But what we must continue to remember is that God is dealing with human beings who, though redeemed and sanctified, empowered and gifted, are still subject to the consequences of an imperfect, fallen nature. We still are capable of sinning and we still fall short of the glory of God. The first Adam has been put to death by the Second Adam. but the descendants of the first still struggle to respond to the free gift given by God in Christ Jesus. As someone has aptly said: Jesus has won the war but the mop-up operations are still going on. The evil one has been defeated by the Blood of the Lamb, but still tries to deceive those redeemed as they continue to appropriate the gift of salvation and sanctification.

And lest we feel shortchanged, many in the first century also experienced what we do. There was apostasy from the faith and back-sliding to old behavior patterns, compromise and accommodation in ways of living, spiritual unbalance and misplaced zeal in essentials.  Paul's letter to the Galatians speaks of this: "I am amazed that you are so soon deserting him who called you in accord with his gracious design in Christ, and are going over to another gospel. But there is no other. Some who wish to alter the gospel of Christ must have confused you" (Gal 1:6-7).  At the same time there was extraordinary heroism and grace-filled fidelity, commitment leading to martyrdom, and growth through struggle. (To be continued)