I heard a Pastor recently speaking of his frustration regarding salvation by works. He told the story of a young man who had prayed to receive G-D's salvation, but the young man was continuing to live in outright sin. The Pastor said he cringed when he heard another believer tell the young man that there were only two ways -- Heaven or Hell.
The Pastor went on to say that he cringed with embarrassment because he believed that the well-meaning believer was trying to tell the young man that he was saved only if he did what was right.
Now, I don't believe that we gain entry into G-D's presence by what we do outwardly. I firmly believe that a person has a place in G-D's Kingdom only by a trusting faith. But trusting faith is demonstrable!
If there is no change in a person's behavior he is not being saved. Being saved is not a one time event. It is an ongoing process. As believers the New Testament is clear that those who are 'saved' from eternal punishment and the curses of the Torah desire to demonstrate their gratitude for that salvation by learning and growing to become more like Jesus.
I think we get confused in our modern classical Greek mathematical attempt to explain salvation. What it is and what it isn't. Jesus said he who does the will of my Father in Heaven is my 'brother'.
The problem is that, in general, those who profess Christianity today aren't really practicing a Christianity in the real meaning of that word. Christ is the Greek word meaning Anointed One or King. The Hebrew transliteration is Messiah. The word 'Christian' literally means 'little Messiahs'. This name was pejoratively given to the early believers in Jesus. They were trying to be like Him and so those around them started calling them little Christs.
The problem today is that if we look at much of the theology that is promoted under the Christian heading it would be better be called Paulianity. This is because Paul's difficult words are used solely as the definition of what it means to follow Christ or Messiah.
So instead of making Paul fit into what our Master teaches, modern and most of historical Christianity has sought to make our Master fit what Paul teaches in his letters. This is a shame.
Following Christ or becoming His disciple is salvation. You can only truly do it by faith.
If it had been me who interacted with the young man mentioned above, I would say that as long as a person have no qualms about his sin and he is making no attempt to repent, he cannot have the assurance of a place in G-D's Kingdom. That is the message of our Master.
Whether or not the young man is a true believer is not for me to decide. Salvation is of Adonai. I want to help him see where he stands with G-D right now and help him believe and repent.
The Pastor went on to say that he cringed with embarrassment because he believed that the well-meaning believer was trying to tell the young man that he was saved only if he did what was right.
Now, I don't believe that we gain entry into G-D's presence by what we do outwardly. I firmly believe that a person has a place in G-D's Kingdom only by a trusting faith. But trusting faith is demonstrable!
If there is no change in a person's behavior he is not being saved. Being saved is not a one time event. It is an ongoing process. As believers the New Testament is clear that those who are 'saved' from eternal punishment and the curses of the Torah desire to demonstrate their gratitude for that salvation by learning and growing to become more like Jesus.
I think we get confused in our modern classical Greek mathematical attempt to explain salvation. What it is and what it isn't. Jesus said he who does the will of my Father in Heaven is my 'brother'.
The problem is that, in general, those who profess Christianity today aren't really practicing a Christianity in the real meaning of that word. Christ is the Greek word meaning Anointed One or King. The Hebrew transliteration is Messiah. The word 'Christian' literally means 'little Messiahs'. This name was pejoratively given to the early believers in Jesus. They were trying to be like Him and so those around them started calling them little Christs.
The problem today is that if we look at much of the theology that is promoted under the Christian heading it would be better be called Paulianity. This is because Paul's difficult words are used solely as the definition of what it means to follow Christ or Messiah.
So instead of making Paul fit into what our Master teaches, modern and most of historical Christianity has sought to make our Master fit what Paul teaches in his letters. This is a shame.
Following Christ or becoming His disciple is salvation. You can only truly do it by faith.
If it had been me who interacted with the young man mentioned above, I would say that as long as a person have no qualms about his sin and he is making no attempt to repent, he cannot have the assurance of a place in G-D's Kingdom. That is the message of our Master.
Whether or not the young man is a true believer is not for me to decide. Salvation is of Adonai. I want to help him see where he stands with G-D right now and help him believe and repent.
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