My question, “Are you getting all the salvation you can?,” is a question few Christians have ever asked themselves. Why?
Because the assumption is that a person is either saved or not saved. You either “have” your salvation or you don’t. It’s one and done. Well, not exactly.
I’ll first address the most obvious exception to that rule, then I’ll get to how you – as a Christian may not be getting all the salvation available to you.
There are non-Christians who the Holy Spirit is moving toward salvation. They don’t have it yet, but are getting it. It took me six months, 40 years ago, to investigate the claims of the Bible before I decided I wanted to pledge my highest allegiance to Jesus Christ. I was on a six-month spiritual journey that ended in my being saved. I got phase I of my salvation – my sins were forgiven, I was born-again and I became a child of God. Well then, what is Phase II? Phase II The Holy Spirit speaking through Paul, makes this startling statement;
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” Philippians 2:12
What does it mean to “work out your salvation?” Paul answers that in the very next verse.
“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13
There are Christians who are barely saved. That is, “yes,” their sins are forgiven, they are going to heaven, but they are missing the joy of their salvation in this life, by not living out the “purposes of God” on earth. And, as a result, they will miss out some of the rewards God has planned for believers both in this life and the next, for obedience. Peter puts it this way.
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8,9
Notice the word “receiving.” Peter is saying to us, “You may not yet have received all the benefits of your salvation until with diligence and intentionality you get far more serious about doing the will of God. Because of Christ’s sacrificial death, God grants us a place in the family of God. Many other blessings of being saved we can only earn through obedience.
Last week’s blog was about being a lukewarm Christian. There are two dangers of being a lukewarm Christian. The first is the most dangerous. It may be an indicator that you may not even be a Christian.
The second is, that while truly saved, you may never hear “well done good and faithful servant.” I don’t believe every saved person will hear those words from Jesus upon entering heaven.
So today, recommit yourself to getting all the salvation you can, not just for your sake, but for the good of the kingdom.
How following Jesus works in real life.
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