I am convinced that the overwhelming majority of believers are utterly unaware that Jesus Christ is both the Author AND FINISHER of our faith. Many seem certain once they believe and confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior their salvation is then complete, nothing more is to be added to it as that would then mean they are working for their salvation. Yet the apostle Paul plainly declares that there is much more required of us following our being justified by the shed blood of our Lord: “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, WE SHALL BE SAVED from wrath through Him (through Jesus continuing to work in and through us as our sanctifier). For, if when we were enemies (not yet saved, hostile toward God and His ways), we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, MUCH MORE, being reconciled, WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE” (See Romans 5:9).
Note well “we shall be saved” not that “we are saved” or that “we have been saved!” Also note that we shall be saved BY HIS LIFE – NOT BY CHRIST’S DEATH.
It takes a living Savior to save you or anyone else for “if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, you are yet in your sins!” (See I Corinthians 15:17). Speaking of Jesus Christ’s mission, John the Baptist said “He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (See Matthew 3:12). Jesus Christ will not leave you in your sins, but will deliver you from the power of the tempter and will root out anything and everything offensive and ungodly in your character. This is how He becomes the finisher of your faith.
“My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him, for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father chastens not. But if you be without chastisement (when continuing in sin or exhibiting behavior condemned by God and His Word) whereof all (the truly redeemed) are partakers, then are you bastards (false converts), and not sons…be in subjection to the father of spirits (spirit sons and daughters) and live” (See Hebrews 12:5-9).
When some of the believers in Corinth continued in sin, Paul didn’t mince words but told them plainly, “for this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (had died). For if we would judge ourselves (abandon our ungodly behavior), we should not be judged (the Lord would not need to discipline us Himself)” (See I Corinthians 11:30-31). “But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world” (I Corinthians 11:32). God does not want His sons and daughters to be condemned with the world. He, therefore, will move against any and all disobedience in our lives. He will first grant us a window of time to repent and abandon our ungodly walk or actions. If we fail to do so, then the Lord will move to correct us Himself, this correction often being manifested through continued illness and physical distress. The truly wise take advantage of our Lord’s merciful reluctance to discipline us. The headstrong and foolish continue on their contrary course and often pay dearly for having done so. God help us to understand.
Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley