23. Saved by Life
Romans 5:10b Much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Once we are reconciled to God by faith in Jesus Christ we have this promise: we shall be saved by his life. Not only are we saved by the death of Christ but we are also saved by the life of Christ. Negatively, the death of Christ becomes by faith the death of our old man, our sinful nature, in us. He died the death, which was the wages of sin, in our place.
Positively, the life of Christ becomes by faith the life of the new man, the new holy nature, in us. After He takes our death He gives us His Life. This New Life that lives in our spirit rules, reigns and compels us. The Spirit of God that lives in our human spirit influences and affects the soul to actually decide and do the good works that God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. This New Life does not force its will and its way, but it does wrestle with the flesh, the sinful nature.
Remembering our baptism drowns the old man daily and the new man comes forth and arises to newness of life. The Life of God within is released when the selfish old man is denied by taking up our cross and following Him. A believer is already saved by the death of Christ for eternity. This believer is also saved by the life of Christ for daily life. By His Life we are saved from the tyranny of Sin, the Fear of Death, and the Temptations of the Devil. By His Life we are saved for good works and a good life even now in this age, while we wait for the next age to come. The Good News of this Promise is that His life is our life, and we shall be saved.