Wouldn’t it be easier if redemption took place at the same time as salvation? By its definition, that would mean we would either be whisked away to heaven as soon as we believe or that we drop dead on the spot. Either way it would mean we would leave behind this world and all that inhabit it. Leaving behind this world, as glorious and tempting as it may sometimes sound, is not what true Christ followers are called to do. According to the very end of the Gospels, Jesus tells us, in some of his final words on earth after the resurrection, to:
“…go and make disciples of all the nations…”
- Matthew 28:19
“…Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”
- Mark 16:15
“…repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations…”
- Luke 24:47
“…Feed my sheep…”
- John 21: 17
By our nature, Christians are not called to immediate redemption, but are called to tell the world of His good news and saving grace. Once again, C.S. Lewis has a nice way of putting this:
“Hope is one of the Theological virtues. This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people thing) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is.”
- C.S. Lewis
So then redemption after death is necessary to continue to proclaim what we believe to be the power to save our souls: Christ. Being blessed by the gift of the Holy Spirit does not only seal and guarantee us for that day, but also gives us the power to live spirit-filled lives here on earth. Since we are to be redeemed but are not yet redeemed, then we still continue in sin. If it has not been made painfully clear, Christians are not free from a sinful life. In fact, it often sticks out that much more for those who proclaim to have Christ and yet still live as if they do not. The most obvious are those who persecute those of the world (think Westboro Baptists) or if you’ve ever heard of a pastor/priest having an affair or doing some horrific act. Our first gut feeling is to blame God. It is only a natural reaction that if those who claim to follow God are the very ones disgracing his name in their continued sin, then we associate their sin with the God that they follow.
It really is a sad state of affairs and I believe there are multiple reasons for when a Christian falls prey to the spoils of the world. The first, most spiritual, reason would be that when it seems we are at our highest peak of being filled with spiritual things or are at our strongest we've felt in our relationship with Christ - we are also most likely to fall from such a great height. Whether this is due to a unearthly reason, such as the devil easily gets a foothold and attacks those who are most confident and have no root (“But since they have no root, they last only a short time.” Matthew 13:21) or it is simply that such a person has become prideful in their high position and therefore careless with the things of the world. In either case, this is so very clearly not what was meant for those living in Christ. Anyone who has actually read the ways that a Christian should act sees that this is the case. Where can we find such instruction to hold accountable those who claim to be in Christ? Ephesians, my dear friend, you’ve done it again.
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
- Ephesians 5:1-2
“…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
- Ephesians 4:1.
The next few chapters cover all of the ways to behave. Just as an example I will give a brief list.
“Be… humble and gentle… patient, bearing with one another in love.”
- Ephesians 4:2
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.”
- Ephesians 4:32
And how not to behave:
“…put off falsehood…Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry… do not give the devil
a foothold… steal no longer... get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along
with every form of malice.”
- Ephesians 4:25-31
Ephesians 4, 5, and 6 all go on to explain how to live a life worthy of the calling of Christ. Ephesians is, of course, not the only book in the bible to talk about how a Christ follower should behave, there are plenty out there and all the more to learn from.
So then if this is all laid out so purposefully in the bible, why is it still such a hard concept for Christians to grasp? Why do they still act in their sinful ways? Why do they still yell and curse behind their computer screens at the comments they read on a random Facebook post?
My answer is this: Salvation is instant, sanctification is a lifetime. Another way to put it: Salvation is what God already did for us by dying on the cross, all we have to do is believe. Sanctification is when we learn how to be a follower of Christ and proper representation of God. Sanctification is to be “set apart” from the rest of the world. To put it simply, it is to apply all of what we learned in Ephesians 4-6 of how to act in accordance with God’s will. That’s all well and good. Easy enough! Right? Not really. In actuality we have to renew our minds and change our hearts to even consider the possibility of becoming continually sanctified.
A couple quick points before moving forward.
God alone does the work of salvation.
There is nothing you can do to become more saved than you already are after believing in Christ.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”
- Ephesians 2:8-9 (and many other verses say the same thing)
This is important to remember so you are not lost as so many others are in believing that though we have the ability to better ourselves and to strive for goodness, ultimately it is God that changes the heart, mind, and spirit.