New Sneakers

Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life… For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin… Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts… What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? … For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. … But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:4-23

You died to sin and yet you have to pick up your cross daily.

You have been given a new pair of shoes that help you walk a new life, but you still have to put them on and walk in them. You could not afford to buy your new shoes; they were given to you by the work of Jesus on the cross. You still have to accept the shoebox and then you have to decide to wear them. Your old pair of shoes still sit in the back of your closet, but you have to decide daily to put on your new shoes instead of your old ones. When it comes time to walk to Jesus, you need to have on your new shoes. It won’t do you much good to talk about the new pair of sneakers you have sitting in your closet if you’re wearing your old shoes.

Salvation is both a one time event and an ongoing process.

Salvation is both a baptism/raising to life and a decision to not let sin reign in your mortal body. You are set free from sin, but that doesn’t mean you can do whatever you wish. Because God bought you at the price of Jesus’ blood, you are His now, and you must be a slave to righteousness. You are a slave to whatever you let reign and obey. If you are a slave to sin, then you are free from an obligation to do righteousness, but if you have been set free from sin, you have an obligation to do righteousness as a slave to your new master, God.

Faith alone cannot save you. 

In Luke 8:42b-48 (also Mark 5:25-34), a woman with an issue of blood receives salvation and healing from Jesus. Even though the woman with the issues of blood had faith that touching Jesus’ prayer shawl (see Malachi 4:2) would heal her, she wasn't healed until she reached out and touched His garment. She believed Jesus could heal her and was actively pursuing Him, but she wasn't healed until she touched. Pursuing Jesus isn’t enough. You have to touch Him to be healed. Don’t give up until you reach out and touch Him.