What is basic to our salvation?
Basic to salvation is understanding that God sees our old Adam—our old self—as on the cross with Christ, crucified. Christ died 2,000 years ago for us. This truth gives assurance of salvation, showing it is not a flippant or casual act, but a genuine work of God.
Les explains that when we understand the gospel—that Christ died 2,000 years ago for us—we realize God considers our old Adam as on the cross. The body of sin, old Adam, is destroyed, not annihilated but defeated, put in a place where we can control him. This understanding is basic to salvation and brings assurance believers never had before. It is not a flippant or casual thing, not merely walking an aisle, which does not save. Rather, we know our old self is crucified. Paul makes this clear in Galatians 2.