by Major Cherri Hobbins
Some mistakenly believe that once they are “born again,” “saved,” “come to Christ,” “prayed the sinner’s prayer,” they are whole and complete, ready for Heaven. They are so convinced the Lord is finished with them that they simply “sit” in their faith. The longer they sit, the greater the opportunity to wander and stray from the Lord.
Yet, there is so much more to experience. There are deeper levels of Christian faith and practice to explore and build into our life with Christ. The third truth impacts our ongoing existence and indicates that being in Christ involves growth. I’ve chosen to state it this way…. You are not yet all you can become.
A chorus I learned from “the old Salvationists” in my early days (but not found in any of the early SA Songbooks in my collection) expresses this doctrinal truth beautifully.
From glory to glory He’s changing me,
Changing me, changing me;
His likeness and image to perfect in me,
The love of God shown to the world.
For He’s changing, changing me,
From earthly things to the heavenly.
His likeness and image to perfect in me,
The love of God shown to the world.
In Christ we continue to enrich our relationship with God as our understanding of Him develops and grows. Over time, and day by day, we come to understand what grieves God’s heart and what brings Him profound joy. We strive to remove from our life through the power of the Spirit what displeases Him. We practice spiritual disciplines to build into our lives godly character qualities that please Him. While we are here on this earth, in these mortal bodies, we grow and develop our life “in Christ.” We keep growing and developing until we receive our glorified bodies in Heaven someday. It is only then that God will have finally fulfilled His perfect work in us.
James Bryan Smith is helpful again in unpacking this truth. He writes,
…even though we have become new people spiritually, we still live in our old self’s body, which contains the remnants of sin. We still have our old narratives, our old memories and our old habits. We still live in a world that stands diametrically opposed to the truth of God. This is why we struggle with sin even after we’re regenerated. (Good and Beautiful God, p. 156).
John Wesley keeps helping us to understand when he writes,
Every babe in Christ is holy, and yet not altogether so. He is saved from sin; yet not entirely: It remains, though it does not reign. . . . We are ‘reconciled to God through the blood of the cross;’ And in that moment. . . the flesh has no more dominion over us (In Smith, p. 157).
John Calvin echoes this thought in similar words.
For so long as we remain cooped up in this prison of our body, traces of sin will dwell in us; but if we faithfully hold fast to the promise given us by God . . . they shall not dominate or rule” (In Smith, p. 157).
Just because we are saved people does not mean that old Smutty Face stops dangling sinful temptations in front of us. He continues! And he is seemingly relentless in the number of ways he can morph the temptation of our besetting sin to lure us away from growth in Christ and convince us we are still a worm.
The truth of our life in Christ, and the strength of our growing in Christ relationship helps us to resist and conquer sin. If we are paying close attention, God gives us the power and means to conquer temptation and sin every time. Paul says it this way,
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it
(1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV 2011).
You are not (no longer) who you once were! You are in Christ! You are a saint! And God still has plans to continue to develop and transform your life. Until you are translated from earth to heaven, you are not yet all you can become! God still has wonderful mysteries and deeper truths to build into your life.
Do you believe this in the core of your being? This is the simple truth of Scripture! Do you believe it? Are these the narratives, the stories, the truths that are shaping your life right now? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to work these truths out in your life day by day and moment by moment? Or are you content to sit back, relax inside the front door and never explore or own the treasures that are in plain sight and also hidden deeply in the house God is building of your life?
There are far too many of us who are in our mind, heart and practices living with an inner narrative that runs like a constant loop. “I am a sinner. I am a worm with wings. I am a sinner. I am a worm with wings.”
I ask you again, from the truths presented to you from the authority of the Word of God over the last three months, “Why would a butterfly want to act like a worm?”
“So, if anyone is in Christ there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NRSV)
SELAH: Pause for a while and think about these things.
Suggested Spiritual Discipline to Develop Spiritual Intimacy with God
Take a spiritual inventory of your life. Choose a list of character qualities you see developing in your spiritual life, or if you are newer in your faith experience, choose a listing of character qualities from Scripture. (Some examples: Galatians 5: 22 – 26; 1 Corinthians 13: 4 – 8a; 2 Peter 1: 5 – 8.)
In your spiritual journal, draw a chart to guide your meditation and prayer. Your chart can take any form you choose. To get your mind processing, here’s an example of a simple chart for taking a spiritual inventory. Your chart can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose to create.
Galatians 5: 22 – 26
| Character Quality | My life without Christ | My life in Christ | How I perceive God’s working in my life |
| Love
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| Joy
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| Peace
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| Patience
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If you have a spiritual mentor, or very trusted spiritual confidante, you may wish to discuss your insights further. Do they see what you see? Can they offer a spiritual practice that will help you to keep growing in your spiritual walk with Christ? Will you pray together about the formation and re-formation of your souls to look more and more like Christ?
Of course, asking the Lord for His insight and direction is first and foremost in conducting a spiritual inventory! Do not be afraid to sit quietly in Jesus’ presence and ask Him about how He views your life in Him. You may find you have a lot of spiritual work to do. You may discover the warmth of His embrace as He indicates you are on the right path, and encouragement for the days ahead. Wait in silence for honest answers to come. It may take more than one sitting to exhaust what the Lord is saying to you at this juncture of your life. You may finish your chart, and then put it away for six months, and revisit your spiritual inventory again.
