We should have a Kingdom perspective in every word we speak, every decision we make, and every action we take!
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Philippians chapter 3:
12 I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into His abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me His own.
13 I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.
14 I run straight for the Divine invitation of reaching the Heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.
15 So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them.
16 And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion.
Paul was not referring to salvation, for he was already saved. He was concerned about sanctification and being perfected without spot or wrinkle. He referred to a “victory-prize”. What is that? It is to rule and reign with Jesus Christ.
The “hope of our salvation” in Christ is, again, the ability to co-reign with Him in the Millennium and forever. It’s the mark of the High Calling! It’s our goal. And it’s the prize. This possibility is available to all of us, but is contingent upon our becoming faithful overcomers.
What we end up choosing and deciding here will ultimately determine our place and position in Heaven.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 1:
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your Love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the Heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
Paul was praying that the Light of God will illuminate the eyes of our imagination, flooding us with light, until we experience the full revelation of the hope of His calling—that is, the wealth of FATHER’S glorious inheritances that He finds in us, His Holy ones!
Let us not lose the opportunities set before us for lost opportunities are what brings forth tears to our eyes when we are at the Bema Seat of Christ and He shows us our life here on earth.
Our spirits are saved when we are born again. Our souls are in the process of being saved through the sanctification process. And our bodies will be saved when Christ comes for us at the Rapture. These are the three different aspects of salvation. As you can see, the salvation of our spirits is very different from the salvation of our souls, which, in turn, is also different from the salvation of our bodies.
Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Peter chapter 1:
4 We are reborn (salvation) into a perfect inheritance that can never perish, never be defiled, and never diminish. It is promised and preserved forever in the Heavenly realm for you!
5 Through our faith, the mighty power of God constantly guards us until our full salvation is ready to be revealed in the last time (glorification).
6 May the thought of this cause you to jump for joy, even though lately you’ve had to put up with the grief of many trials.
7 But these only reveal the sterling core of your faith (process of sanctification), which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire. Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed.
Receiving a brand-new spirit at our new birth is just the beginning of our faith. It’s called justification and it is a free “gift” from God, whereas our souls are saved on the basis of following a lifelong journey of sanctification–which allows us to be partakers of Christ’s imparted Life and thus, overcomers. This process is done in cooperation with the Divine resurrection power of God. It doesn’t happen automatically.
It’s our own responsibility to make the appropriate faith choices that allows God’s Spirit to work in and through us.