Abiding Fellowship, part 2
Salvation is just the beginning
If just getting saved was sufficient, then why did they need to send Peter and John to them so that they might pray for them to get baptized in the Holy Spirit? It’s because salvation is merely the first step into the Kingdom of God – following that is discipleship and discipleship is most effectively accomplished by the power and passion that accompanies the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Paul does not tell us so much of his anxiety to reach the hardened heart, as he does of his desire to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 1:28-29 “And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”
The Scriptures do not speak so much of what we are saved from as they do what we are saved unto. The current teachings of the church in America have reversed this. Her efforts have been concentrated more upon the conversion of sinners than the nurture of the saints. As a result, we have fewer and fewer shepherds who feed their flock and the issue of justification is more frequently and fully presented than sanctification. Subsequently, we have created churches that are filled with people who are happy they are saved, without any sense of holiness or following the Word of the Lord.
Whenever justification is prioritized over sanctification, you will always find people are adamant about their salvation while living lives wholly incompatible with practical Christianity.
The purpose of discipleship is not just to make Christians toe the line, but rather to make them more effective in winning the lost and discipling them. If you win a person to the Lord as an undisciplined Christian – that is exactly what your convert will be. Soon, we would have a church full of “believers” who have no desire for the things of God. This will ultimately leave the church ineffective in influencing society.
Hebrews 12:25 “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.” I want us to think about what that means, “...to refuse Him who is speaking.” And as you likely guessed, we'll get into that tomorrow.
Continued tomorrow
