Part II: Singly Focused On Christ
The motivational speaker Tony Robbins has said that “One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power.” I want to take a spin on this quote and say that one reason far too many believers fail to grow in their salvation is because they fail to focus on the things that matter most. If we wait to focus when trouble hits then we can’t be assured we won’t be swept away or at the least hurt as a result. If we want to stand when the heat is turned up in our lives and actually see it bring greater spiritual maturity then we have to have a sure footing.
What is our ultimate focus and foundation as believers? Salvation is our ultimate and primary focus as believers. Paul in I Thessalonians 5:23 says, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” God has a vision of each believer eventually being conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). The essence of Paul’s apostolic prayer in Ephesians 1:17-23, contains the pattern for accomplishing our ultimate destiny, which is Christ-likeness. However, the salvation we are living out is one eternal reality with three dimensions based on the free gift of grace through the one sacrifice of Christ.
Paul lays out a three-fold dimension to our salvation in referencing the spirit, soul and body. The word that Paul frequently uses in his writings in regards to our salvation is the word redemption. Redemption is the DNA of the gospel. Implied within this word is the notion that we have been purchased with the price of the blood of Christ to be free from sin, the power of darkness and this worldly system. Forgiveness, justification, deliverance and grace are wrapped up within the concept of redemption finding its meaning in what Paul called the ‘word of the cross’ (I Corinthians 1:18).
If our salvation is three-dimensional how do we focus on each part? I like to say we are saved (spirit), we are being saved (soul) and one day we will be saved (body). The spirit speaks of our positional place in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17); the soul speaks of that experiential reality of Christ nature (James 1:21) being worked out in us daily, while the body speaks of a future salvation at Christ’s second coming (Romans 8:23). Yes we have access to healing, which is more like a maintenance program for the body. Yes we need to take care of our bodies with healthy food and excercise, but it is still corruptible this side of the second coming of Christ with our hope ultimately focused on its future redemption.
Our positional placement into Christ is of utmost importance to keep focused upon. It is when our vision is taken off of this focus that we live below our identity in Christ and we wind up giving in to the pressures of this age. If we ever expect to reach our goal of Christ-likeness then we must become intimately acquainted with our identity in Him. Our salvation is not based on works, but on ‘grace’. Grace declares to us that ‘I am God’s child’ (John 1:12), ‘I have been justified’ (Romans 5:1), ‘I am united with the Lord and one with Him in spirit’ (I Corinthians 6:17), ‘I have been adopted as God’s child’ (Ephesian 1:5), ‘I belong to God’ (I Corinthians 6:20). ‘I am free from condemnation’ (Romans 8:1-2), ‘I may approach God with freedom and confidence’ (Ephesians 3:12), ‘I am seated with Christ’ (Ephesians 2:6), ‘I am forgiven of all sins in Christ’ (II Corinthians 5:17-20). I have just given you a little taste of the positional truths we have been given as a result of actually being placed into Christ as children born of the Spirit of God.
Grace has become a popular message in the church and for good reason. We are to focus on the grace brought to us through the ‘word of the cross’. Our salvation is all about grace from start to finish. Our focus is grace, but faith is what causes grace to be exercised in our lives so that it can benefit us. It is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6) and it is through faith that we get victory over this world (I John 5:4). Faith can’t be conjured, worked or pumped up. Faith is generated as we humble ourselves under what God has said through His word and to our hearts. Faith comes by hearing and meditating upon the Father’s thoughts toward us (Romans 10:17).
I want to encourage you to go back and read the paragraph where I list the scriptures declaring who you are as a result of what Christ has done for you. Read, declare and remind yourself about what God’s word says about you as a result of being His son or daughter. Let what God says concerning you become so grounded in your thinking, so that no matter what pressures you face, you face them with the knowledge of His will. If you don’t get grounded and clothed in Christ, your new man, then the old man will try to rule your life. In my next post, we will delve further into this great salvation of which we have been given the opportunity to be participates in.
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