PRESSING FORWARD Devotion 1 of 11

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12-14)

INTRODUCTION

If there is one thing missing in contemporary religion, it is a sustained godly cause. "Updates" are the mode of operation among many professed believers: updated methods, updated techniques, updated messages, and even updated gospels. But this is not the manner of the kingdom of God. It is progressive in nature, which is directly opposite of addiction to obsolescence.

Spiritual Progression

Believers, under the administration of the Holy Spirit, go "from glory to glory" (2 Cor. 3:18). The psalmist declared that those in Zion would go from "strength to strength" (Psa. 84:7). The Gospel generates a manner of life described as "from faith unto faith" (Rom. 1:17). These expressions describe a process with which the world is not familiar. It is one of spiritual advancement and development. As we walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16,25) and live by faith (Rom. 1:17), we come nearer to the goal. A manner of life that is not in the Spirit or by faith is one of digression, with no hope of salvation. Those who draw back, do so to "perdition," or condemnation. Heb 10:38 "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" (Heb. 10:38-39).

The Mode of the Kingdom

Progression is the mode of the Kingdom; it has no other style. The Kingdom is like a mustard seed that grows (Matt. 13:31,32), leaven that spreads (Matt. 13:33), and a path that "shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Prov. 4:18). Settle it in your mind once and for all, that the salvation that is in Christ Jesus makes no allowance for retrogression -- and if there is not growth, there must be backward motion. There is not neutral ground in salvation--no place where life is static and motionless.

Advancement

By "advancement," I mean progress toward the appointed goal; the "end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls" (1 Pet. 1:9). The "day of our salvation is nearer than when we first believed" (Rom.13:11), and "advancement" is the believer being consciously and deliberately drawn closer to that day. This is the result of a sustained effort that is undergirded by the grace of God. There is no such advancement without human effort. Neither does it occur independently of the grace of our God. In the advance of which I speak, the efforts of the godly join with the wonderful grace of God in the achievement of spiritual progress. To be more precise, the child of God works out his salvation with fear and trembling, knowing all the while it is God Who is working within, "both to will and do of His own good pleasure" ({Phil 2:12-13).

Some Erroneous Views

Several denominational views erroneously represent life in Christ as reaching its apex in this world. A single experience is held out to the people that is thought to bring them instantly into a state of perfection -- or, at least, something close to it. Some have referred to this process as "sanctification." They do not use this term, however, as it is used by the Holy spirit. They conceive of a point in time when we reach sinless perfection. Once reached, we no longer have difficulty with the sinful nature, but sail on clouds of ease to glory. Honest people will admit they have not yet arrived such a state, while others deceive themselves into believing they have entered into this mythical experience. The Holy Spirit says, "If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (1 John 1:10, NASB). This is not a reference the sins of the past, abandoned when we came to Christ. Rather, it is an affirmation that believers will never, in this world, reach a state where they do not need a Savior and Intercessor. Others approach the subject from another angle. To them, the baptism of the Spirit is the point in time at which you receive "power" that makes you superior to all time and circumstance. While they do not teach that effort is no longer required after this marvelous experience, most of their constituents have concluded this to be the case. That is why there are many moral failures in this sect (such failures are not, of course, confined to those embracing this view). Their religion has actually disarmed them by causing them to diminish their efforts, all the while supposing that Divinely imposed power will compensate for their personal involvement. At the point spiritual progress ceases, we are no longer on the way; it is just that simple. If we are not advancing toward our heavenly home, we cannot be pleasing to God, nor can we be used by Him as He desires. Beware of disarming doctrines that minimize your own involvement in the process of salvation. They are dangerous, and are to be avoided at all costs. Israel was delivered from Egypt by the mighty hand of God. They were also promised the land of Canaan--given to them by God. But they had to exert a remarkable effort to leave Egypt, and to enter Canaan as well. If they had not prepared and eaten the Passover, placed the blood over their doors, and gathered their families together in alertness, they would never have gotten out of Egypt. Many of them, because of unbelief, did not enter into Canaan. Their example serves as a resounding warning to us all. You yourself are involved in the process of salvation--else it is no salvation at all.

-- TOMORROW: SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT --