We Are Much More

Have you ever been confused with the life you lead after having accepted Christ and starting a Christian life? Have you ever been explained that your life would change radically?

It is regrettable to see how many people come to Jesus and for lack of adequate Christian education they are confused and do not know how to understand the sanctification process they are going through. No one explained to them that from the moment of conversion, Christ would begin a process of cleansing, a process of change in his or her life. On many occasions it takes them years to be able to grow when it would have been a better growth with a more intimate care from the church.

The salvation of our soul is much more than accepting Christ. The depth of this experience is impossible to understand for anyone who does not live by faith. For the faithful believer, it is the totality of life and the main objective of existence. We no longer belong to us, we are the property of a loving and faithful God. When we have a clear vision of what we were and what God wants us to be, we can understand the processes by which God will submit us to make us more and more like Christ. As you have read, God wants us all, to grow every day closer to perfection, that is Christ himself. This does not mean that we will reach it here on earth, because we live in an imperfect body with tendencies to sin. That will be the last step of our growth, when it is either by the coming of our Lord or we go to live with him, we will complete our growth. At that moment we will receive our new sanctified and sin-free body. Nor is it a competition where we are trying to be better or comparing ourselves with others, it is a continuous walk with Christ until we reach his presence.

2- We are objects of his grace.

It is important to understand what God's grace means. When we talk about grace and mercy we talk about two very important and different attributes of God. Mercy is the forgiveness of God, even when we deserved punishment, because we are truly guilty before God and his righteousness. On the other hand, there is his grace, which is nothing more than everything we receive from God that we do not deserve. It is that detachment from God towards us that even though we are imperfect and weak he continues to bless us. Faith being his greatest gift.

Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For by grace you are saved through faith; and this is not of you, for it is the gift of God. 9 Not by works, so that no one may glory,

God gave us the gift of believing and believing does not require making sacrifices or offerings. Salvation cannot be bought at any price or human work. No one can take credit for his relationship with God because it was God who sought us and restored us. As long as our heart is full of faith there will be changes in our lives;

Titus 2:11-12

11 The grace of God has been manifested for the salvation of all humanity, 12 and teaches us that, renouncing impiety and worldly desires, let us live in this century soberly, justly and piously,

That grace of God teaches us through his spirit, how to live correctly, leaving behind the old way of living. It molds us to the way Christ wants us to be.

5- We are objects of his peace.

When we have a clear vision of what Christian life means, we can live without losing our faith, even in the midst of difficult times. When our focus is on Christ and not on the circumstances that surround us, his peace will keep us firm.

John 14:27

27-I leave you peace, I give you my peace; I do not give it to you as the world gives it. Don't be troubled by your heart or be afraid

When Jesus said those words he said them because he knew that fear and anxiety would come to us when life becomes difficult. It is natural and not a sin to feel anxious or fearful when everything is against us, but it is important to seek that peace, because it is his promise. That peace comes when we seek his help in the way of congregating in church, praying with the elders of the church, seeking his guidance in our decisions, approaching Him by reading his word and thus maintaining faith.

6- We are objects of his consolation.

He is our comfort and through his love and company brings us confidence and strength to continue in times of peace or times of storms. His company takes away our sorrows and we can live the miracle of being able to cope with the trials even without understanding how we are doing it, because his spirit is what moves us.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

16 And the same Jesus Christ our Lord, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and confirm you in every good word and deed.

Jesus Christ himself is the one who comforts and confirms us in every good word and deed, in other words, if we allow him, He is the one who speaks and acts through us and we can triumph in all conditions. He gives us his comfort and his strength.

7- We are objects of his intercession.

Jesus Christ continues to intercede before God for each and every one of his children. For everyone who has received him as his only savior. He is the immutable and perpetual priest. How beautiful to know that we have a priest who will never be lacking and that no matter how many times we fail, he will intercede for our forgiveness and will continue working with us until we become completely holy beings, useful instruments and trophies of his great love.

Hebrews 7:24-25

24 but this one, because he remains forever, has an immutable priesthood.

25 That is why he can also save perpetually those who approach God through him, always living to intercede for them.

The Christian life is not a life of a wide and comfortable path, it is a life of transformation and growth. It is a life in which we will be purified, polished and reformed to reflect the person of Christ in our actions and way of life. It is an exciting life in which, if we allow it, God will take us down a path of experiences that will bring us closer to Him and we will know His love more deeply. As a result, we will be more faithful and our faith will grow to the extent that nothing that comes to our lives can separate us from his love. This walk is one of discoveries, it is a school where Jesus Christ himself will teach us to live a full and satisfying life, close to him, just as he designed it to be from the beginning.

Let's not allow circumstances to stop us in our development, the path becomes strong but Christ is with us and will enable us to overcome.