The Salvation Experience

(Originally published in The Daily Press - Religion Section, August 9, 2014)

A man came to me last week in a panic. Someone that knew him before he gave his life to Christ challenged how “a person like you” could really be forgiven of the past? This man wanted me to confirm his salvation and right standing before God. 

Let’s try to understand the salvation experience on a simple level. A personal response to the Holy Spirit brings conversion (spiritual birth); this includes a turning away from sin (repentance); and turning toward Christ (faith). At this time, God’s gavel renders a verdict in the heavenly realm of “not guilty” (justification).

This is not a judgment of behavior or character, but a judgment of ownership and eternal destiny. Whoever undergoes the salvation experience receives a new nature and is considered “a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17). The Holy Spirit comes to live in believers, and sets them free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:1,2). Scripture calls believers “holy ones” or “saints” because we have now been set apart and adopted by God (Eph. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:2).

So upon experiencing salvation, is the above person forgiven by Christ for all the sins of his past? Yes. Is he completely transformed from all of his former ways? No.

A transformation process toward wholeness begins after conversion. You may have heard this called “sanctification.” This is where the term discipleship comes in. Jesus instructed in Matthew 28:19 to “go and make disciples.” This means we need others helping us to see the way and by the power of the Holy Spirit we can learn to follow.

Generally speaking, there are three levels of discipleship: becoming firmly rooted in Christ, built up in Christ, and learning to walk daily in Christ. Each level is dependent on the previous level. We cannot have an effective daily walk unless we are growing in Christ, and we cannot mature unless we are firmly rooted in Christ. Ideally, your church has a solid discipleship program in place to assist you.

There are forces of evil that don’t want you to understand your new position in Christ. The primary strategy is deception. Think of the emancipation proclamation: Slavery was abolished by the 13th Amendment on December 18, 1865. In theory there were no slaves on December 19, 1865, but how many slaves weren’t told by their plantation owners and continued to live like slaves? There was no practical effect until slaves heard the news for themselves. This is the same principle.

Remember, your identity and eternal destiny aren’t determined by what you have done, but rather from what God has done. While Satan can’t steal your salvation, he can steal your joy, peace and happiness if he can get you to believe his lies: about yourself, others and God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any places in your life that you are deceived.

As in the case above, when Satan reminds you of your past, you just remind him of his future and he’ll flee. The book of Revelation states, in the end of time as we know it, the devil and his angels will be thrown into the lake of fire where they will be tormented day and night for eternity (Rev. 20:10).

Be patient believer; it is a life long process of being transformed to the image of Christ this side of heaven. So confess your sins, learn from your mistakes, and continue to seek first the kingdom of God. 


The Rev. Heidi Summers is affiliated with Freedom in Christ Ministries, is a board certified pastoral counselor, board certified life coach and is currently completing her doctorate at Fuller Theological Seminary.