The Experience of Salvation
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Centuries ago, the Shepherd of Hermas dreamed of a
wrinkled old lady who had lived long. In his dream, as time passed, she
began to change: while her body was still old and her hair white, her
face looked younger. Eventually, she was restored to her youth.
T.F. Torrance likened the woman to the church.1
Christians cannot be static. If the Spirit of Christ reigns within
(Rom. 8:9) they are in the process of change. Paul said, "Christ loved
the Church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her,
having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might
present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or
any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish" (Eph.
5:25-27, RSV). Such a cleansing is the goal of the church. Hence, the
believers comprising the church can testify that "though our outer
nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day" (2
Cor. 4:16, RSV). "We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror
the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from
glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18). This
transformation is the ultimate internal Pentecost. ................ read more
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