SALVATION is wholesome, containing everything pertaining to this life and the hereafter. It's additive-free. You don’t get born again and start searching for other sources for such things as healing, peace, etc. While you may be sick, healing is inside you. As a born-again believer, you search the Scriptures and discover what you received in Christ and enjoy.
We need to appreciate that at the point of salvation we received. It's a past tense spiritual reality. John 1:16, says, "And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." We pray that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened and that the Bible materialises in us.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ or the Grace of God announces to hearers and delivers to resultant believers and partakers the finished or accomplished work of Christ. The wholesome package is complete, needing no addition to it. It carries all of the Godhead in the Man, Christ Jesus Who resides in the hearts of believers. What you receive when you confess Jesus as Saviour and Lord is not a half-baked product. At rebirth/recreation you don’t receive a percentage or fraction of Jesus, but the whole of Him.
Salvation ushers eternal life. Eternal life isn’t temporary, but forever and ever and from everlasting to everlasting. It’s unbreakably everlasting. This life is not humanly attainable but is delivered to us by the Grace of God. It’s unearned, undeserved and unmerited. We don’t get eternal life by self effort or human works of righteousness.
The sacrificial death of Jesus was well pleasing to God the Father. It’s on this premise that we have fellowship and communion with God the Father. In Christ, we are well pleasing to the Father. The Father says in Matthew 3:17, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus Christ fulfilled the will of God and in Him we are in the will of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10:7 points out: “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.” In Christ, we’re complete and confirmed. We require no other human ritual or ceremony of establishment or confirmation. As we grow spiritually by studying the Bible, we discover things already established before the foundation of the world for our enjoyment. Our fellowship with Him reveals to us what is already ours for grabs.
Keep Reading
- Unpacking Christ; our wisdom (2)
- Sunday word: Battle of Biblical 'Armageddon'
- Grace tidings: Beware of false teachers and bad doctrine (Part 2)
- Grace tidings: He loves you unconditionally
We are confirmed. We have inner peace because of the assurance of Christ in us. The witness or testimony of Jesus Christ is established in us. 1 Corinthians 1:6-7, record, "[6] Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: [7] So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:" All the gifts and Christ’s unction are available to us awaiting our discovery by revelation of the Scriptures.
The graces of God are stimulated by our desire. Apostle Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 14:1: “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.” Proper and correct teaching inspire us to desire what the finished work of Jesus Christ made available to us.
Salvation carries us from death to life. As born again believers our life is intrinsically Christ’s life in our hearts. This is the eternal security of the believer. In Christ we don’t fall short. 1 Corinthians 1:8 settles: “Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Hebrews 7:25, adds, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Surrendering to Jesus Christ and confessing Him as Lord and Saviour results in us receiving His resurrected life in our heart/spirit. This life has conquered death and, therefore, is eternal and everlasting. Since Christ is seated in heaven with us, our eternal redemption is assured. This is our confirmation to the end of the ages. You grow and discover more things, while you are safely anchored on the surety of God’s faithfulness.
As a New Testament believer you know it’s ordained in Christ. Galatians 3:17 records, “And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ.” Furthermore, Galatians 3:15 fixes, “Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.” You are confirmed, you are established. The Christian hope rests on the reality that Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption. In Him, we’re blameless. You’re innocent and guiltless. Let us consider 1 Corinthians 1:8 quoted above from the Amplified version. It reads: “And He will establish you to the end, keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication; He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that you will be, guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).”
You are confirmed. As we close, please say this prayer of assurance; Abba Father, I thank you for confirming my salvation in Christ Jesus and declaring me innocent before you in Christ. Because of your assurance, I pursue my dreams fully aware that I lack nothing and that I am a giant not a weakling. In Jesus’ name I am established. Amen.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.