Everyone Needs a SaviourShembull

In light of God’s grace, which we have freely received, how are we to live?

Let’s throw our baggies and bikinis on again for a minute. When you started finding your feet at learning how to surf, there came a stage where you got your very first board. Not a rental, not your friend’s board, nor your uncle’s dinged up longboard. Your very own board. The worst thing you could have done was put it in the corner of your room, never surf it again, but say to yourself, “Wow I’ve made it, I’m a surfer. That was great fun. I’m glad I have this board to show for it.” Instead, you start examining its rails. You eye-out the concave of the deck, apply a fresh coat of wax, and you take it for a surf the next morning. You go on to learn and apply the secrets of surfing and its culture. To become a surfer is to accept a process of practising and getting “better." The better you become at riding waves, the more you enjoy surfing.

In a very similar way, Christians realise that salvation and “being saved” is much more a committed journey we embark on than a gold medal you receive once-off. When we offer our bodies (our whole being) as living sacrifices to God, we receive God’s full life (Rom 12:1). God constantly offers us the full life (John 10:10b). Our responsibility is to abide in God’s love by reminding ourselves of the secrets to the full life (Rom 12:2).

What are the secrets to the full life according to Paul?

• Stay in your lane. You have a gift and responsibility that only you can fulfill (Rom 12:3-8).
• Faith is only real when love is sincere (Rom 12:9-21).
• Embrace the upside-down Kingdom of God (Rom 13).
• Mature faith doesn’t abuse freedom; instead it sacrifices for my brother and sister (Rom 14:14-23).