Paul’s Living Faith and Hope
Paul wanted to emphasize that although he had obtained forgiveness of sins through Christ, that did not mean he no longer sined. He was to keep trying his best to be worthy of all that Christ had made possible (Philippians 3:12-21).
“He that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matt 10:22). We must be careful to distinguish between our thankfulness and joy in the hope of salvation now and our recognition that it will not be given us until after the jugement, salvation is a process which is not completed until the judgement.
Christ took hold of Paul on the road to Damascus. After a period in which Paul was fighting against the truth and trying not to face up to its enormous implication for him, he saw that the living Lord was real. Paul then determined to “take hold” of that eternal salvation with which Christ “took hold” of him. Paul stressed that he has not yet obtained salvation, but he was putting the past behind him and constantly “straining forward” to what lay ahead.
It is no use dwelling on sins that we have committed. We must confess them and believe that in Christ they are forgiven (1 John 1:9). We must press forward doing our best with our eyes set on the kingdom. The successful runner is dedicated in training and committed to winning the next race so we must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Everything must come secondary to that. The runner has his eyes set on the finishing tape, like Christ who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame (Heb 12:2). We must fix our sights on Christ knowing that the prize will be given to us: God will invite us to share His glorious nature. We shall be like Christ in his perfect resurrected state (Matt 25:23; 1 Cor 15:53-58; 1 John 3:1-3). The Philippians had some fine examples of Christian faith in action in Paul and his companions: men like Silas, Luke and Timothy.
Paul often warned about those whose discipleship becomes a form of self-indulgence. It was with deep regret, even weeping, that he had to brand them enemies of the cross of Christ.
When we are baptised into Christ, we identify ourselves with his sacrifice and put on the selfless life of Christ. If we later allow our instincts (our belly) to rule our actions, we crucify the Son of God afresh (Heb 6:6).
The works of the flesh are listed in Galations 5:19-21. Now we must try to live as citizens of heaven; our thinking, speaking and manner of life must be directed by Christ, our king. Our hope for the future is not to go up to heaven but to be rewarded when Christ returns to the earth (1 Cor 15:23-26).
The same wonderful prospect is promised to all those who are looking for the appearing from heaven of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then our physical disabilities and the effects of age will no longer wear us down. Then our characters will show forth love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and selfcontrol, for sin will have no place in those given immortal lives.
Photo: Bro and Sis Wanjala
Bro David and Sis Jacklyne Wanjala (Makhonge, Kenya)
