Salvation from Sin

While reading the 51st Psalm (this weeks lectionary reading from the Psalms) I was struck with the idea that there is a real and important distinction between being saved from the punishment (or consequences) of sin and being saved from sin itself.

I grew up in a faith tradition that emphasized the existence of a real and literal hell that was waiting for unrepentant sinners in the afterlife.  So, the whole point of religion was to avoid hell.  This was done through the saving grace of Jesus.  Thus, Jesus was able to “save me” from hell.

Regardless of your theological belief on the existential reality of an afterlife, reducing the saving acts of Christ to such a simplistic “get out of hell free” pass seems to miss the point entirely.  In Psalm 51, David pleads for salvation from his SIN.  He asks to have the burden of living in sin be removed so that he may live with a clean heart and faithful spirit.

I’m reminded of the example of people in the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous.  One of the steps that a person must undertake is to the best of their ability make amends for their actions.  They can’t and don’t try to escape the consequences of their alcoholism.  However, the point of AA isn’t simply to make amends, it is about making a complete change so that a person can live without being an active alcoholic.  By being faithful in the program a person remains alcohol-free and is saved from the power of addiction.

In a similar way each of us have some type of sin in our life that weighs us down or prevents us from being Christ-like to others.  Oh, to be saved from that sin so I am no longer hampered by it – that is the salvation that I long for.

Is this kind of salvation possible?  To me, this is the heart of the Christian message.  Jesus Christ by being completely faithful even in the face of real and deadly consequences shows us the way that sin can be overcome.  By his sacrificial acceptance of death on a cross and the subsequent hope provided by the resurrection he is my savior and Lord and in him is my salvation.