SalvationSample

Being Saved

I remember playing the board game Snakes and Ladders as a kid. The frustrating thing was you never could be sure you’d ever reach that top square with the word FINISH on it. It’s possible in real life, we play the salvation game, as if it were a game of Snakes and Ladders. We climb as many spiritual ladders as possible – chuffed at our achievements – only to land on a snake and slither back down into sin, spiritual apathy, or immaturity. Thankfully, Jesus gives us a better way of living out the reality of our salvation. He’s already reached the FINISH square on our behalf, setting us free from the traps of sin. The rest of our lives is our joyful, grateful response.

To explore our salvation in the present tense – the fact that we are being saved – we must look into a spiritual mirror to discover our true identity. If we see ourselves as God sees us, we’re moved to become who we already are. The soul responds to the state of the spirit. Soul maturity – holiness or sanctification – involves matching your will, intellect, and emotions with your spiritual identity. Sadly, we sometimes tend to see the process of sanctification as meeting a series of external standards rather than responding to an internal reality. Our daily decisions to obey God become more about willpower than willingness to lean into the new life He’s given us. And yet, life in Christ is motivated by love, compassion, and a desire to show mercy to those in pain. It’s a life that pursues holiness, right living, and intimate fellowship with God the Father.

Our behaviour is a clear indicator of who we perceive ourselves to be. James spells out the idea of looking into a (metaphorical) spiritual mirror to discover who we’ve truly become to inform how we live. As Christians, our behaviour doesn’t have to comply with a set of external rules. Rather, we align our actions and attitudes with the identity-changing work Jesus has done in our hearts. James also points out that not every Christ follower surrenders to being transformed like this. If we attempt to achieve salvation in our strength, we limit ourselves to our inadequate efforts. The emphasis is then on what we will do, not what Jesus has done for us and in us. On the cross, Jesus said, ‘It is finished!’ He completed our salvation, securing our identity and our eternal destiny.

Remind yourself that Christianity isn’t about adjusting your behaviour. It’s about embracing your new life in Christ. When you do that, you won’t be able to stop yourself from living in a manner that honours God. May you be encouraged that the journey towards soul maturity doesn’t put demands on your willpower but on your willingness to give expression – through your thoughts, words, and actions – to this new way of living for Jesus.