Truly Christian Living
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:”
1 Timothy 6:12–14
Living faith accepts the gift of salvation offered through God’s amazing grace, and places us in God’s family. At that moment we are saved forever. Eternal life is not something we receive in the future—we already have it. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).
Yet despite already possessing eternal life, some Christians do not live as if things have changed. H. A. Ironside said, “Eternal life is the present portion of all believers. What does the Apostle mean, then, when he says, ‘Lay hold on eternal life’? It is an exhortation to make it a practical thing as we go through this scene. It is quite possible to trust in Christ and thus to have eternal life in the soul, and yet to drop down to a low spiritual level where one is not living in the reality of eternal life.”
While salvation is freely given apart from our efforts or merit, the result of that salvation should be that we live as new creatures in Christ, already living as those in Heaven do in obedience to His purpose and will. This Christian life, in deed as well as word, is meant for the here and now. It is not something we will put on later after we have reached Heaven and laid aside the things of Earth.
1 Timothy 6:12–14
Living faith accepts the gift of salvation offered through God’s amazing grace, and places us in God’s family. At that moment we are saved forever. Eternal life is not something we receive in the future—we already have it. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).
Yet despite already possessing eternal life, some Christians do not live as if things have changed. H. A. Ironside said, “Eternal life is the present portion of all believers. What does the Apostle mean, then, when he says, ‘Lay hold on eternal life’? It is an exhortation to make it a practical thing as we go through this scene. It is quite possible to trust in Christ and thus to have eternal life in the soul, and yet to drop down to a low spiritual level where one is not living in the reality of eternal life.”
While salvation is freely given apart from our efforts or merit, the result of that salvation should be that we live as new creatures in Christ, already living as those in Heaven do in obedience to His purpose and will. This Christian life, in deed as well as word, is meant for the here and now. It is not something we will put on later after we have reached Heaven and laid aside the things of Earth.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Our salvation is not just for our eternal destiny, but rather for our daily lives here on Earth.
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