Splinters

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

(1 Jn 1:7)

Saved!

The believer in Christ is in a state, a condition, of having been saved. Saved from what? From the anger and judgement of a holy God whom we have despised, ignored, rebelled against. That was our former condition. Dead in sin and unresponsive to anything of the living God, even though the whole earth - indeed, the whole universe - shouts of His glory. Our ears are deaf to that voice and our eyes blind to His insisted goodness in all He has made. Saved how? By the self-surrender of the perfect, spotless Lamb, Jesus Christ, on a stark cross of shame. In which He took upon Himself the punishment we deserve for our cosmic treason. And by His blood we are 'ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven'. Saved for what? For living to the glory of God and for the love of our Lord. Working acts of righteousness, which He has prepared beforehand for us to walk in. Serving His saints with a glad heart. Showing to the world the abundant life that only Christ can bring.

Splinters!

But in order to remain in that state, our persistent God- neglect and failure to be what He now not only intends, but enables, we must have a continuous supply of saving power. Otherwise, every small sin will be like a splinter in God's hand, a persistent irritant which He, in His white-shining righteousness, must judge and deal with. Imagine the accumulation of every act, every thought, which falls short of His love-command to us. Each one as a splinter, demanding attention until it is removed. Each one a shadow in the light of His glorious presence.

God's 'Tweezers'!

Great grace provides great measures. This we have also, by the life-force of Christ and His cross. Every time, His presented blood at the altar in the throne-room of the Father speaks that better word, as our Saviour declares "for this, also I died". Out of His pierced heart there flow rivers of living water. And the believer walks in their flow. The shed blood of the precious Saviour washes us clean even as we walk in Him. We continue in the state of 'having been saved', not because of the achieved quality of our new lives in Him, but because of the continued, irretractable supply of His saving power. We are held, thus, in the condition His redemption has brought us into. We live in the gospel.

All of Christ, and His be the glory.