The Alpha is incomplete apart from the Omega. Until the heavenly grace that lifted us to the Presence of God begins to transform our bodily behavior, the program of redemption is not operating.

To be saved is not only to be given life and raised to the right hand of God. To be fully saved is to follow the Lord Jesus in cross-carrying obedience until we are experiencing the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.

We work out our salvation with fear and trembling because we understand we have not attained the goal God has set for us until we stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12)

From throne to throne. Paul states we are saved by grace through faith.

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ: (Romans 3:24)

But we must bring our body under subjection to our new life in Christ.

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (I Corinthians 9:27)

Again, we are justified by faith in God's promise:

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)

But then we realize we must purge ourselves from all unrighteousness:

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesians 5:5)

God has moved in a sovereign manner in our lives:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:5-7)

But then there is something we must do in order to establish ourselves in the grace of God:

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (II Corinthians 6:17,18)

If we would make a success of our salvation we must maintain a balance between God's gift of grace and our response to that grace. Otherwise we make shipwreck of the life of faith.

Christian teachers often emphasize the passages that describe the position given us at the outset of redemption. Few of them it seems stress also the passages that point out the critical need for faithful cross-carrying obedience to the Lord.

To be continued.