Saved by Grace

On 31 May 2015, I blogged concerning the salvation of a new one;  http://palmeichung.blogspot.in/2015/05/saved-by-grace.html. That was an incident of some people being brought to salvation. That was indeed a salvation by grace. But that is not all; salvation by grace is being enjoyed and experienced day by day, and will be, in the whole course of our Christian life. 

Salvation by grace is not just a one time matter; in fact, it is also a daily matter. This truth has been a theological debate for centuries for some unwarranted "orthodoxical" zealots. The first experience of being saved by grace was undoubtedly the salvation from eternal perdition which is reserved for Satan and his followers including all the unbelievers; for the greatest sin is a sin of unbelief, not believing into Jesus Christ as the Savior. However, every truth of the Bible has two sides, not contrary to one another nor contradicting in any way, but a complement to each other, if not a supplement. Paul gracious talked about "daily salvation" in Philippians 2.  

Philippians 2:1212 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much rather in my absence, ³work out your own⁴salvation with fear and trembling;

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Note 3: I.e., carry out, bring to the ultimate conclusion. We have received God's salvation, which has as its climax our being exalted by God in glory as the Lord Jesus was (v. 9). We need to carry out this salvation, to bring it to its ultimate conclusion, by our constant and absolute obedience with fear and trembling. We have received this salvation by faith; now we must carry it out by obedience, which includes our being genuinely one in our soul (v. 2). To receive this salvation by faith is once for all; to carry it out is lifelong.  

Note 4: Not eternal salvation from God's condemnation and from the lake of fire but the daily salvation that is a living Person. This daily salvation results from taking the very Christ whom we live, experience, and enjoy as our inward as well as outward pattern. The main elements of this salvation are Christ as the crucified life (vv. 5-8) and Christ in His exaltation (vv. 9-11). When this pattern becomes the believers' inward life, the pattern becomes their salvation. Only this would make the apostle's joy full.

In ch. 1 salvation comes through the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, but here salvation comes from the operating God within us. The operating God is actually the Spirit of Jesus Christ. In both these cases salvation is a practical, daily, moment-by-moment salvation. The constant salvation in 1:19 is one in which a particular believer is saved from a specific encounter in a particular situation; whereas the constant salvation in 2:12 is one in which any believer is saved from ordinary things in common situations in his daily living.

Since few days ago I have been experiencing the matter of "saved by grace" again and again. Though I was already saved, I am still experiencing the daily salvation. Though I am unworthy and fails in may areas, still the Lord is gracious enough to save be by His grace day by day.  

The testimonies of my neighbor and a brother was very humbling to me in a positive sense. Even in my short comings which I was very conscious of, the Lord is even using that as a testimony to my unbelieving neighbor. Hearing such a word was so encouraging  on the one hand yet very humbling, for I know my weaknesses too well.  Even a brother on whose house I am staying on rent gave a wonderful testimony which I inwardly felt "I don't deserve it at all." Perhaps, they both have seen something I have not seen. Or perhaps, my vision need to be broadened to see in a wider way. Whatever it may be, it is the Lord's grace, and I am being saved by grace. This indeed is a daily matter.

Not just a one time matter, nor just a sinner getting saved only, but our being saved day by day from many things other than Christ is also a "saved by grace" experience.

Lord, grace me the daily salvation; from all things other than You and to live You only and daily.