Completely Saved!
In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:11-12 (NIV)
Do you believe that you were “complete” in Christ the moment you were saved?
We, like the Colossians, can fall into error in thinking that somehow there is something lacking or something we must do to make ourselves complete. We can convince ourselves that if we just pray more, give more, be more consistent in our quiet time – then we will be complete. Oh, the danger and futility of that thinking which causes us to “work” to become complete. Our Christian walk deteriorates into “something more we must do” or “Jesus plus something else”.
For the Colossians it was Jesus “plus” circumcision. Paul knew full well that external circumcision was merely a formality, not a heart indicator. We as believers in Jesus Christ have received a true, spiritual circumcision of the heart. By virtue of our union with Christ by faith our whole sinful nature has been cut away.
For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Galatians 5:5-6
When Christ was buried, your old self was buried. When He was resurrected, you were resurrected in new life — all by the power of God when you believed.
COMPLETE!!!
The old woman is gone, new life has begun and complete salvation is yours! You belong to God!
Remember the promise in Ezekiel 36:26-27
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. NLT
Our salvation is like a heart transplant. The old is gone and the new immediately changes our lives because it completely changes us. Now that the Holy Spirit lives in us He changes us. He completely transforms our wills, our desires and emotions. The new heart not only wants to follow God, the Holy Spirit’s power enables her to do so. As we yield to the Spirit and respond to God in love we will begin to live a life that imitates Christ – a life of love from the inside-out. Our salvation is complete! Who would ever desire to go back to a diseased heart?
I often like to sing Ephesians 1:13-14 to the tune of Stevie Wonder’s song, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”. It goes something like this:
Here I am Jesus, signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours!
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14
Only Christ can cut away sin, Only Christ can give us a new heart and it is in His resurrection power with faith that we live the abundant life. Let us rest in the truth this week that we are complete, there is nothing else we have to do but enjoy our relationship with Jesus and rejoice!
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh
Philippians 3:3
To consider this week:
What am I trying to add to my salvation?