This is a continuation of last week’s blog, ‘Pervasive Worship.’ Now that we have an understanding of our essence as worshipers, we must look at what it takes to stay on the path of faith. As Christians, it’s easy to fall into this mystical belief that once we’re saved, the work is done and we just go on spiritual autopilot. Everything is downhill from here. You can ask anyone who knows me well, I am truly disturbed when someone tells me that everything will just work out. Especially when it comes to spiritual matters.
It may be true to some extent, but that is definitely not what the bible says about our sanctification experience. Paul tells us that we are to work out our salvation [Phil. 2.12-13]. We’re not to work FOR our salvation. That’s impossible and it’s already been accomplished. If that’s why you’re being “obedient,” stop it.
However, as a follower of Christ, it is by God’s grace that we get to share in the experience of being sanctified; that is being made like Christ. We will prove to ourselves our salvation by working it out through faithful obedience. Paul tells Timothy to be in the Word of God and in prayer. This will train us to be godly. “While bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come [1 Tim. 4.8].” So we’re not just being godly for some arbitrary characteristic, but rather this gives us assurance (not to mention other very important reasons, but those aren’t the subject of this blog). We can see the hope of Christ’s work in our own lives. It is for the sake of this hope that we have been charged to fight the good fight of faith and take hold of our eternal life that we have been called to.
So what does that mean? How do we work out our salvation? We train ourselves for godliness. We should be exhausting ourselves in pursuit of Christ. We pursue righteousness when we are deepening our relationship with God through the reading of his word and prayer. We pursue holiness when we put our sins to death; when we flee from our temptations. We pursue love when we desire God and when we put others before ourselves. We pursue faith when we put everything we consider of worth at the feet of Jesus. In doing these things, we will see Christ in our own lives. We will get a clearer understanding of the debt paid on our behalf. We will hear the call louder and louder to fervently preach the gospel and to serve the people around us.
When we fail to do these things, we forfeit the best that God has for us. This world is full of evil that wants to rob us of our faith. That’s why Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God [Eph. 6.13-17]. It’s hard enough to be a minister without having doubts about our own identity in Christ. Your ministry will rise and fall with your personal spiritual race. And not because being a good Christian earns you blessings. There may be some truth to that, but it’s at God’s discretion. What is impossible is to make wise and righteous decisions boldly without being firmly planted in the truth you’re preaching.
Sources/ Suggested reading:
Whitney, Donald. Personal Spiritual Disciplines. Grudem, Wayne, Systematic Theology, Ch. 38: Sanctification.
Tags: preparation, sanctification, service
