Scripture reading: I Thessalonians 3:6–10

Something More

Charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. . . . Avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness . . . (II Timothy 2:14–16)

Some of the most heated theological debates I’ve ever witnessed were over how best to understand the “deeper life.” It is right and proper that believers should feel passionately about such an important topic, but it is counterproductive when opinions become weapons that wound fellow Christians who hold different opinions.

What term best describes spiritual maturity? What vocabulary should we use to define full salvation? The options are many: Spirit-filled living, entire sanctification, full consecration, total surrender, Christian perfection, abundant living, the exchanged life, the crucified life, the second blessing, the rest of faith, the higher life, etc. Denominations have been formed over the vocabulary that is preferred. Sometimes I want to scream: stop arguing over the recipe and just enjoy the meal!

Whether it is a sign of maturity or not I don’t know, but I have reached the place where I don’t really care what term is used to describe full salvation (as long as it’s biblical). I simply want all of God’s people to surrender all of themselves so that all that Jesus died to make possible might be realized in all of their lives all of the time. All of me for all of him. What a tragedy it will be if we reach the end of our lives and discover there was more power in the blood than we realized! How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (Hebrews 2:3).

 

1. Simpson, the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, longed for all of God’s people to experience all of the benefits of the atonement and the gift of the Spirit. He labored to avoid arguments over the recipe and simply proclaimed the reality of the fullness of salvation that Christ makes possible. In a hymn entitled “Himself,” he urges all of us to put aside our petty opinions and experience the reality of God’s infinite grace.

 

One it was the blessing, now it is the Lord; Once it was the feeling, now it is His Word;

Once His gifts I wanted, now the Giver own; Once I sought for healing, now Himself alone.

 

Once ’twas painful trying, now ‘tis perfect trust; Once a half salvation, now the uttermost;

Once ’twas ceaseless holding, now He holds me fast; Once ’twas constant drifting, now my anchor’s cast.

 

Once ’twas busy planning, now ‘tis trustful prayer; Once ’twas anxious caring, now He has the care; Once ’twas what I wanted, now what Jesus says; Once ’twas constant asking, now ‘tis ceaseless praise.

 

Once it was my working, His it hence shall be; Once I tried to use Him, now He uses me;  Once the power I wanted, now the Mighty One; Once for self I labored, now for Him alone.

 

Is there more to salvation than you are currently experiencing? Stop arguing over the recipe and just enjoy the meal.

 

 

No one need live in spiritual and personal defeat. A life of victory over sin

and circumstances is accessible to all.—Dallas Willard

 

 

point to ponder • Is there more to salvation than you are currently experiencing?

 

prayer focus • More of Jesus.