Scripture tells us we're justified by faith (Romans 5:1) – by faith alone in Christ alone.
It's important to note that being justified in God's sight doesn't imply any sort of moral transformation: it's God's counting righteousness to us, not our changing into something (or someone) who is actually righteous (Romans 4:5). God counts righteousness to the one who does not work, but believes.
John 20:30–31 brings in another truth: believing, we have life through His name. Notice this absolutely implies a moral transformation. Having life isn't like being justified: it's not a declaration from God, it's an inward change that can't help but produce an outward result.
It's important for us to get hold of both of these truths: on the one hand, the first first step of our walk with God is being declared righteous in His sight. We can't earn more righteousness than we have in the first moments of our new faith. When we believe God, we are as righteous in His sight as we will be after a million ages in His presence.
On the other hand, the new life that begins when we believe is something that grows and matures and develops. Life isn't something that stays static: there is growth there.
So our relationship to God-as-Judge is as perfect as it ever can be the first moment of our Christian life, and it doesn't ever change. But our relationship with God-as-Father is only in its infancy in those same moments, and we expect it to change and mature with time and experience.
Now, our growth in this new life is a result of that same believing that begins it. So we don't take the first step by faith and then continue on in another way (Galatians 3:3). No, we are to walk as we have received (Colossians 2:6).
And that carries an unexpected consequence: our growth in Christ is really driven by our beliefs falling into line with what God has said. That's really the take home message of Romans 6:1–10, isn't it? As we hear, believe, and count on what God says is true, we find ourselves experiencing the same thing He promises.
This is worth some mulling over.
3 comments:
Amen and Amen!
There's no growth without the cross we can only manifest the life of Christ as we are cut down experimentally through the Spirit's working with us. Both of these things happen simultaneously. 2 Cor 4.11 we grow as awhile as we learn new experiences and God's ways with ours. There can't be a mixing of wills it has to be by leading which is the working out of our crucifixion we can't sign up and then decide that we don't want it worked out because it's too tough. Your faith has to be used by the Spirit for anything to be of any worth. That's why people quit reckoning because it's too painful to become like Christ but we need to become like his death to get the resurrection.
Anonymous - wow - yes - so true
Amen and Amen
Post a Comment