As I read the New Testament, it is clear to me that Paul sought to be a special kind of Christian. He was never content! Even with his vast array of knowledge for the things of God, he yet was never satisfied! Who can fathom such a heart? Even when he far out-shined his peers in the faith (Heb 5:11; 2 Pet 3:16), he kept pressing forward, seeking MORE fruit! He wanted it ALL: "That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Eph 3:19).
But, why should a Christian “settle down” as soon as he has come to know the Lord? Why should we ever be content? We should not. Paul's desire shouldn't have been so "special"; it was only "special" because there were so few who possessed it!
As another has well said, "Many Christians stop dead in their tracks, and shrug off any suggestion that there is still spiritual advance and progress beckoning them on. Why is this? It's because of a faulty New Testament understanding!"
To be honest, Jesus gave us the choice. We can be content with salvation, or we can bear Him fruit. He lays it out for us clearly in John 15. Observe..
"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" (vs. 3)...
... "I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing" (vs. 5).
Do we see what's happening here? Jesus is giving us a choice: We can either be content with being judicially "clean" and justified, or we can press further and bear Him fruit. We can be content with our personal "fix", or we can become disciples, bear fruit, and glorify God (Jn 15:8). "He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. The LORD shall increase you more and more..." (Ps 115:13-14).
So many are satisfied with a judicial freedom from eternal judgment, when God's best is continual progression! Why be content with the brazen altar when Jesus has provided a way into the Most Holy Place? "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Heb 6:20). He is "the firstborn of every creature" (Col 1:15, 18), thus signifying that there are to be followers through the veil! Will you be content? Or will you enter in? "Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief" (Heb 4:6). I believe that such a passive teaching is as deadly as cyanide to the individual Christian life. It kills all hope of spiritual advance and causes many believers to adopt this creed of contentment.
Are we emulating the Apostle Paul’s desire to become a special kind of Christian?
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