Galatians 2:20 (ESV): I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

When I was saved, a decision was made that I would follow Jesus. In my heart, I believed that what Jesus said was true, all of the Bible was truth. Even though I might not understand it, I believed the scripture.

I would prefer to say that my life completely changed at that moment, it didn’t. In ignorance I walked on as a slave to self. At a young age, I had no discipleship relationships. There was religion all around me, but none who would look in and disciple my life. I had plenty of people telling me what was right and wrong – but I needed so much more.

I didn’t even know that surrendering my will was a thing. I had a basic understanding of Christianity and a ton of Bible teaching. So, I put things together for myself, which was the slowest transformation process a person could possible engage in.

Mentorship, discipleship is God’s plan.

1 Thessalonians 2:7–8 (ESV): But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

When saved, we surrender our life, our will to the Lord. Not everything about us that needs to change is revealed at the onset of salvation. Our life changes over time as we mature. This doesn’t mean that I picked and chose what I did and didn’t want to change to please myself. No, I was ignorant and couldn’t see things that I needed to as a young man.

The work of sanctification, which is the life long pursuit of becoming like Jesus through the indwelling Holy Spirit’s work, was happening. The problem was, I didn’t have ears to hear in certain places of my life until I had problems arise or someone bold enough told me that I had a problem.

Sadly, a person can live believing that everyone else has the problems, our world is full of people like this. We are full and running over with people like this, even inside the church. People without the ability to look first at their own heart as the culprit to the woes that they or others face.

This is sad, because one of the first things that Jesus addresses when a person becomes a Christian is self. If you do not change in this area, you are not a Christian – there is no way around it.

The work of the Holy Spirit upon arrival in a person who has made a profession of faith in Jesus is to expose who sits on the throne of that person’s heart. The throne does not have two seats, only one. And two people can’t squeeze on it, nor will one sit on top of the other.

John 16:8–11 (ESV): And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

In this passage Jesus teaches about the role of the Holy Spirit on the earth after He ascends to be with the Father. It is the assumption of Jesus that a person who follows Him with be lead, submitted to the Holy Spirit. That means the Holy Spirit sits on the throne of a believer’s heart.

The three pronged role of the Holy Spirit involves bringing conviction of sin to the lost, this is the only way a person can know they need a savior for their sin. The conviction of righteousness for the believer and the conviction of judgment for the enemy of God – because he knows he is judged and his time is short.

Conviction of righteousness applies to the believer, we are convicted to look toward the life of Christ and to become like Him. The only way this can happen is if we want that. To want that is to offer our lives to God and desire to be changed by God. To want that is to be a part of a fellowship of people who actively pursue that transformation.

The conviction of righteousness is a rich blessing and a wonderful gift from the Holy Spirit. How else can we change and be transformed unless the Lord speaks to us. Why else would Jesus point to the Holy Spirit’s role of righteous conviction in the letters He wrote to the seven churches. He writes at the end of those letters, “To him who has ears, hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Salvation is the choosing to have ears to hear and obeying. James is point blank clear on this issue.

James 2:14–17 (ESV): What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

When “I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live” as Paul says, my faith prompts good work because I am lead by the Holy Spirit. So, my faith has works attached to it, because faith by itself is not salvation.

Please don’t feel guilt right now. Please feel the draw of the Holy Spirit as He guides you into balance. Faith and works. Works that are internal and external. Faith to believe this is the eternal path, and the walking out of life on that path. It is a joy.

Father, Your plan for us is the only plan. Jesus, You are the way, truth and life. I can rest in You and trust that my eternal life is secure in You for You purchased my salvation through Your death, burial and resurrection. Thank You so much. The things I do for the kingdom today are not to get into heaven, but because I am already there. You have taught us to work from a platform of gratitude for what You have already done. We do have ears to hear and we are crucified with Christ – praise be the ever living name of Jesus who has made all things possible.

Blessings

Pastor D