Teaching on God’s Love: The Third Act of Salvation
To the only true God, creator of heaven and earth, our former and sustainer, to Him be honor and glory forever and ever. We thank the eternal God for another moment in His presence, a time to expose ourselves to the revelation of His grace and mercy. In this teaching, we will study the third act of God’s salvation, a theme that emerges when searching the Holy Scriptures and understanding that salvation is not a single event, but a process manifested through the life of Christ Jesus. This process includes the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, granted to humanity through specific acts that we will explore.
The Acts of Salvation
We have identified that salvation develops through several acts. The first presents Jesus made flesh: He lived among us, participated in our Adamic nature, but without sin. Philippians 2 tells us that “He emptied Himself and took the form of a servant“, assuming human limitations, not using His divine attributes. He did this to teach us to live depending on the Holy Spirit, showing the way to those who have embraced His faith.
The second act occurs on the Cross of Calvary, where Christ Jesus took our place. Humanity was under a sentence of death, a result of the original disobedience, as read in Genesis: “On the day you eat from it, you will surely die“. That disobedience, represented in Adam and Eve, brought sin, and sin brought death, a condemnation that fell upon all of us, men and women. On the cross, that condemnation was nailed to Christ, liberating us from its weight.
The Third Act: The Declaration of Innocence
Today we focus on the third act of salvation: the remission of sins and the declaration of innocence. Beyond the sentence of death, guilt for sin also weighs upon man and woman. In Genesis, after eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve hid upon hearing God’s voice. “I was afraid and I hid“, said Adam. That guilt, born of disobedience, was not simply nailed to the cross like the condemnation; it requires something more.
On the cross, at three in the afternoon, Jesus exclaimed: “It is finished“. With those words, He opened the possibility for humanity to return to the place from which it came, to a state of communion with God. However, this act is not automatic: guilt is not remitted simply by recognizing Christ’s work; it is the individual who must draw near and embrace the liberation. When one does so, they receive a declaration of innocence. Ephesians 1:7 expresses this clearly: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace”. Here, “redemption” precisely means that declaration of innocence: there is no longer sin or guilt that obligates us to hide. We are declared completely free.
The Importance of Accepting the Declaration of Innocence
This third act is fundamental because, although the sentence of death no longer weighs upon us, we cannot be reconciled with God if we continue carrying guilt. There are men and women who, having come to Christ, still retain guilt for their past actions, words, or thoughts. They cannot free themselves from that burden, and this prevents them from living in the fullness of God’s forgiveness, liberation, and grace. Titus 2:14 reinforces this idea: “He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people of His own, zealous for good works“. Paul, in 1 Timothy, relates how, being a blasphemer and persecutor, he was admitted to mercy and placed in God’s service. Without receiving forgiveness for guilt, we cannot fully live in divine grace.
A powerful example is the woman caught in adultery (John 8). Accused by the crowd, Jesus challenged her accusers: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone“. Everyone withdrew, and Jesus told her: “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more“. This is the declaration of innocence: not only forgiveness of sins, but liberation from the guilt that pursues us. Guilt truncates lives, purposes, and futures; it has even led some to take their own lives. Therefore, this act invites us to live free from all internal condemnation.
Liberation from Curses and Past Conducts
The declaration of innocence not only cleanses us from guilt but also from behaviors and lifestyles imposed by sin. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says: “You have been redeemed from your futile way of life, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ“. We are no longer what we were; we are what God has declared on the cross. The parable of the prodigal son illustrates this: after squandering his inheritance and falling into disgrace, he returns to his father, who receives him with a new garment, shoes, and a ring, declaring: “This my son was dead and has come to life again“. This is not a superficial change of conduct; it is a radical transformation by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Moreover, Galatians 3:13 affirms: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us“. This is not limited to the Mosaic law, but to every generational or family curse – hereditary diseases, destructive tendencies such as suicide or sexual deterioration – imposed by the enemy. The declaration of innocence breaks these chains, liberating us physically and spiritually.
Physical and Spiritual Cleansing
Hebrews 9:12 adds: “By His own blood, He entered the sanctuary once for all, obtaining eternal redemption“. This redemption cleanses us not only spiritually but also from physical impurities that limit us: complexes, phobias, or conditions like Moses’ stutter (Exodus 3). When Moses accepted God’s voice above his limitation, that condition disappeared, and he became a liberator of a people. If he had continued focusing on his stutter, he would have lived his last years in anguish. The declaration of innocence lifts every impurity today, allowing us to serve God in fullness.
Conclusion: Live in the Fullness of Liberation
Revelation 1:5 summarizes this message: “He loved us and washed us from our sins with His blood“. Here, “sins” includes guilt and everything that has prevented us from realizing ourselves. Paul, in Romans 8, declares that nothing will separate him from God’s love, a certainty that only arises by accepting this total liberation. Jesus tells you today: “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more“. This is the declaration of innocence issued on the cross so that you may live in fullness, free from past condemnations.
Father, I thank you for a people perfected in Your blood, a people who do not live halfway, but in the fullness of Your grace. Thank you for the power of Your Holy Spirit that makes us recognize and accept this declaration of innocence. I am no longer what I was; I am free, I am innocent, because You declared it. In Jesus’ name, amen. The peace of the Lord be with you. Prepare now for the next topic: the fourth act of salvation, justification.
