There is a question that we all have to address at one time or another because the answer is the foundation of our walk with Jesus. That answer has to be revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. Why am I saved?
For all of us the first reason, and sometimes the only reason, is…
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Many Christians throughout history have never gotten past this verse. For them, it is all about eventually living throughout eternity in heaven with Jesus. But that is in the future, what about today? What impact does our salvation have, right where we are, right now?
2 Cor 4:10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
Salvation is not a question of being saved from hell, it is being saved in order to manifest the life of the Son of God to the world around us in our mortal flesh. Are we manifesting Him in our response to all of the challenges that life brings our way? Do others see Jesus in us or do they see the manifestation of our “old nature?” Are we growing closer to Jesus or are we staying out there on the edge with one foot in the world and one foot on His path? Where are we?
Our circumstances are the means of manifesting Jesus to our world. We can walk through them in the grumbling of our old nature or we can manifest the life of the Son of God. It’s our choice. But it is impossible to reflect Jesus if we don’t know Him, if we don’t trust Him, if we don’t follow Him.
Our circumstances are always challenging us to make a decision (Rom 8:28). We need to decide how we are going to respond. Will we manifest our old disagreeable nature or the agreeable nature of the One who lives in us? Is our life is one of growing closer to Him, becoming more like Him by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us, or is it self-centered and focused on the circumstances rather than on Him? If we are focused on Jesus then we can be certain that either He has brought about our circumstances or He has allowed them into our life; either way for our benefit. Either way they are the reason why!
Eternal life with Jesus in a new and perfect body is the ultimate reward. In the interim we have an opportunity each and every day to grow closer to Him in our trials. Why? Because our circumstances are our opportunity to manifest the living Christ. He is the reason why we are saved… so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.