GOSPEL NUGGET #626

2 Co 1:8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,|
2Co 1:10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,

Troubled. Burdened. Powerless. Desperate. Sentenced. They realized that they were Zero and so were ready to make Him their Hero. So that they should not trust in themselves but in God. And they experienced a past deliverance ("delivered") a present deliverance ("does deliver") and a prospective deliverance ("He will still deliver us"). 

God's way in dealing with man is to bring man to a desperate situation, beyond himself, above his strength, make him realize that he is zero so that he would fall hard on Him as his hero, trusting in Him alone. 

Applying this to salvation, while Paul was talking about what happened to him in the physical realm, what he said here in this verse could very well be applied to the salvation of our soul.

When God saves a sinner, He troubles him with conviction of sin, burdening his conscience as to his sinful condition before God. He makes him realize that saving himself is above his strength; that the thing is beyond him. He brings him to a desperate condition in realizing that he is helpless and powerless in himself. He becomes painfully aware of the sentence of death on him; that he is a sinner deserving judgment and condemnation. All these is God preparing the sinner to fall hard on the Savior for salvation; that he should never trust in himself for it but in Christ who died on the cross and was raised by God for his justification. 

My friend, with regard to the salvation of your soul, don't trust in yourself but trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. His salvation is three-fold. A saved sinner has a past, present, and prospective salvation:

Past --- Saved or delivered from the penalty of sin
Present --- is being saved or delivered from the power of sin
Prospective --- will be delivered from the presence of sin