Salvation after being reconciled
After we are saved, there is more God wants to save us from. Romans 5:10 (ESV) says, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”
In the first salvation we receive forgiveness for the sins we have done, and we become reconciled with God, we get peace with God. The second salvation comes by walking in obedience to the faith (Romans 1:5), because it is written: Walk in the light while you have the light, that you may become children of light (John 12:36). In the light there is life, and the life is the light of men (John 1:4). To be a child of the light is the same as to be a child of life. Jesus Christ is a prince of the light; He is the prince of life, just as Satan is the prince of darkness and has the power of death.
Made alive by the Spirit
The salvation that comes through Christ’s life is that, by His Spirit and through His light and life, He makes our spirit alive. In James 4:5-6 it is written that God jealously longs for the spirit He has placed in us, but the grace that He gives is even more. As the light increases, the darkness becomes less. Light brings life, and when the darkness disappears, death also goes away, and the one who had the power of death—the devil—is then also destroyed.
The apostle Paul had not yet reached full salvation through the life of Christ, but made every effort to reach it (Philippians 3:12). We must also make every effort to reach this goal in this salvation. It is an extremely high goal within the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25).
In the first salvation, Jesus gave Himself as the sacrifice for our sins. In the second salvation, He is our High Priest and Advocate. He is the Mediator of a new covenant. This means He stands between God and us, after He paid by His death for the sins people had done under the first covenant (Hebrews 9:15).
Judgment brings salvation
Peter also speaks about the salvation through Christ’s life in 1 Peter 4:17-18 (ESV): “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And 'If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?'”
Judgment begins in the household of God, that is, with us. "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world." John 3:19. We experience this judgment when God shines His light on us. In this light we know that we must put things in order. That is the only way we can be faithful to the light and become children of the light. And just because the light brings judgment, people hate it.
If everything in a person’s heart was in perfect order, the light would give him great joy, and he would rejoice in the light. But by nature we are evil; we are total darkness and we have done many works of darkness that need to be cleansed away through light and judgment. So the light makes us sad instead of joyful. The rich young ruler went away sad, and most people today do the same when the light of the Word shines into their heart. The Scriptures knew this, and that is why it is written, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 3:7-8 (ESV).
Salvation by the life of Christ
What happens if we do not harden our hearts? Then we will go from light to more light. We come to understand that judgment leads to righteousness, and we are not so afraid to judge ourselves and agree with the light. This becomes easier and easier for us, because when we continue to walk in the light, we see more clearly how miserable we are according to our sinful flesh. This gives us a great hatred for our self-life and helps us pass the test that Christ requires of those who want to be His disciples.
The glory will increase because the suffering in the flesh keeps darkness and evil under control. We become more aware of our inheritance in the light (Colossians 1:12). Brotherly fellowship grows and becomes warmer. The blood cleanses away all sin, and our closeness and fellowship with the Father becomes greater than ever before. Our service in the Spirit becomes more valuable, and more and more people will hate us and reject our name as evil.
Jesus was heard because of His godly fear (Hebrews 5:7). By walking in the light, we show that we truly fear God, and God will more likely hear our prayers. All these things are part of the salvation that comes through the life of Christ. And this salvation can only begin to work after a death has taken place to save us from the sins we did under the first covenant.