Fear is not in love, but perfect love is casting out fear, for fear has chastening. Now he who is fearing is not perfected in love.
1 John 4: 18, Concordant New Testament
Imagine living your life worrying about whether you were behaving the right way. In fear that one misstep could bring the Lord to suddenly turn His back upon you. Imagine being so in fear of the Lord and His judgement that you doubted your own salvation. Well, for many well intentioned Christians, this fear is a daily reality. My co-worker is a good man. He provides for his family, is kind to those around him and diligently adheres to the religious traditions of his church. You would think that such a man would be a lock into the good graces of the Lord. Yeah, you'd think. However, if you listen to my friend for any length of time, you get the impression that he is one step away from an eternity in hell. This is the fear in which he lives. I can say that I can relate to his fears, as they are the very same fears I had myself while growing up in the church. I learned that in spite of the salvation of Christ Jesus, that God is also awaiting a final judgement for those who ignored Him or His commandments. Does anyone see anything wrong with this? Jesus became sin for our sakes, only to have His sacrifice amount to nothing because of Gods judgement {2 Corinthians 5:21}? So, how many times does Jesus need to be sacrificed for our sins? Did Jesus give Himself, as the apostle Paul claims, once for all {Romans 6:10}? Or, as church theology seems to claim, is a continuous sacrifice needed? My epiphany moment when I walked away from the brick and mortar church came about from just such a situation. The pastor had just finished his easter service and the story of the resurrection of Christ, when he suddenly invited all who had unforgiven sins to come forward to the altar. How is it that Jesus could provide for my salvation only to have me lose it later? I was done.
For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is Gods approach present, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting.
Ephesians 2: 8-9, Concordant New Testament
How is it that you see your salvation? Is it, as Paul proclaims, the free gift of the Lord {Ephesians 2:8}? Or is our salvation something which we must continually prove ourselves worthy of? I believe that there is a reason why Paul instructed us to consider our salvation as the free gift of the Lord. I believe that there were indeed people in Paul's day who, like my friend, felt the need to work out their own salvation. But how dangerous is this line of thinking? For if we're allowed to work out our own salvation, what becomes of the sacrifice of Christ? Instead of glorifying God for His gift to us, we puff ourselves up for performing "good enough" to achieve our own salvation. But what then of those who don't make the list? Does that invalidate John 3:17, that the world may be saved THROUGH JESUS? If you ask me, scripture has already presented to us how it is that we will be saved {Romans 10:9}. Scripture has also proclaimed the One by which our salvation is delivered {John 14:6, Acts 4:12}. It is through the selfless act of Christ Jesus, through the love and mercy of God that we are saved. We could never prove ourselves worthy enough to accomplish that which Jesus already has at the cross. Therefore, to even believe as such is, dare I say, foolish. It has never been the Lords desire that any of His children be left behind. It has always been His desire that all would be one with He and His Son {John 17:21}. Gods free gift will never be taken away.
That, if ever you should be avowing with your mouth the declaration that Jesus is Lord, and should be believing in your heart that God rouses Him from among the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart it is believed for righteousness, yet with the mouth it is avowed for salvation.
Romans 10: 9-10, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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