Spiritual Formation: The End of Your Faith

Salvation is not a point in time it is a journey: we are saved, delivered from evil (Hebrews 2:9-15; 1 John 3:8; 1 John 5:4-5), in order "to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4) by which we may learn to live to please God and thereby, receive salvation: delivered from the wrath of God (John 3:36; Romans 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 21:8).

Christian spirituality tends to view the spiritual life as a static possession rather than a dynamic and ever-developing growth toward wholeness in the image of Christ. When spirituality is viewed as a static possession, the way to spiritual wholeness is seen as the acquisition of information and techniques that enable us to gain possession of the desired state of spirituality. Discipleship is perceived as "my" spiritual life and tends to be defined by actions that ensure its possession. Thus the endless quest for techniques, methods, programs by which we hope to "achieve" spiritual fulfillment. The hidden premise behind all of this is the unquestioned assumption that we alone are in control of our spirituality. In brief, we assume we are in control of our relationship with God. When spirituality is viewed as a journey, however, the way to spiritual wholeness is seen in an increasing faithful response to the One whose purpose shapes our path, whose grace redeems our detours, whose power liberates us from crippling bondages of the prior journey and whose transforming presence meets us at each turn in the road. In other words, holistic spirituality is a pilgrimage of deepening responsiveness to God's control of our life and being.²⁴¹

This pilgrimage is illustrated by the salvation journey of the first church, Israel. "Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase" (Jeremiah 2:3). The children of Israel were saved from death in Egypt, baptized in the Red Sea, tested in the wilderness, and entered the Promised Land after much travail. "And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no" (Deuteronomy 8:2). Under the New Covenant, the Lord follows a similar process orchestrated to grow babes in Christ to full age sons of God. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13). And they "that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13): "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:9). The process necessitates being delivered from the evil in the world (Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9-10; Galatians 1:3-4; 1 John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14); baptized into the body of Christ (Acts 2:38; Acts 5:32; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14); transformed via seeking wisdom (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; John 4:24; John 6:63; John 17:17; Philippians 3:3; Acts 17:24-28); tested via tribulation (Romans 5:1-5; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 4:12-13; 2 Timothy 2:3-5); disciplined through righteousness (John 15:5, 7-8, 16; John 14:21, 23; Genesis 1:28; Psalm 15:1-2; Psalm 106:3; Matthew 5:6; Matthew 13:23; John 4:36; John 15:5, 8; Romans 6:19-22; 1 Corinthians 15:34); conformed into the image of the Son of God (1 Thessalonians 4:3; Psalm 17:15; John 14:21, 23; Galatians 4:19; Philippians 2:5; John 17:19-23); and resurrected unto eternal life (Hosea 13:14; Hebrews 9:28; John 11:25-26; Luke 20:36; John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; Job 19:25-26; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10) to reign with Jesus in New Jerusalem (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:6). "The whole life of conversion—the stream of constant interior and exterior change—is intended to transform [a Christian], to strip each one into that perfect "nakedness" of Christ whereby each may participate in the mysterious loving relationship between Christ and the Father. Purity of heart is freedom from illusion, from excessive self-interest, and from the hostility that makes genuine love for [God] and his people possible."²⁴²

The salvation journey of a Christian from a life of sin to a life of righteousness and love is called spiritual formation. Spiritual formation is the process of dying to our old self (self-sufficiency, self-preservation, self-confidence, self-righteousness, personality, egocentricity, and selfishness) and learning to live to please God: being transformed by replacing in our minds the lies of this world with the truth of God that we may be conformed to the image of the Son of God—anointed Word made flesh—for the purpose of walking in love for the benefit of others. The "value of one's spirituality before God is measured not by the loftiness of one's mystical experiences but by the quality of one's love for neighbor."²⁴³ Spiritual formation is the three step process of transformation, substantiation, and conformation. Transformation is the purifying of our minds and hearts with the Word of God through continuous study, experiential obedience and ever increasing faith; substantiation is becoming the Word in flesh—transition from doing works of righteousness to being in a state of righteousness (being led by the Spirit), and conformation is becoming like Christ—walking in love for the sake of others: "walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us" (Ephesians 5:2; see also John 13:34-35; Romans 13:8). "Spiritual formation is not an option! The inescapable conclusion is that life itself is a process of spiritual development. The only choice we have is whether that growth moves us toward wholeness in Christ or toward an increasingly dehumanized and destructive mode of being. The Christian journey, therefore, is an intentional and continual commitment to a lifelong process of growth toward wholeness in Christ."²⁴⁴ It is a process by which we "may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:15), until, "we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). This is why God is present and active in every moment of our lives to "fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

Wisdom

"There is nothing we can do to transform ourselves into persons who love and serve as Jesus did except make ourselves available for God to do that work of transforming grace in our lives."²⁴⁵ Our responsibility is twofold: 1) to present our bodies a living sacrifice; that is, to let not sin reign in our mortal bodies; 2) to continuously study, believe, and obey the Word of God; that is, to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. In a nutshell, let Christ increase that we (ruled by the flesh) can decrease. "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). The process is summarized briefly in the following verses:

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened ... If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:9-10, 13)

When we ask for salvation, we "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins," and God gives us "the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). "But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29). "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). The reward of seeking the Lord is that we can find salvation from the wrath of God to come: "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture ... I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:9-10). "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). We get to know God through his Word: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39). Thus, "Jesus saith unto [you], I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). For "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). Therefore, by asking and diligently seeking the wisdom of God we develop into full age sons of God who "shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:8). Thus, when Christians fail to seek the Lord their salvation is brought into question: "And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD" (2 Chronicles 12:14).

"Study is essential for the Christian's growth toward wholeness in Christ for the sake of others. Without disciplined growth in our knowledge and experience of God, ourselves, others and the world around us, we are handicapped in our growth toward wholeness in Christ and our ability to be God's person for others. The discipline of individual and corporate study keeps us aware of our growth needs, alert to the vital issues of the world around us and sensitized to what God is doing to grow us up into Christ and call us forth to be agents of grace in the midst of the world's issues. With the discipline of study, however, we must be alert to the temptation to enter into the discipline as a means to help us exert greater control over our lives, the lives of others and the problems of the world. The [discipline] of study ... is a means of offering ourselves to God, willing for God to do with us as God chooses."²⁴⁶ Christians that continually study the Bible can be transformed from the old creature that was trained by the world system (Satan) into a new creature which is "conformed to the image of his Son" (Romans 8:29) "by the renewing of [their] mind, that [they] may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2). "That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:29-31). This allows Christians to "be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (Colossians 1:9), be "led by the Spirit of God" (Romans 8:14), and be sanctified: "the love of God perfected" (1 John 2:5) in us. "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:10-11). "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name" (Revelation 3:8).

Righteousness

The steps before Jesus' return, righteousness and sanctification, ensure that we remain "rooted and grounded in love" that we be filled with all the fullness of God. That we become sons and daughters of God: transformed, spiritually mature—"them that are of full age" (Hebrews 5:14). "Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their reviling" (Isaiah 51:7). Christians who "have purified [their] souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit" (1 Peter 1:22) that think, speak and live the Word of God written in their hearts. Given that "unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24). Philippians 4:13 can be interpreted, "I can do all things through the power and wisdom of God, which strengthens me." As Adam had all things available to him within the boundaries of the garden in Eden, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, so too, do we have all things available to us within the boundary of God's anointed Word—through Christ. Jesus himself said, "without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5): God helps those who rely on him. "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help" (Psalm 146:3). Our "help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:2). This, by combining some key scriptures we get a more robust definition of righteousness: I can of mine own self do nothing, but through Christ, I can do always those things that please the Father (John 5:30; Philippians 4:13; John 8:29). "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him (1 John 2:28-29). "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9).

Sanctification

Sanctification fulfills our pre-resurrection journey ordained by God: "he also did predestinate [born again believers] to be conformed to the image of his Son" (Romans 8:29). "The image of Christ is the fulfillment of the deepest hungers of the human heart for wholeness. The greatest thirst of our being is for fulfillment in Christ's image. The most profound yearning of the human spirit, which we try to fill with all sorts of inadequate substitutes, is the yearning for our completeness in the image of Christ. The image of Christ is that which brings cleansing, healing, restoration, renewal, transformation and wholeness into the unclean, diseased, broken, imprisoned, dead incompleteness of our lives. It brings compassion in place of indifference, forgiveness in place of resentment, kindness in place of coldness, openness in place of protective defensiveness or manipulation, a life lived for God and not self."²⁴⁷

"At that day ye shall ask in My name," i.e., in My nature. Not—"You shall use My name as a magic word," but—"You will be so intimate with Me that you will be one with Me." "That day" is not a day hereafter, but a day meant for here and now. "The Father Himself loveth you"—the union is so complete and absolute. Our Lord does not mean that life will be free from external perplexities, but that just as He knew the Father's heart and mind, so by the [fruit] of the [Spirit] He can lift us into the heavenly places where He can reveal the counsels of God to us.²⁴⁸

We are predestined to have Jesus Christ, the resurrected Word of God, manifested (living) in us if we "Let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly in all wisdom" (Colossians 3:16). This is not about, like so many people believe, trying to imitate Jesus (WWJD: What would Jesus do?). Rather, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). "That is, it is not enough that Christ do something for us; Christ must also do something in us. It is not enough that we be forgiven our sins; we must also be rid of them. ... The journey toward perfection is not an easy one, and a fall from grace is always possible. For the persistent, however, union with the divine will and freedom from sinning is a gift that may be received this side of the grave—a gift that, like pardon, can be given and received in a moment's time. ... Faith—not an end in itself—is the means to holiness, the precondition for union with a God who is nothing but Love."²⁴⁹ As noted earlier, sanctification is based on righteousness not on manifestation of some power or gift: "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him" (1 John 2:5). The salvation journey of a Christian from a life of sin to a life of righteousness culminates in walking in love: sanctification. God is love and his sons and daughters, his mature Christian children, must be as he is. "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:16-17).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the purpose of Christianity is for mankind to learn how to serve God in spirit and in truth in order to do his will and give glory to him. Christianity provides an opportunity to mankind to learn how to become true worshippers of God which bear and retain spiritual fruit. True worshippers of God have purified their hearts by faith: they diligently seek the Lord through continual study of, belief in, and obedience to all of God's Word and thereby are filled with the wisdom (the truth) and Spirit of God. Said another way, true worshippers are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness: they have the Word of God written in their hearts through continual study of, belief in, and obedience to all of God's Word. True worshippers do righteousness: they do always those things that please God the Father. The union of the truth of God and the Spirit of God—twofold witness of God—in true worshippers is evidenced by their charity towards others (neighbors); they bear and retain spiritual fruit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Through this process of study, belief and obedience, true worshippers grow from babes in Christ, unskillful in the word of righteousness, to mature sons and daughters of God, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil: they become attuned to the Spirit of God such that they are led by the Spirit of God. The short-term benefits of Christianity include freedom from the bondage of corruption, from the bondage of the fear of death, from serving sin, and from the oppression of the Devil. What's more, the short-term benefits of Christianity include forgiveness of sins, the adoption as children of God, the mercy of God, the grace of God--the power of Christ exerted on our behalf, the love of God, the wisdom of God, the Spirit of God, the blessings of God, and gifts of the Holy Ghost. The long-term benefits of Christianity for true worshippers is to receive an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fades not away, and reserved in heaven: have part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him in the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven to a new earth.

Oswald Chambers poses some questions to answer: "Have you the slightest reliance on anything other than God? Is there a remnant of reliance left on any natural virtue, any set of circumstances? Are you relying on yourself in any particular in this new proposition which God has put before you? That is what the probing means. It is quite true to say—'I cannot live a holy life,' but you can decide to let Jesus Christ make you holy. 'Ye cannot serve the Lord God'; but you can put yourself in the place where God's almighty power will come through you. Are you sufficiently right with God to expect Him to manifest His wonderful life in you?²⁵⁰ "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2). "Spiritual formation is the great reversal: from acting to bring about the desired results in our lives to being acted upon by God and responding in ways that allow God to bring about God's purposes. ... Our relationship with God, not our doing, is the source of our being. ... The order is from being to doing. The doing is an outflow, the result, of a being that exists in relationship with Jesus as Lord. So spiritual formation is not something that we do to ourselves or for ourselves, but something we allow God to do in us and for us as we yield ourselves to the work of God's transforming grace. ... It is a journey of learning to yield ourselves to God and discovering where God will take us."²⁵¹

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