When it is said that we are justified, it is not merely considered as being declared righteous, but we are taught to become truly righteous. We are sanctified not only in the sense that our sins are forgiven and forgotten, but so that we truly no longer have the potential to sin. Many Christians feel they have automatically and mystically become saved. Yet the Bible says even angels were cast down; we must not squander the great grace given to us.
One aspect to understand is that no one should feel they possess something that makes them worthy before God. Salvation by grace alone is true. So do not come with the attitude that you have something of your own. Our conduct is all corrupt, yet God wants to forgive our sins. Grace must not be misunderstood. It does not mean that because Christ’s blood was shed, all human sins are automatically forgiven and everyone goes to heaven; that is not so. Everyone must face judgment. Therefore, before judgment, those who are saved—restored to their original design—must be cared for, healed, and corrected. Thus, the phrase “Poor in spirit” contains a call to be willingly shaped, because one realizes one is not yet what God desires; everyone who receives Jesus must fully surrender to be directed into the kind of person He wants.
With the awareness that our condition is not yet what God desires, we are challenged to change. This connects to “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Paul himself wrote, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” The Lord captured Paul, and Paul sought to capture what the Lord desired to be captured. Grace does not remove human responsibility and turn people into puppets. Paul sought to attain something: to be conformed to Christ in his death and to the likeness of Jesus, which does not happen automatically.
With this awareness, we are willing to be formed by God into what He desires. Our task is to learn. And if the Lord says, “I am your Teacher and Lord; do as I have done,” the question is: are we doing what He did? If we realize we are not yet perfect, we should be driven to keep learning until we become like Jesus. It is astonishing that we, who cannot reach the Creator of heaven and earth—the Holy and Glorious Creator—have a Mediator and can be reunited with the Almighty Creator; this is extraordinary.
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is no way provided by God by which humans can reach the Most High except through Jesus Christ. If we grasp and internalize this, then whatever we have and can offer God will never be equal to the grace He has given us. What matters here is truly appreciating how precious the price of salvation is.
Being poor before God means we must recognize that our condition is not yet what God desires; this is a call to humility and also to set a target. Humility means recognizing our condition falls short of God’s will and seeing a goal for how to become as He desires. Recognizing such precious and costly grace, we will dare to stake our whole life—without limits—into the process of spiritual growth and refinement until we reach a state that pleases God.