Salvation Paradox

Paradox: something (such as a situation) that is made up of two opposite things and that seems impossible but is actually true or possible.

There is a salvation paradox. When we’re born again, we are an entirely new person.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 

He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19, 21 HCSB

This is miraculous! And it is the truth. We’re entirely new, we’ve been entirely forgiven, and in Christ, we’ve become the righteousness of God. The paradox is that it’s also true that we’ve only just begun.

Truth: the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality.

It takes time and correction and grace and discipline and even confrontation for us to come into accord with the only true reality in every way. I am born again, and so I’m an entirely new creation and a work in progress at the same time.

We don’t have an “easy” God, though His grace is huge and His love is boundless. This isn’t an “easy” life, though it’s far simpler than we’d like it to be. I love this life, my life! I live LOVED, and I love God back more and more. My worst days as a born-again believer are still better than the very best days I had before I was saved. But I am beginning to see that I am fraught with hidden impediments to the Way, the Truth and the Life. And cell by cell, thought by thought, and stronghold by stronghold, the life of Christ in me is severing me from the old way, the old lie, and the grave of my old woman.

And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being].
Romans 8:30 AMP

The life of a disciple isn’t an easy one. There’s no shortage of pain and loss, and that’s the absolute truth. We really do share in the sufferings of Christ. It’s fortunate then that the new creation is powered by Resurrection Life, a Life forged in battle with and victory over death itself. Our Father generously and abundantly equipped us not only to receive the paradox, but to actually thrive in it.

Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
John 15:9-11 NASB