Today is your day of salvation!
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). Paul opens this sixth chapter of Corinthians with a perplexing exhortation: “We then, as workers with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” What does he mean by “not to receive the grace of God in vain”? First, he is not implying that some people can accept the atonement of Christ, which is described in the preceding chapter, and yet continue to live in sin . To receive the grace of God in vain does not mean a person may be justified while remaining unsanctified. Scripture never separates these two aspects of redemption. Those who are reconciled to God through Christ will certainly be sanctified. The pardoned believer cannot continue to live in sin as he or she did prior to the Holy Spirit’s regenerating work. Second, Paul does not mean by this statement that Christians can lose their salvation. The “grace of God” that Paul is speaking about in this pass...