Awareness of sin grows excitement for His return

One thing this means in the logic of Paul’s spirituality is this: those Christians who most enjoy the assurance of salvation—those Christians who are most excited about the idea of Jesus coming back—are the same Christians who have the most clear-eyed confession and conviction of the darkness and the extent of their own sin. We have this instinct that says, Well, I am going to try to downplay my sin. I am going to pretend to be better than I am. I am going to talk to myself, and I am going to persuade myself that it is really not that bad. What does that cause us to do but to rely upon our own works for salvation? In fact, as you mature, as you grow as a Christian—here’s the good news—it will not make you think better about yourself. As you grow as a Christian, you are really going to think worse about yourself. You are going to realize sins that, when you were first converted, you had no idea about, because you are becoming more attuned to the things of the Spirit. You will not think better of yourself. But oh, how much more you will think of the Lord Jesus—and how much more clearly will you rely on him. And he is the true basis of the assurance of our salvation.¹

Richard D. Phillips