Growing Into Salvation

Published in the Omaha World Herald’s “From the Pulpit”

March 30, 2025
Reverend Eric L. Jay

“Growing into salvation”

When you are raising children, there is no such thing as a pair of pants or a shirt that is “too big.” They just don’t fit…yet. Whenever I received a gift of clothes that were too big for me at the time, I remember my parents saying, “Don’t worry; you’ll grow into them.” Now, my wife and I say the same thing to our children.

“You’ll grow into them.” That’s a good way to think about growing in faith and maturing as a disciple of Christ. “You’ll grow into Him.”

Galatians 3:26 says, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Romans 6 says that in baptism, God united us with Christ, being baptized “into death” with Him in order that “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Through His gift of baptism, God has clothed us and covered us in the righteousness of Christ, in His holy garments that have plenty of room for us to grow into. We grow into the eternal life and salvation that we have already been clothed with in Christ. We grow into our faith, which is itself a gift from God.  Grow into your faith rather than in faith. It is a subtle distinction, but a biblical one and a powerful one. 

When we think about growing in faith, we tend to focus on “our” faith rather than focusing on the object of our faith, Jesus Christ, who grants us faith in the first place. Instead, we should think about growing into the faith Jesus has given us; into the complete salvation and the eternal life that is already ours. That’s what Paul says in verse 15 of Ephesians 4, “we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” Christ is not our Lord because we have grown “enough” in faith. We have faith in Christ because He has made us His own, and He calls us to grow into the righteousness and faith He has given us.

In a scene from C. S. Lewis’ spiritual allegory, The Chronicles of Narnia, a young girl named Lucy is sent on a great mission by the Christ figure, Aslan, the lion.  As she travels by night, she notices the great beast sitting on a hill, illumined by a full moon.  Excitedly, Lucy runs to him and throws herself into his soft, silky mane.  Aslan rolls over, and Lucy finds herself laying between his paws, looking up into his large face.  “Aslan, you’re bigger,” says Lucy. The majestic creature answers, “That is because you are older, little one.” Lucy, confused by this remark, asks, “Not because you are?” Aslan assures her, “I am not.  But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”

God has already given all of Himself to us in Jesus Christ, who gave Himself on the cross for us. In Christ, we have all of God’s love and the assurance of eternal life that begins now and continues into all eternity.  Knowing and believing that complete and eternal salvation has been given to us in Christ is what makes us eager to grow into our faith through a life of devotion and discipleship.