PROVISION FOR PROTECTION Thus the Spirit has moved John to declare the marvelous nature of salvation, and the glorious character of the Gospel. He has polished eternal verities, and clarified the passing fancies of this present evil world. In all of this, He fine-tunes the spirits of those who have received the love of the truth. All of this is required by our present circumstance. We are in a passing world. We occupy a mortal body. We have a fierce adversary. We are confronting many false prophets that are gone out into the world. -- Tomorrow:
"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things . . . But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." (1 John 2:20,27-29
CONCLUSION
OUR PAST
In Christ, God has effectively dealt with our past, removing our sins. He sent the Savior into the very arena in which humanity was soundly defeated, and commissioned Him to face the enemy head-on, experience the conflict and defeat the totality of all that is against us – the devil, the world, the flesh, and death. Jesus is thus declared to be "the Propitiation for our sins." No matter how sordid our past, and regardless of the power that is exercised over us, Jesus has effectively dealt with it.
OUR CONDITION
God has, through Christ, also effectively dealt with our natures, making us a new creation, creating us in Christ Jesus "unto good works." He has caused us to be born again, becoming partakers of Christ. In that new birth, our preferences have been changed, and "all things have become new." Old things that once dominated us have passed away. We now love God, His Word, and His people. Sin has become distasteful, and the Lord Himself is pleasant to us. Heaven has been opened to us, we have access to all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and can seek for mercy and grace to help in the time of need. He has even given us tests whereby we can determine our present condition, such as the love of the brethren, and doing righteousness.
OUR FUTURE
In Jesus, our future has also been secured, and hope now becomes dominant in our hearts. That hope provides us with a reason to be godly, resist the devil, and run energetically toward the goal. It makes sin unreasonable and distasteful to us. The future now has a brighter glow than the present, and we are attracted by "the powers of the world to come" (Heb 6:5). The awareness of an inheritance in heaven, reserved and waiting for us, coupled with the fact that we are being "kept by the power of God through faith," makes life liveable.
THE PRESENT
As though this were not enough, salvation also equips us to face the jeopardies and difficulties of life in this world. We have received an "unction," or "anointing" that effectively teaches us. That teaching is of a spiritual nature, enabling us to distinguish between what is true and what is false. It even convinces us of the righteousness of Christ, and the nature of those who are born of Him. We can now detect the intrusions of the devil, identify his pretentious ministers, and discern his fabricated and false doctrines.
Truly, we are complete in Christ (Col 2:10)! Nothing that we need has been omitted. In no area of life are we left deficient. Among other things, the knowledge of this will produce thanksgiving and consistency within us. Spiritual stability is within your reach!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the thoroughness of Your salvation, and of its satisfying and empowering nature.