The Double Cure

... Be of sin the double cure,

Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

– Augustus Toplady, “Rock of Ages” (Stanza 1)

The first stanza in Rev Toplady’s classic hymn, “Rock of Ages” mentions a vital doctrinal principle concerning the work of the blood of Christ in the Believer’s life. He called it “the double cure”. The blood of Christ saves us from both the GUILT of sin, and its POWER over us.

Through our faith in Christ’s shed blood, we received redemption (forgiveness of sins) and were reconciled back to God (Eph 1:7; 2:13,16; Col 1:14,20). The blood cleanses us to the utmost, purging us and our consciences so that we can stand boldly in God’s presence, (Heb 9:12-14; 10:19-20).

However, the blood doesn’t just cleanse us from the guilt of sin, it also frees us from its power. Because we have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness, sin no longer has its previous hold on us. Scriptures declares that we’re now – for all intents and purposes – dead to sin and its influence, (Rom 6:2-11; 7:4). That’s why 1Pet 2:24 explains that Jesus bore our sins on the cross so that “we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.”

Emphasising one of these two truths to the exclusion of the other will create a warped gospel. We can emphasise the forgiveness in the blood so much that we forget that it more than just cleanses from sin, but delivers us from continuing in it. 

On the flipside, some have overly emphasised the latter, going as much as to create a non-scriptural “second work of salvation” in which the Believer is expected to live in perfect sinlessness. This places a new burden on the Believer as they strive day and night to supposedly keep their garments clean and blinds them to the full forgiveness they possess in Christ.

Are you struggling under either of these extremes?  Run to Christ, the “Rock of Ages”, today; and hide yourself in His loving, freeing and empowering arms.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN