Instant Righteousness

Re:Verse passage – Philippians 3:1-11 (day seven)

Wouldn’t it be nice if becoming a Christian meant that we were perfected in that moment? No more sin, no more trials, and no more pain. In salvation, our past has been forgiven, but a life in the flesh leaves remnants of itself hiding in the unwanted places of our mind. What we see is that though salvation is instantaneous, sanctification is continual.

The problem is that in a fast food, high speed internet society, we expect everything to be instantaneous. We want it here, and we want it now. We want instant righteousness. Like those to whom Paul was referring to in Philippians, we attempt to prove our own righteousness through legalistic measures, and look for ways to show how great we are. Paul tells us that righteousness doesn’t come this way. It “comes from God on the basis of faith” (vs 9).  Sanctification is a lifelong process of spending time in a relationship with God.  The longer you spend, the more He will carve out those remnants of the flesh that bubble back up post-salvation, and He replaces them with His righteousness.

Author: Rick Henderson

Rick Henderson is the Associate Pastor for Students. View all posts by Rick Henderson