The Salvation Heresy, Pt. 2
Last week we examined three distinct terms regarding Scripture’s take on salvation:
• Justification
• Sanctification
• Imputation
This week we will begin to look at God’s Word in regards to being counted righteous in Christ but before we do, let us go to the Lord in prayer.
Father, I ask that these typed words be Yours and that You would speak to the hearts of those reading this message. Give us a genuine understanding of the scriptures in that we would draw only Your intended interpretation. Amen.
In the book of Romans, Paul begins his discourse (1:18) talking about God’s wrath towards “all godlessness and unrighteousness of people.” From last week’s definition of imputation, we learned that it was by one man (Adam) that sin was brought into the world and imputed to all mankind. Likewise, Christ died for all, thus it was His righteousness imputed to those who would believe in Him that would spend eternity in heaven. In the same verse we learn that it is this very unrighteousness of people that “suppress the truth.” This truth is God’s personal righteousness and its opposition to human sinfulness. The truth of God is not only the truth concerning God, but also God’s truth concerning all things, mankind included. This truth is that people are creatures of God and can find true fulfillment only in living obediently to His Word. This is the righteousness God desires in His creation. This is true justification.
Because of Adam, we are all sinners. Like it or not, we are all born into sin. Because we are born into sin, by nature, we go against everything that God considers righteous; we love the things God loathes. The whole concept of free will is, in my opinion, mistaken for the heart’s desire. What man desires, comes from the heart. If I desire a candy bar as opposed to an orange, I’ll choose the candy bar for that is what I truly desire. The same can be said for a man’s will. If man’s nature and consequently his heart, is evil from birth (Genesis 8:21), he will not be able to choose God on his own accord. For man is depraved by nature and what is depraved will not choose something that stands in complete opposite of his own fleshly desires; that which is pure, holy, and good.
Many would argue the fact that man had his first act of free will at the Fall. Understand that sin was not even part of the equation at this point. In a world free from sin, man still made the conscious decision to rebel against the instruction of God. Eve was genuinely deceived by Satan, however Adam was genuinely rebellious. It was Adam’s decision that led him to eat the fruit fully knowing the rules set forth by God. Just as it was Adam’s decision to eat the fruit, it too was Cain’s decision to murder his brother, Abel. It was not God’s intention for man to sin. However, by God’s permissive will, He may bring about determined things on His own, or through secondary causes, including sin. Through sinful acts caused by creation, God’s plan is not frustrated, nor is God the origin of them (sinful acts).
So we’re sinners. Many of us will admit it. Many that are reading this may be searching; but for what? What are you searching for? Is it answers you want? Perhaps it’s someone to be honest and tell you straight. Well, there is no room for “candy coating” God’s truth because in the end, it will be those that have taught God’s Word that will be held in a stricter form of accountability (James 3:1).
So here’s the truth; you, me, all of mankind are sinners (Romans 3:23) and there is nothing that we can do of our own accord to fix it. It is because we are sinners that we will never get to spend eternity in heaven (Romans 6:23) but there is good news within the same passage of Scripture. God has given His creation a gift; a gift that has been sent to redeem Adam’s mistake; this gift is God’s Son, Jesus Christ. It is because of Christ that we have a chance (Romans 5:8). God does not have to prove Himself to anyone, but He did. It is because of His unending love for mankind; His love for you; that He would send literally Himself through His Son to die as an atonement in our place. Scripture tells us that by confessing and believing that very act will save us (Romans 10:9). But is one's belief genuine? Only God knows the heart of His people.
It is only God that knows if a person’s belief is genuine; however next week, we will examine God’s Word even further to see how we can recognize true believers verses those that may be false.
Father, open our hearts and minds to accept even the difficult passages that convict us. Thank you for giving us a fighting chance to spend eternity with you. Thank you for giving us Your Word that serves as a guide and road map; leading us closer to You and Your truths. I pray for those searching for answers; those that feel unloved and unwanted. The truth is that you love us. You love us! regardless of what we have done, You love us. Amen.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
The Salvation Heresy, Pt. 1
"The greatest heresy in the American evangelical and protestant church is that if you ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart He definitely will come in. You will not find that anywhere in Scripture." Paul David Wash
So if praying a prayer and asking with a sincere heart for Jesus to be my personal Lord and Savior is not a guarantee of eternal security in heaven, then what is one supposed to do? First of all, we need to understand that not everyone who professes Jesus as Lord will go to heaven. The doctrine of universalism (all will go to heaven) is false in and of itself.
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord! will enter the kingdom of heaven, but [only] the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." Matthew 7:21 (NASB)
Again, how can we be certain that someone is a genuine follower of Christ? More importantly, how can we know that our own salvation is sincere? Before we can begin to know of our own eternal security and that of others, we need to go before God in humility; asking for His guidance and understanding.
Heavenly Father, thank you first and foremost for the blood of your Son. It is only by His sacrifice that we would have a chance at eternity with You. Prepare the hearts that read this and prepare my heart as I write. Let the words be Yours and Yours alone. It's in your Son's name we pray, Amen.
In this first part of the series, we need to understand some terminology that is seen within the text of Scripture.
- Justification: "the act of God whereby humankind is made or accounted just, or free from guilt or penalty of sin" (Random House Dictionary)
Now justification is another word for for salvation. Paul's major theme of the epistles (letters) to the Romans and to the Galatians was justification. Those who are justified cannot be separated from the love of Christ hence the saying,"Once saved; always saved" (Romans 8:33-39).
Another term is Sanctification. It is imperative that we differentiate between the two.
- Sanctification: comes from the verb sanctify; "Sanctify originates from the Greek word hagiazo, which means to be 'separate' or to be 'set apart.' In the Bible, sanctification generally relates to a sovereign act of God whereby He 'sets apart' a person, place, or thing in order that His purposes may be accomplished."
The reason it is so important for us to understand the seemingly subtle differences between the two words is that God will sanctify those who will never enter the kingdom of heaven. One example is Pharaoh found in the book of Exodus (4:21, 7:3, 14:4, and 14:17) God repetitiously hardened Pharaoh's heart in order that His glory be shown through the plagues on Egypt. Was it fair that God hardened his heart? I'll be the first to say, "No" however if God were fair with us, we would all be in big trouble.
- Imputation: Imputation is "a transfer of benefit or harm from one individual to another. In theology imputation may be used negatively to refer to the transfer of the sin and guilt of Adam to the rest of humankind. Positively, imputation refers to the righteousness of Christ being transferred to those who believe on him for salvation." -Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms
The doctrine of imputation is one of the most debated terms within the realm of theological scholarship. It is difficult to accept that a loving God would punish all of humankind with the sin of one man - Adam. God is in fact a loving God, but at the same time is also a just God and will accept nothing shy of perfection. This perfection is the other side of the coin when it comes to imputation - Jesus Christ. It is through one man that all of mankind's sin is now paid for in full.
Next week we will examine God's Word for the answers we seek in regard to genuine salvation. In the meantime, take some time this week to read Romans and Galatians. More importantly, take some time each day this week to talk to God - He'll listen, I promise.
Father, again, thank you for laying this burden on my heart to communicate this message to the masses. I pray with all that is in me that I did your Word justice and that I was effective in communicating Your words and not my own. Please grant the readers a comprehension of the scriptures so that an application of it to their own lives will follow suit. It is by Your grace that I write these words, Amen.
So if praying a prayer and asking with a sincere heart for Jesus to be my personal Lord and Savior is not a guarantee of eternal security in heaven, then what is one supposed to do? First of all, we need to understand that not everyone who professes Jesus as Lord will go to heaven. The doctrine of universalism (all will go to heaven) is false in and of itself.
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord! will enter the kingdom of heaven, but [only] the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." Matthew 7:21 (NASB)
Again, how can we be certain that someone is a genuine follower of Christ? More importantly, how can we know that our own salvation is sincere? Before we can begin to know of our own eternal security and that of others, we need to go before God in humility; asking for His guidance and understanding.
Heavenly Father, thank you first and foremost for the blood of your Son. It is only by His sacrifice that we would have a chance at eternity with You. Prepare the hearts that read this and prepare my heart as I write. Let the words be Yours and Yours alone. It's in your Son's name we pray, Amen.
In this first part of the series, we need to understand some terminology that is seen within the text of Scripture.
- Justification: "the act of God whereby humankind is made or accounted just, or free from guilt or penalty of sin" (Random House Dictionary)
Now justification is another word for for salvation. Paul's major theme of the epistles (letters) to the Romans and to the Galatians was justification. Those who are justified cannot be separated from the love of Christ hence the saying,"Once saved; always saved" (Romans 8:33-39).
Another term is Sanctification. It is imperative that we differentiate between the two.
- Sanctification: comes from the verb sanctify; "Sanctify originates from the Greek word hagiazo, which means to be 'separate' or to be 'set apart.' In the Bible, sanctification generally relates to a sovereign act of God whereby He 'sets apart' a person, place, or thing in order that His purposes may be accomplished."
The reason it is so important for us to understand the seemingly subtle differences between the two words is that God will sanctify those who will never enter the kingdom of heaven. One example is Pharaoh found in the book of Exodus (4:21, 7:3, 14:4, and 14:17) God repetitiously hardened Pharaoh's heart in order that His glory be shown through the plagues on Egypt. Was it fair that God hardened his heart? I'll be the first to say, "No" however if God were fair with us, we would all be in big trouble.
- Imputation: Imputation is "a transfer of benefit or harm from one individual to another. In theology imputation may be used negatively to refer to the transfer of the sin and guilt of Adam to the rest of humankind. Positively, imputation refers to the righteousness of Christ being transferred to those who believe on him for salvation." -Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms
The doctrine of imputation is one of the most debated terms within the realm of theological scholarship. It is difficult to accept that a loving God would punish all of humankind with the sin of one man - Adam. God is in fact a loving God, but at the same time is also a just God and will accept nothing shy of perfection. This perfection is the other side of the coin when it comes to imputation - Jesus Christ. It is through one man that all of mankind's sin is now paid for in full.
Next week we will examine God's Word for the answers we seek in regard to genuine salvation. In the meantime, take some time this week to read Romans and Galatians. More importantly, take some time each day this week to talk to God - He'll listen, I promise.
Father, again, thank you for laying this burden on my heart to communicate this message to the masses. I pray with all that is in me that I did your Word justice and that I was effective in communicating Your words and not my own. Please grant the readers a comprehension of the scriptures so that an application of it to their own lives will follow suit. It is by Your grace that I write these words, Amen.
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