Do You Realize How “Saved” You Are?

From Pastor Jim Anderson

(Part 1 of a Series):

I find much confusion still existing among Christians about what “being saved” through faith in Jesus Christ really means. Because of this confusion, some worry about where they will spend eternity. (You do not need to!) Others struggle with guilt and shame, convinced that God is angry or disgusted with them because, on a daily basis, their life still contains sinful thoughts and actions. (He is neither angry nor disgusted!) Many find themselves feeling stuck in stubborn patterns of sin that control them and contradict their confession that they are “New Creations” in Christ. (This can change!)

These concerns all stem from an inadequate grasp of the overwhelming, undeserved grace found in Christ. When you surrender to Christ and accept His gift of salvation, you are actually given many gifts. These graces address your past (forgiveness), your present (justification), your sin addiction (new birth), your eternal future (righteousness), Satan’s access to your life (redemption) and your separation from God (the indwelling Holy Spirit).

I know Christians who suffer great bouts of confusion and struggle spiritually because they have oversimplified their faith to the point that it does not answer basic questions. They find themselves committing sins every day and become concerned when will-power fails them. For a while they try to take care of this through constant repentance. In a short time, however, their conscience (with Satan’s encouragement) begins to condemn them with thoughts like, “If I really loved God I wouldn’t do such things!” They end up feeling guilty, joyless and uncertain about where they stand with God. “Am I really a Christian?” they end up asking.

I want to speak directly into this confusion.

When the Bible uses different words like redeemed, justified, forgiven, made righteous, saved and adopted….the writers are not just using a lot of synonyms to express the same truth. No! They are using specific terms to describe the many aspects of the great salvation we have been given in Christ.

In this newsletter I want to speak to one of the biggest areas of confusion: “How does God look at us as Christians when we sin?” Paul explains this clearly in Romans 1:17 (NIV)

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

I have good news for you. You no longer need to struggle with feelings of fear and shame when sinful desires overcome you and you break one of God’s commands or act in a selfish, un-Christ-like way. It may amaze you, but as a Christian, you are never seen by God as a sinner. You are always regarded as perfect in God’s eyes. That is how He sees you all the time. This is called “imputed righteousness”. That means God has credited you with a righteous standing before Him. We sometimes describe this gift as a “pure white robe” of righteousness that we wear over our less-than-pure daily lives.

This may not make sense to you, but God has decided to see you, regard you, always as if you were as perfect as Jesus. Stop and think of how God regards His sinless Son. The Bible tells us plainly in Matthew 3:17;

A voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Be clear on this. By His own decree (and because Jesus lived a sinless life for thirty-three years on this earth) whenever the Lord regards you he has the exact attitude and reaction as he does when He regards Jesus ….pleasure, joy, delight and affirmation.