Salvation of the Soul is a Daily Discipline

In the Gospels, Jesus endorses the “little by little” or “step-by-step” process of salvation of the soul. When speaking of self-denial and cross-bearing, Jesus uses the word ‘daily’.

And it is exactly at this point that we need to distinguish between the two “workings” of the cross: 1) Paul’s declaration that the cross ends, once and for all, our domination by sin (Romans 6:6), and 2) the continuous work of the cross to put to death our self life. Paul says “[we are] always carry about the dying of Jesus in order that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh…” (2 Cor. 4:11), and then, even more directly, “I die daily” (1 Cor. 15:31).

So how does this daily dying work, you ask?

Renouncing our self-life is not something which is done once and forever (don’t you wish it were!). No, the self-life (the life of our soul) must be overcome step by step. Each day, the Word of God penetrates (Hebrews 4:12) our hearts, exposing the self life, and this deeper work of the cross separates us from self and unites us in spirit with Jesus.

This is why reading and studying and meditating on the Word of God is so important to the salvation of the soul—it must be a daily discipline. Daily, God’s Word is used by the Holy Spirit to probe deeper and deeper into our self life. Jesus made no provision for a day off; He said “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Then “when Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).