Righteousness By Faith – Part 3: Riches To Glory...

Now, you don't just start out like this, from the beginning...

You'll be more like this...

But do you have any question that the second rose is just as perfect as the first? No, they are both perfect. (at least as much as they can be on this earth).

But what if the rose only grew a bud? And stopped there? Would that be perfection?

No.

Before we get any farther, let's ask this question: Who completed the work in you of forgiveness and cleansing from sin? You? Absolutely not! Of course it was God, through Christ.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:9

You need to grow, to continue being perfect. But God knows that, too. And He alone can make it happen!

So, where do we fit in to the picture? Don't we have to do anything?

Yes, we do. There is one thing that we must do, that God will never do for us, or any of His other creatures. And what is that?

Choose.

He will never choose for us. He gave us a will, and we must use it. When we are tempted with sin, we have a choice to make. This may be easy, or very difficult, but we must do it. Choose the power of the Almighty, or choose our own way. It may not be easy: one look at Gethsemane proves that. It may cost your life even. But it is eternally worth it... And this journey will lead right to the very depths of our being, if we will let Him go there, for He must if we are to reach the final perfection at last. This quote is amazing:

“The echo of God's voice comes to us, ever saying. Holier, holier still. And ever our answer is to be, Yes, Lord, holier still. Holiness is within the reach of all who reach for it by faith, not because of their good works, but because of Christ's merits. Divine power is provided for every soul struggling for the victory over sin and Satan.” '7BC' pg. 908.

To make it very simple, there is one key to the walk of faith: Trust Him at the beginning, and keep trusting Him. Forever. And we cannot fail...

"The humble, self-denying life of our divine Lord we are to keep constantly in view. And then as we seek to imitate Him, keeping our eye upon the mark of the prize, we can run this race with certainty, knowing that if we do the very best we can we shall certainly secure the prize. . . .” --In Heavenly Places, pg. 276.

And there's a prize waiting at the end, that is of incredible value:

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:13

Let's keep trusting Him. And He won't ever let us down...