Resurrection of Peace

Community Church

07/26/09

 More Than Saviour

Chapter Two

Growing

   The believer is now truly that, a believer in Jesus Christ. He has opened his heart and received the salvation that Jesus paid such a high price for him to have. But as explained in Chapter One, the journey has merely begun. He is a believer in Jesus but he also has the opportunity to be a follower as well. I say opportunity because it is not automatic. The believing is by faith, the following by work…much work. The following of Jesus Christ can bring about changes in the life of the believer that were not known or perhaps even imagined at the time of salvation. This is the beginning of the transition from a self led life to a Christ or Spirit led life.  The process can be long and perhaps even painful physically and spiritually. Fortunately, the believer does not have to do this alone nor without help.

   The Holy Spirit is the helper that is ever present for the believer to call upon for strength, courage, wisdom, understanding, or whatever the believer may need. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, fulfills Matthew 28:20 …”And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age”. Jesus said that He would send the Comforter/Counselor/Holy Spirit (depending on the translation read) but in order to do so, He would have to leave and return to the Father. (John 16:5-8). Jesus knew that in His human form He could not be everywhere at once and for all people at the same time. The Holy Spirit has that capacity. These verses reveal that the Holy Spirit will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin (NIV). Jesus said in John 14:26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (NIV). Here the believer receives the assurance of the help of the Holy Spirit to remember all that Jesus taught. We should begin to see that much provision was made by Jesus for the believer after the salvation process has taken place. With this much provisioning, we should become aware that there is something beyond the salvation experience. That something is growth. Jesus never had in mind that we were to remain static after the salvation experience as many churches imply. This implication is from the “Next” mentioned in Chapter One. The believer is to be continuously moving and growing. Faith in Jesus is an ever evolving journey. The ultimate destination is to be at home with the Father but the trip to get there is a lifetime of growing and learning. The growth and learning should bring a greater awareness of Christ and His role in the life of the believer. He is to more than Saviour. With this, the believer has started on the road to Jesus becoming Lord of his life. There is a greater awareness of the directions of the Holy Spirit to lead the believer to paths and destinations never before traveled as well as the willingness of the believer to follow the leading. This is where the believer begins to understand what Jesus meant when He said that the Holy Spirit would bring to remembrance all that He taught and why. (John14:26)