"Being a Christian does not mean we’re any
better than unbelievers. We are still just as sick as anyone — we just have
found the doctor. Remember, Christianity is not about morality. It’s about
grace.”.
It is great to narrate the salvation experience and
inspire others and draw them close to Jesus. For some it can be decade before
and for some two or three years ago, based on when they received Christ. But
the story does not end there, after the experience we are expected to keep
growing in His love and absorb His image and display to the world. In the book
of Romans, Paul reminds us once again of the salvation, but this time in Romans 12:11 Paul
says “Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to
wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first
believed.”.
Paul is cautioning all of us to wake up from sleep, because for the simple reason that we do not become complacent and think salvation as one-time grand event and not conscious enough today about how we are keeping ourselves holy and displaying Christ to others. For the ones who has lost the savor of the grand experience it is time to know that the salvation is nearer yet again than you first believed.
Paul to the Philippians in (2:12) NIV
says “..as
you have always obeyed… continue to work out your salvation in fear and
trembling.”. Salvation does not stop after the first great event, we
ought to continue in working out the salvation and keeping it lively and fresh.
In (2:13) of
Philippians it
says “For it
is God who works in you...”. It is a journey where we are assured that
God is working too in us to get our salvation completed. Now let me
make a point here, if you held on to only verse 12 you will be Armenian and
if you held on to verse 13 alone you will be Calvinist and
if you held on to both then you will be Christian.
Christians should be
distinct from the world in how we live. Sanctification can be painfully slow. What we speak of is not perfection but a
new power, a new purpose, and a new direction. We have a mantle to carry on.
Our Savior has worked a mighty change in us. Ask God to help us live
more boldly and be the salt of the earth, and shine more brightly. May the
distance to salvation be nearer and closer to us always. Continue to work out
your salvation in fear and trembling.
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