Wednesday, April 23, 2024
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:21-22 CSB
What David’s Life Teaches Us About The Dynamic Nature of Salvation
Salvation is not a one-time event for Christians. It is a dynamic, eternity long transformation. We are saved when we make the decision to accept Jesus as our Savior. This is healing on earth. We are continually saved as long as we live on this earth. Sin and our flesh will always be a struggle for us and we will fail sometimes. We are also continually saved from sin and temptation. And we are saved for all eternity as we will spend eternity in heaven with him. This is the true transformation of believers. We have been saved – when we made the initial decision. We are being saved daily from sin and temptation. We will be saved as we spend eternity with him. This is the dynamic nature of salvation. Our transformation through this life is this process – the dynamic nature of salvation. Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification are a part of this process.
We have been saved - Justification
Justification refers to God's forgiveness of our sins, and His declaration that we are righteous. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we become justified through him because we could never do anything to justify ourselves. It is a gift of God’s free grace.
We are being saved - Sanctification
Sanctification is the transformation process that begins when become Christians and continues until we get to heaven. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in us as we grow and become more like Christ. It is learning to walk The Jesus Way.
We will be saved - Glorification
Glorification happens when we leave this earthly life and in heaven will be made perfect by God's grace and spend eternity in a glorified state with Him.
These are not levels to be achieved by our own actions because as we have stated, there is nothing we could do for ourselves to achieve any of this. Justification, sanctification, and glorification all began at the cross through Christ’s sacrifice and they are carried out in our lives through him and nothing we do, except to surrender.
Pastor Jim spoke about the story of David and Bathsheba this past Sunday. David made lots of mistakes in his life and yet was still a man after God’s own heart. God loved him and he loved God. His life is a great example for us of how God redeems us, and still uses us, even after we make horrible choices in our lives. David saw Bathsheba bathing one evening from his rooftop. He had her brought to him, knowing he was another man’s wife, slept with her, and she became pregnant. After unsuccessfully trying to trick her husband into sleeping with her, he had him killed. After her time of mourning, David married Bathsheba and they had a son. God sent a prophet named Nathan to confront him about his sin and tell him how displeased God was with him – even though God loved him and David loved God.
God does not stop loving us when we sin. He does not take away our salvation when we mess up. He loves us always and forever no matter what and after we have become his child, we are his child forever no matter what. God was not happy with David and his choices and unfortunately some very devastating consequences came with those choices that affected not just David, but his family for years. God forgave David, and he forgives us too when we repent, but the consequences of sin remain even when the sin is forgiven.
Even in our bad situations, God has a plan that serves His sovereign purpose. David’s sin was devastating of course. He paid high consequences and in the end, receiving forgiveness and dealing with the guilt are really the easiest part. The hard part of sin is the consequences that sometimes last for years. This is where shame can steal our identity if we are not careful. The long time effects of our sin – the consequences – are part of our transformation story. Yes it will be painful and sometimes devastating, feeling like it is too much to bear. But we must allow this pain to shape us in the way that God desires and will use, or it will destroy us. It is hard and you will be in the fight of your life, but you really have two choices – you can surrender, choosing to learn from it and allow God to change you – to transform you – or it will take your life too on top of everything else you may have already lost.
Guilt, shame, and regret can ruin our lives if we let it. Repenting, surrendering, and walking in obedience will not take away the sting we may still sometimes feel when we glance back, but will turn our eyes back where they need to be – on Christ - moving forward in transformation. All is not lost, even when it feels like it is. He forgives, redeems, and walks with us through the hard parts and leads us right back to the path where we need to be.
