The Way You Get in Is the Way You Grow

The whole point of "going on the way you got in" is faith.  We must be totally dependent on the Father.  The Bible says Jesus could have come down from the cross if He'd chosen to.  He could just as easily, miraculously put Himself on the cross - with less pain, shame and humiliation.  But He came as a lamb to the slaughter.  The lamb was taken to the altar and killed.  It did not volunteer; it was led.  Jesus came as a lamb, not only in His innocence, but also in His yieldedness.  He was led.  He was nailed.  He was crucified. It was done to Him.  Likewise, it is not up to us to nobly go and jump on the altar of sacrifice and say, "Oh, okey dokey, I as of this moment, am dead to self." We may realize we need to, and agree to, but it just doesn't happen at that moment. It's a process.  And it's one for which God is responsible. How it plays out in our lives is not our decision. We, like Christ, are to be yielded to the hand of the One Who is daily renewing us after the image of Him that created our new nature (Col.3:10).

We are to "put on" the traits of the new man. But, how? The new man is the one who died, and whose life is hid with Christ in God (Col.3:3). He is the one who is crucified, yet lives, yet doesn't live, but Christ lives in him (Gal.2:20). The way you put him on is the way you got in - total dependence that He Who began a good work in you is able to complete it (Phil.1:6).

You got in by ceasing from your own efforts and resting in what He did on your behalf.  You go on the same way.  You got in through the cross, you go on by the cross.  You got in by grace through faith; you go on by grace through faith. You could not save your self, and you cannot sanctify yourself! Sanctification is God's responsibility, not yours. "For it is God who is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure! (Phil.2:13)

Consider this: A tree grows during the spring time, about three months out of the year. The remainder of the year is spend solidifying that growth. God does no less with us. He is responsible for our growth. He knows we can only handle so much at one time. He grows us. Then, when He deems best, He stops the growth, [yes, He does] putting it on hold and allowing us to solidify in what we have just learned. The heat and drought of summer, the storms and dying and stripping bare of autumn, and the coldness and death of winter mature us and make that new growth a strong and vital part of us. Then He can build on that the next season of growth.  If we really faith that "He who began a good work in you will complete it" then when the period of fast growth suddenly comes to an end, we will not panic. We will know that He is still in control. We will trust Him, and we will rest in Him.