Newton on the Christian Life by Tony Reinke

Author:Tony Reinke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crossway

As he moves out of insecurity into Christ-centered security, and as his affections increasingly focus upon Christ, the spiritual infant begins to transition into an adolescent.

“On Grace in the Ear”(or, Grace in the Christian Adolescent)

As our little wobbly infant grows in the knowledge of Christ, marks of adulthood begin to show, and none are more important than a growing confidence in the saving power of Christ. The soul rests in Jesus “by a spiritual apprehension of his complete suitableness and sufficiency, as the wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption of all who trust in him, and is enabled by an appropriating faith to say, ‘He is mine, and I am his.’”12 So long as this confidence remains a confidence outside oneself and is unobstructed by emotional fluctuations and finds its root in the permanent and abiding sufficiency of Christ, it grows deep and begins to produce personal assurance. The adolescent Christian begins to echo the apostle Paul: “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Rom. 8:34). The adolescent’s faith is stronger and more robust than the child’s. And the teen will need it, for what’s to come is a season of prolonged conflict in his life.

God intends that his children be delivered not only from the power of sin, but also from the presence of sin. The long toil of sanctification is especially engaged in this adolescent stage. God hates sin, he loves his people, and he will not leave sin to dwell in them forever. Through his imperatives, God commands the adolescent Christian to strive against sin and pursue sanctification, to keep his heart fixated on the work ahead, and to keep his eyes open to the target. His conviction of God’s acceptance of him and his security in Christ are no guarantee that he will experience a steady love, joy, peace, gratitude, and praise in his own heart. And as these experiences fluctuate, the world, the Devil, and his own flesh will scheme to “draw forth corruptions.” And while the adolescent Christian has read of the spiritual battles in Scripture, he has not yet experienced the battlefield.

The Christian who has tasted the goodness of divine grace and has rejoiced in his Christ-secured salvation is now exposed to new storms of spiritual confrontation he likely never experienced in his early years. But the time is right. He’s an adolescent, and it’s time for him to begin acting on his own faith-informed initiative against his enemies. At this stage some Christians will be caught in gross public sins for which they will be exposed and humbled. But for most Christians, the sins that emerge in their hearts are largely private, known only to themselves, the Lord, and perhaps a few close friends. In either case, the root of public and private sin is the same. There’s no room for self-righteousness, but much need for personal humility and Christ-motivated mortification.

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