The Lord does make everything work for good. (Romans 8: 28) He is able to bring usefulness out of idleness and that’s exactly what He is doing in my life right now. As I do a lot of sitting around all day He is redeeming my time by giving me a chance to do some thinking on His Word. Today I’ve been thinking about first things, first steps.
Living out our Christianity in this dark world is becoming increasingly challenging. As I see it, the first thing, the first step necessary for us to stay grounded is to truly recognize our need for a Savior. It might sound simplistic, but in a secularized and humanistic society many toy with the idea that we are OK and any thought of salvation is reduced to the need for a hefty savings account. The culture is so pervasive that even Bible believing Christians may fall for a worldview that denies the existence of the Spiritual realm and relies on works as a measure of goodness.
Romans 3: 23 becomes, therefore, a must read for anyone who finds himself/herself wondering whether or not they might need a Savior:
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
If this is not clear enough and we rather believe that our good works ought to count toward saving ourselves or even as a mean of some sort of collective salvation, let’s take a look at Isaiah 64: 6,
We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
In case we are still wondering if being “a good person” may have something to do with salvation, Romans 3: 10 confirms it again,: “As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one…” And where is “it” written, you may ask? Well, let’s take a look at Ecclesiastes 7: 20 “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.”
Everyone saved or not, is capable of doing good once in a while or even a lot of the time; but not all of the time. Nobody is perfect, remember? So then what? We are supposed to be perfect and blameless in the presence of God - So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 2 Peter 3: 14- I don’t know about you, but I can’t fit this description on my own. How do I become blameless? I cannot do it on my own. There is only one way, in Christ:
But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. (Colossians 1: 22)
…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Phil 2: 13)
The truth is that there are a lot of “good people” who won’t make it to heaven. Good works that please God (and are not just “filthy rags”) are the result of a saved soul. The good works that honor God come out of the love that we express for our neighbor and are a sign that we are saved, not a way to salvation. We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4: 19) We do the right thing because, as children of the Most High God we are moved to do the right thing.
Our faith becomes dormant without our actions of love, but the faith comes first. James is particularly strong when he points out the importance of actions of love and righteousness and a life dedicated to good works for those who have already been adopted into God’s royal family. He says in James 2: 26 “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” And later in 4:19 he says: “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” This admonition is conditioned to “knowing” the right thing. Who knows the right thing to do but the one in whom the Holy Spirit dwells? Only those who have the Spirit, have the truth that brings freedom. (John 8: 32)
James is talking to those who are already saved. He is presenting what might be the earliest practical guide to Christian living. And of course striving to do good deeds is high ranking in that process. But you have to be part of the family already for it to have any impact in your reward. For, as Paul tells us in Eph.2:8,9, salvation is a gift, a gif of grace, “For by grace are ye saved through faith, not of yourselves...not of works.” (Also see: Rom.3:20, Rom.11:6 Gal .2:16, 2Tim.1:9, Tit.3:5)
I don’t know the heart of man, that is only God’s privilege, nor I pretend to begin to comprehend the immensity of the heart of God; but I believe Scripture and good deeds are not the way to salvation for anyone. There is only one way, Jesus! He Himself answered to Thomas’s inquiry regarding how to find the way with some of the most important and profound words in the entire Bible: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14: 6a) This is the only guaranteed way. Jesus promised that "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10: 32)
As a matter of fact, for those who enjoy the “easy steps” process, the Bible has a two- step program to eternity in Heaven:
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10: 9
“Do I really need a Savior?” Can only be answered, then, with a resounding, yes! We all do. It is impossible for man to save himself, but on the other hand, nothing is impossible for God. (Mark 10: 25-27)
Coming to terms with our need for a Savior, and accepting the fact that it is a gift that we don’t deserve: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” (Romans 5: 8) wrap up the first step to a Christ-focused walk guided by the light of Scripture shining brightly in this dark world. Let’s see where else the Lord steers my thoughts next time.
For now, I will leave with this verse...as you read it, remember who "Love" is...
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Fantastic post, blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words.
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