Experiencing Satisfaction in Salvation.
For the righteous shall live by faith; as the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith (Romans 1:17). This is only achieved by complete submission unto the Lord by the work of His Holy Spirit. Not the counter of submission only to precepts and regulations. For righteousness cannot be obtained through precepts, nor through obedience to regulations and rules. But only by faith in the Son of God, our Lord, Christ Jesus. Salvation by the work of Christ alone and no other. I am persuaded that the key to the fulfilled Christian life is complete reverent submission to Christ which in turn cultivates an obedient heart.
The Problem at Hand
It is the action of striving to uphold the law which transfixes our gaze upon our efforts and off The Cross of Calvary. For this has been the truth for many proclaiming the name of Christ and bearing the profession of faith. In turn, what has been identified is the lackluster life in Christ. No true satisfaction and joy. No fulfillment in his riches. The weary soul in Christ. The utterly dry and barren leanness of man’s soul and spirit. To which is arguably just as lean as those apart from Christ. Some would say worse. For in the presence of true Salvation there is no possession of it. To see the standard of God but to miss the power and fullness of His grace.
In the striving to uphold God’s perfect commandments, what is found is no rest. For proposed is the internal question of many: Why, if Scripture promises joy, peace, contentment, fulfillment, wholeness, and rest for the wearisome, does the working to uphold his statues create the lack of such? I am lead to believe the answer is found in the striving. It is assurance in our efforts and not in the finished work of the Cross. Now this can be something we tell ourselves often, “I need to trust in the finished work of the cross.” However, we may believe it with our mind but our souls never experience the joy in it. How can the psalmists write words as “for your law is my delight” (Psalms 119:77) or “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart” (Psalms 40:8)?
It is the greatest mystery found in the kingdom of Heaven. Often in Scripture, God’s people speak of this delight and joy in keeping the Lord’s commands; yet this was written in a day before Christ’s mortal presences and completed work. Before the eternal lamb was slain. They found pleasure in God’s law in a time where it was commanded they uphold it for the hope of salvation. Yet in a day and age where we may rest solely in the work of Christ alone, our souls are wearisome in the way of the Lord. The issue we face is lacking faith. Those of little faith. The only faith present is still rooted firmly in our own merit and works.
Now for some, this may be quickly identified and renounced as not following a works based gospel. The knowledge possessed of proper theology, By grace through faith in Christ alone. Summed in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Found here is the essence of the Christian faith. It is not our merit or works but Christ’s finished work; given freely by God as a demonstration of his enteral love and everlasting grace.
But what I seek to reveal is not in the knowledge of the mind but the experience of the soul. For again, in this present age there are many professing saving faith but delight themselves not in His goodness. Rather, we see the dichotomy of those who reject God’s law and those who rely solely on it. Both may profess faith, but I would starkly state, neither obtain it. At the least obtain the satisfaction and fulfillment that resides within it. For both miss Christ. To further break down this claim we will look at this dichotomy. First being those who reject God’s law.
Lawless Believers
There are many in Christ today, or who profess to be in Christ, that do not walk in a manner displaying his truth. They choose to walk by their own desires which too often reveals the unredeemed nature. They walk as the world does, and boast as the world boasts. There are many false doctrines and teachings which encourage this style of living among believers. There are exhortations of grace which neglect the premise of it. Which in turn creates a line of teaching which many label “hyper grace.” While there is no hyper grace, for to imply the term hyper would be to infer there is too much and it is given in excess. Which cannot be the case, for any amount of grace displayed and bestowed by The Holy Triune God would be far above and beyond what is deserved. Therefore, any demonstration of God’s grace is excessive by nature.
However, these exhortations explore a false concept of grace which exposes a misunderstanding of God’s kindness. One very prominent line of thinking is the extreme of Antinomianism, which stems from the Greek meaning “against” + “law”. Meaning the teaching of the antinomian doctrines reject the law of God in the lives of believers. It says that there is no compelling to obey the moral law of God but rather the inward concepts derived from one’s own internal beliefs. This denies the conviction to submit to God’s way and places an emphasis on living as one desires to. This is a grave and dangerous heretical teaching that construes the truth and beauty of Grace in a false light. It creates lawlessness.
Lawless believers desire to accept the benefits of Christ and his kingdom but deny undergoing the transformation of one’s soul which coincides within Salvation. They deny the power and work of the Holy Spirit and deny the process of sanctification. Now as I may sternly say, this truly reveals the unredeemed nature as there is no evidence of positional, or progressive sanctification. The lack of this present, shows the lack of Christ present within their lives. To proclaim the name of Christ and deny his way and his word, denies him.
The Apostle Paul speaks of the coming wrath to man like this through his letter to the Romans “but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” (Romans 2:8). For this kind of false teaching fought its way into the early church which is why the early church father and half-brother of Jesus, Jude, saw it a great importance to write “I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith.” (Jude 1:3, Emphasis added) for he continues to write “For certain people have crept in unnoticed……Who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4, Emphasis added).
The lawless believer is not a new concept. The perversion of God’s perfect grace is not a new problem. This has been a battle in the church for centuries. What we see in the lawless believer is the faint satisfaction of instant gratification by worldly means. But what we never see in the lawless believer is true satisfaction and fulfillment in Christ. For Christ’s great riches will always allude the man who does not abide. For one cannot be in Christ and apart from his word and law. Far too often man justifies their lawless sin by their conscience.
I have seen, and heard of grievous sin justified by the words “this is what me and the Lord decided was a good line for me. I can still glorify the Lord and do ______.” Where scripture is clear, we must as believers be clear. Often sin is also justified in this manner “I know this isn’t right but God will forgive me anyway.” While yes, the grace of God abounds where sin is and where sin abounds grace abounds even more. God’s lovingkindness and forbearances is to draw you to repentance, not justify the breaking of his law.
Therefor what we can see is that in keeping with sin and lawless, not only are we wounded by this world but our satisfaction in the Son of God becomes non-existent. Because we desire the world more than we desire his presence. For the personhood of Christ is more satisfying than anything this world has to offer. Yet those in Christ, lawless and lawful, both seek his external benefits rather than magnifying His name because he is worthy. I would propose that the greatest life one may live is simply in the presence of Christ. Not his benefits, or material possessions but his presence. The lawless believer forsakes this love and grace to walk freely in the weakness of the Flesh. Which misses the satisfaction found in Christ.
Law Dependent Believers
On the other end of the pendulum, the law dependent believer. The one who puts their faith and hope in their own efforts to keep and uphold the law. This was also a major issue in the early church. Jesus would often battle the pharisees. Paul would often battle the judaizers. What do both share in common? Their faith was in their efforts. They sought to obtain salvation through their works, rather than see and accept the free gift of God right in front of them.
You see, I believe part of the problem is the inability to accept our depravity. The law dependent believer is full of pride. Holding on to the notion that within themselves is still good, enough good to work and will their way back into right standing with God. The pride to say that “I am not all that bad.” Yet this couldn’t be further from the truth! Understanding our depravity is a necessary component to accepting the grace of God in our lives. Nothing we can do could ever earn the love of God. Nothing we could ever do, could right the wrongs of our lifetime.
Now you may read this and say, “it’s pretty clear that line of thinking is unbiblical.” But the thing is, the law dependent believer that I want to focus on, isn’t the outright obvious heretic. Rather it is the law-dependent believer who is tired. Wearisome and flat out worn down. These people often disguise themselves under the veil of being really really devoted believers. Yet I would say there is a major difference between a devoted and submitted believer, and a law-dependent believer. You see the difference can be easily found in reflecting on ones faith journey. The law-dependent believer strives to uphold what they perceive culture says is the important laws. Why do I say it like that? Because it is more focused on the appearance of earning God’s favor than it truly is to walk in the way pleasing to the Lord.
This shows itself in legalism, through elevating well-known visible sins to hide behind the need to address the smaller sins present in their own lives. It’s a false view that feels like if they can be perfect at the hot-topic issues, then they are spiritually more elite than others. Yet in all of this, where is the joy of salvation? Where is the peace that surpasses all understanding? Where is the love so radical that it sent our savior upon the cross? Where is the delight? Simply put, there is none. Because whether one is a law-dependent believer to earn the favor of God, or a law-dependent believer to seem more spiritually fit than others, either way it is an exhausting life. One completely void of the riches of true salvation. It appears to have the presence of Godliness but it certainly lacks the power thereof.
These believers are often the most spiritually depressed. Preaching and teaching that flows from this vain can certainly charge up a movement, but then burns people out when they are exhausted from trying so hard to do everything perfectly. In complete honesty we aren’t going to ever be perfect until we are finally glorified before the Father in heaven. Until then, sanctification will take its time. Paul often spoke very aggressively against this ideology and form of thinking.
Conclusion
In conclusion, salvation is meant to be a life-fulfilling and transforming event. We are meant to reap the great benefits of God’s promises by actually experiencing what he talks about. This is only done when we completely submit ourselves to Christ and put all our faith in him. Accepting that there is nothing we could ever do to earn the grace and mercy he displayed on the cross. Accepting that we don’t even have enough good to recognize the extent of his sacrifice; We need the Holy Spirit to enlighten our hearts to even respond to his gospel. To then walk in daily repentance as the Spirit and Word of God brings about conviction of sin in our lives.
The key to experiencing the satisfaction of salvation in our lives is to be wrapped up in the person and work of Christ and marvel at how worthy he is of all our affection. To physically experience the joy, peace, and gladness that His word promises. As Paul would say, the righteous live by faith. That faith is complete trust in the person and work of Christ. Trust that the presence of the person of Christ in our lives is a far greater gift than we will ever fathom. While the work of Christ is so far more than enough for us that even if he never answered a single prayer in our lives, it would still be enough for us.
How do you experience true satisfaction in salvation? You become in awe of just how good he really is. His Holy Spirit will teach our souls to rejoice, and empower us with the ability to marvel at his holiness. Complete submission brought about by complete awe of how good he is.
