The Way You Get In Is The Way You Go On

Dr. Jack Gray, former missions professor at SWBTS used to say: "The way you get in is the way you go on."  For me, it was a life-changing concept.

What does it mean? Is it scriptural? I guarantee it is far more than a trite cliche.  Colossians 2:6 read, "Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus, so walk in Him?"  See it? As (in the same manner) you have received Him, so (in the same manner) walk.  The way you received Him is the way you walk.  The way you get in is the way you go on.

So, how did you receive Him?  This isn't just "your testimony."  This is getting down to the dynamics of salvation - the common factors by which we all "get in."  Let's consider it.  There are a few key concepts that can open up a world of insight on how to live the Christian life - how to be a Christian.

One that we obviously think of right away, is the cross of Jesus.  Another is Ephesians 2:8 - "By grace you have been saved through faith...."  One we don't necessarily think of immediately is the idea of rest.  We'll look at each.

Is it not true that part of being saved was reaching the place where you realized that you did not and could not please God?  You needed a savior because you could not save yourself.  But Jesus had done everything necessary for your salvation.  So you ceased from your own efforts to save yourself and make yourself pleasing to God, and rested in what Jesus had accomplished for you.  The way you get in is the way you go on.

At the moment of your salvation, you went to the cross.  It was a place of death.  Not Christ's death only, though.  According to Paul in Romans 6, Colossians 3, Philippians 3, and 2 Corinthians 4, you shared in His death.  This is part of the "ceasing from your own efforts."  A dead man does not work.  The way you get in is the way you go on.

Go to the cross daily.  The message of the cross is the power of God to us who are being saved (1 Cor. 1:18)  What is the "message" of the cross?  Is it not death?  Jesus said, "If any man would be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me."  Daily!  The way you get in is the way you go on.

I could develop this more, but then it would get pretty long - it's several pages in my book.  I may blog more on it later in the week if anyone's interested.  For now, one last corollary:

If we as Christians would learn to walk the same way we received, it would eliminate a lot of grief and struggle for us in our daily lives, and it would eliminate a lot of confusion on the part of those outside the body of Christ as they observe our lives.  If we would go on the way we got in, others would see how to get in by the way we go on.