness rise like mighty billows and threaten to sweep you quickly down to hell, “The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.” (Psalm 93:4)
“And being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him.” (Hebrews 5:9)
“For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:13-14)
Reader, be assured that the writer is one (and he is personally acquainted with thousands of others) who, though his case has been as dark and hopeless as yours, has by the grace of God come to a happy realization of those precious scriptures. Therefore, full salvation is not only true in the Word, but also in experienced fact. And if you are willing and obedient, will prove true in your case.