|
|
|
Saved or not?
Is a person truly saved or is he still unsaved? Being involved in Christian activities does not mean that a person is going to heaven.
Preface A law-oriented concept, where the emphasis is on fulfilling commands Old heresy God justifies the wicked The difference between the law and the gospel The law shows sin and human imperfection Right and wrong contrition Catholics and salvation A grace-oriented view without the fear of God Belief in historical facts or trust in the person of Christ? Faith does not stand alone, but actions follow. Forgiveness without repentance? When should a person be concerned about their salvation? Renunciators Those in uncertainty How to be saved?
Preface. This article discusses salvation and various groups in relation to this issue. In my opinion, there is a lot of religiosity in modern times that looks like Christian faith, but in which people lack eternal life and a relationship with God. It is sometimes very difficult to distinguish it from true Christian faith. Even people themselves do not seem to be clear about what their condition is. I understand that there are also many priests and bishops in this state. Being a church worker or belonging to a church alone does not guarantee that a person is saved. Nor does it save that a church worker believes in the historicity of Jesus and the events of the Bible. Demons also have such a belief. Instead, salvation can only happen through rebirth, but if this has not happened, the priest and church worker will go to hell, despite all their religiosity. Jesus warned about this several times. There are several Bible verses related to this topic. They show that a person can appear to be a follower of Jesus, but in reality is not. Perhaps people have only experienced a superficial conversion that has not changed their inner self. Perhaps they have been rushed into salvation without first realizing that they are lost and guilty. Jesus has been voted as one of many options, but man has never been in the light of God's law and holiness with his whole being. Therefore, everything has remained incomplete and superficial. For example, Arthur W. Pink has aptly stated that “There are some people who say they are saved before they have had any sense of being lost” (1). However, Jesus can only save a person who has seen his own impossibility before God and how he is like a drowning person who cannot save himself. Only when a person is in this state, where he sees his own lost state, does Jesus' atoning work become important to him. Then Jesus alone can save him, because He came to save sinners, that is, those who realize that they are separated from God and going to hell:
- (Luke 19:10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
- (John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Several Bible verses in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles show that the Christian exterior does not guarantee that a person is truly saved and on the path to eternal life. These teachings should be taken seriously so that no one goes to eternity unprepared and in the wrong state. God does not want anyone to perish (1 Tim 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9), but it is related to the fact that we ourselves want to enter into a right relationship with God.
• The parable of the ten virgins (Matt 25:1-13) shows how all ten virgins acknowledged Jesus as Lord, but only five of them were prepared for Jesus' coming. Jesus' words to the foolish virgins are as follows: Truly I say to you, I know you not. (Matt 25:12).
• According to Jesus, there are few who will be saved. That is, there may be millions of people in Christian churches, but how many of them are outside of salvation? Perhaps most of them. It is noteworthy in the following words of Jesus that he called those who were outside of salvation the wrongdoers:
- (Luke 13:23-28) 23 Then said one to him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said to them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and has shut to the door, and you begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not from where you are: 26 Then shall you begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not from where you are; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity. 28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
• Some can also do miracles in Jesus' name, such as healing the sick and casting out demons. This is really strange, but Jesus himself spoke about it, even though he urged them to do the same things in his Mission Command. However, the difference between true disciples and, for example, apostles is that the inner being of these people had not changed. That is why Jesus calls them workers of lawlessness at the last judgment:
- (Matt 7:21-23) Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
• The example of Judas is one of the most remarkable. He left everything to follow Jesus, was chosen by Jesus, healed the sick, proclaimed the kingdom of God, helped the poor, and set people free, but still he was not saved. Or perhaps he was saved in the beginning, but lost his salvation and went to hell. According to Jesus, it would have been better for Judas if he had not been born:
- (Matt 26:24,25) The Son of man goes as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. 25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said to him, You have said.
- (Acts 1:15-19,25) And in those days Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brothers, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem; so as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
• In the book of Revelation, there are churches to which Jesus gives serious warnings and exhortations. Of one church, Jesus said that he would push its lampstand out of its place unless it repented. Of another church, he stated that it was dead, even though it was considered alive. Furthermore, he mentioned the church in Laodicea that because it was lukewarm, he would reject it. Examples show that not all activity in the name of Christianity is always from God. Religion can be practiced without God being involved in the activity:
- (Rev 2:4,5) Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent.
- (Rev 2:14-16) But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
- (Rev 2:20-22) Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
- (Rev 3:1) And to the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things said he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead.
- (Rev 3:13-16) He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches. 14 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things said the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. 16 So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.
So those are verses on an important topic. They are a warning to us to take these things seriously, and to really know whether we are saved or not. That is why, for example, Paul urged us to test ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith:
- (2 Cor 13:5) Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?
When it comes to imitations of the Christian faith and genuine Christian faith, this topic is discussed in the final chapters. I personally understand that there are different emphases and groups among imitations, but the rough division is law-oriented and grace-oriented groups. CO Rosenius has explained the same thing:
Many people have adopted a clear evangelical faith. But they have no spirit that fears God. They find it easy to believe in the grace of God, while they continue to live according to their own will. They have embarked on a dubious path and are in danger of perdition. Others, on the other hand, talk much about the law, but treat it with deceit and superficiality. They never break down, but are quite content with their piety and holiness. That is just as bad. (2)
A legalistic view that emphasizes keeping the commandments . We will first discuss those who want to acknowledge the importance of the law and commandments, but not the gospel. They readily accept that we should do good works, keep God’s commandments, love our neighbors, and believe in God, but they do not take seriously the teaching of Christ’s substitutionary suffering and death. They may also talk about God’s grace and that the best walk is by God’s grace. They may also explain that we must believe in Christ to become righteous. They do not directly say that we are saved by works. Instead, for them salvation is a mixture of human cooperation, or works, and God’s grace. God supplies by His grace what is lacking in human walk. This view, which confuses law and grace and faith and works, is clearly evident in the 3rd article of faith of the Mormons:
We believe that all people may be saved through the Atonement of Christ by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
Luther, in his commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians, similarly explained the view that man first does what he can and then God gives his grace:
The correct way to receive righteousness isn’t that you do what you can; this phrase is used by sophists and scholastics. They say that if a man does what he can then God will definitely give His grace to him. This saying is one of the most important of the sophists and is quite like a creed. However, in order to clearly show that they do not understand a word about Paul's doctrine and his gospel, they soften this statement as follows: That a man does what he can must not be understood absolutely, in a mathematical way, but in harmony with human nature, in other words, it is enough for a person to carry out what blameless people find acceptable; there is no question of an absolute manner, because there can be no such thing; it is enough to verge on that absolute, in other words, it is enough when someone does enough – fasts or does something similar – that according to the judgment of blameless people it may be said to be good; then surely the result will be mercy, not based on moderation per se, but on the basis of God's unfailing goodness: He is so good and righteous that He cannot fail to give mercy as a reward for sincerity. This is where the saying came from: Ultra posse viri non vult Deus ulla requiri (God does not require more from man than he can do).
The same view, which confuses the gospel and the law, that is, the atonement of Christ and the works of man, is found in John Bunyan's well-known book, The Pilgrim’s Progress” (pp. 164,165). These religious people think that if they first do their best, God will eventually grant them His grace for Christ's sake. To them, salvation is a mixture of human works and God's grace. God's grace fills up what is lacking in human works. They never say directly that they come before God by their works or that they deny the atonement of Christ, but in practice this is what happens. Bold has been added to the following quote:
Ignorant: Do you think I am so stupid that I don't know that God sees more than I do? Or that I come before God under the protection of my good deeds? Christian: So what do you think about this? Ignorant: In short, I think I must believe in Christ to become righteous. Christian: What on earth? You think you must believe in Christ, even though you don't realize you need him. You don't realize your original sin and your weaknesses, and you think so highly of yourself and your works that you don't need Christ's righteousness before God. How then can you say you believe in Christ? Ignorant: I still believe it. Christian: How do you believe? Ignorant: I believe that Christ died for sinners, and that I am freed from the curse before God, when he in his grace accepts my observance of the law. Therefore Christ makes my religious works acceptable to the Father for his own merits, and so I am justified . Christian: I want to respond to this confession of yours. 1. Your faith is imaginary; it is not described in God's Word. 2. Your faith is wrong, because it takes righteousness from the righteousness of Christ and connects it to your own. 3. According to your belief, Christ does not justify you, He first justifies your acts and you yourself only after that – which is quite wrong. 4. Therefore this faith is deceitful, and leaves you under the wrath of Almighty God in the day of God. True justifying faith makes the soul, who feels its lost condition before the law, flee to the righteousness of Christ. His righteousness is not an act of mercy by which he would change your obedience into righteousness, but he himself was obedient before the law, doing and suffering for us what was necessary. This is the righteousness which true faith receives, and when the soul is clothed with it, it comes before God spotless, approved, and free from condemnation. Ignorant: What? Should we trust in what Christ has done in Himself outside of us? Then our desires would be free and we could live any way we wanted. Then the righteousness of Christ would be enough to justify us from everything, no matter how we lived, if we would only believe in it. Christian: Ignorant is your name, and you are truly worthy of your name, as this answer proves. You are ignorant of what true righteousness is, and ignorant of how faith in it can save you from the wrath of God. You are equally ignorant of what saving faith in the righteousness of Christ does, how it can win the heart to God in Christ, to love his name, his Word, his ways, and his people, and not at all as you ignorantly imagine.
Old heresy. When we start to discuss the previous concept, we confuse two opposite things: law and grace, faith and works. However, these are mutually exclusive, opposite things in the light of the Bible. A person is saved either entirely through the law or entirely through grace. Similarly, faith, or trust in Christ, and works are opposites in the light of the Bible. It is a question of 0% / 100% relationships. There is no middle ground between these opposites. However, because we are imperfect, our only option is to be saved through grace. It is a gift from God. This becomes clear in the following verses.
- (Eph 2:4-5) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;)
- (Eph 2:8-9) For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- (Acts 15:11) But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
- (Tit 2:11) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men
- (Rom 3:24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
- (Rom 6:23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- (Rev 21:6) And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely.
- (Rev 22:17) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Likewise, because we are imperfect, we can only be saved through faith in the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement, and works cannot be mixed in with it. Good works can and certainly do follow salvation if faith is genuine, but making them a condition of salvation excludes faith. The Bible clearly distinguishes these two things and emphasizes that only through faith in Christ and his atonement can we be saved:
- (Rom 3:28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
- (Rom 4:2-3) For if Abraham were justified by works, he has whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what said the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.
- (Rom 4:5-6) But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputes righteousness without works,
- (Eph 2:8-9) For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- (Gal 2:16) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
- (Tit 3:5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
When it takes not only faith in Christ but also works to achieve salvation, it is an old heresy that the early church had to fight against, and because of which Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians. Even then, it was taught that in addition to Christ, circumcision and obedience to the law were needed in order for a person to be saved. The book of Acts tells of these heretics for whom Christ's atoning work alone was not enough for salvation. The same features are evident in modern religiosity, where other conditions are placed on Christ's atonement, such as works or belonging to a certain congregation. The situation has not changed at all since the time of the apostles:
- (Acts 15:1) And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brothers, and said, Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.
Paul continues on the same theme in Galatians. He rebuked the Galatians for turning to the doctrines preached by false apostles, where faith in Christ alone was not enough. Christ died in vain if righteousness and salvation can be achieved even in part through the law. These words of Paul are still relevant today.
- (Gal 3:1-5) O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, does he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
- (Gal 2:21) Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness should have been by the law.
What about Martin Luther? He has perhaps written more thoroughly on the subject than anyone else. He himself was a monk who initially tried to connect works with the atoning work of Christ, but found it impossible. No one gains assurance of salvation through his works. Luther learned this through his own experiences. Especially in his commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians, he has written about this falsification of the gospel, in which Christ can be acknowledged in words as the Justifier and Savior, but in reality His ability to justify and save is robbed from Him and replaced with man's self-chosen acts:
But the truth of the Gospel is this: our righteousness is through faith alone, without acts of the law. Interpreting the Gospel falsely is to say that we are justified through faith, but not without acts of the law. The false apostles preached the Gospel by adding this condition to it. Our Sophists [and papists] teach the same: we must believe in Christ, and faith is the foundation of blessedness, but it does not justify us if it has not been expressed through love. This is not the truth of the Gospel, but something that only looks like the gospel.
This is a genuine Christian doctrine: we are justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law. Let not the impious explanation of the sophists in this matter shock you in the least, for they say that faith is righteousness only when love and good works come in addition to it. By this pernicious explanation they have obscured and corrupted the best passages of Scripture. ...It must therefore be avoided like hellish poison and must be concluded with Paul: we become righteous by faith alone, not by faith manifested by love. The power of justification is therefore not to be attributed to that qualifying manifestation, but to the faith that clings to the Savior, Christ, and owns him in its heart. This faith justifies without and before love.
What about the claim that if a person believes in Christ, he can then commit any sin with a good conscience? These people do not understand that if we receive a new nature from God through regeneration, no one will then want to sin intentionally. Faith in Christ causes a person to want to avoid sin, not only out of fear of hell, but out of love for God, who has forgiven man his sins. That is, we are justified by faith alone without works, but the same faith also produces works and the desire to live according to God's will, if it is alive; otherwise it is dead (James 2:26). So the Bible speaks of works of faith and obedience of faith. Similarly, Hebrews 11 tells how heroes of faith did great works through faith. The works were a result of the faith that was in their hearts:
- (2 Thess 1:11) 11 Why also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
- (Rom 1:5) - (Rom 1:5) By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name
- (Hebr 11:6-11) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
God justifies the wicked. As stated, the emphasis in the legalistic view is on fulfilling and doing the commandments. It is thought that when a person first does his best, God will eventually grant his grace for the sake of Christ. However, this view is no different from how Muslims or representatives of all other religions think. In all of them, the emphasis in achieving God's grace is that a person first does deeds, and God may grant his grace as a result of them. These people have no certainty, which is understandable, because none of us are perfect and sinless. Why is this view wrong in light of the Bible? The reason is simple: It displaces Jesus Christ as our righteousness and savior. That is, if salvation is even partially a result of our works, then Christ no longer has a position as savior and the only way to God. Many people who are focused on the law have difficulty understanding the role of Jesus Christ as our righteousness. They may often see Jesus as an ideal example, but they do not understand his role as the means of salvation. They wonder why God does not give his grace directly, but that Jesus Christ is needed for that. However, what is essential is his vicarious life and death for all of us. Since Jesus Christ was sinless as the Son of God during his lifetime, he became a substitute who died for our sins through his death on the cross. God was in Christ and through him was reconciling the world to himself. This gives us the opportunity for forgiveness of sins. The following verses point to Jesus’ position as our righteousness and savior. God cannot accept any righteousness other than that which comes through his Son. Our own righteousness, however, is like filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6 6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away):
- (Jer 23:6) 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
- (1 Cor 1:30) But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
- (2 Cor 5:19-21) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be you reconciled to God. 21 For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
- (Acts 4:11-12) This is the stone which was set at nothing of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
When a legalistic person emphasizes what he or she does – I am not as bad as others, I have prayed, I have tried to fulfill God's commandments, I go to church, I have donated money to charity – the Bible's teaching is the opposite: It is that works follow faith, if it is genuine faith, but they cannot influence one's salvation in any way. Instead, the Bible teaches that God justifies the ungodly. What does that mean? It means that God gives His grace and righteousness to a person in one moment, not because of their good works, but out of grace. In fact, every person is inherently ungodly and evil in God’s eyes, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Rom 3:23).
- (Rom 5:6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
- (Rom 4:5,6) But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputes righteousness without works,
- (Rom 3:28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
- (Rom 3:24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
The following examples show how God justifies the wicked, or saves someone who has no merit before God. That's what we all really are:
• The thief on the cross was saved simply by believing in Jesus and turning to Him. He could not at that point do good works, pay tithes, go to church, or plead that he was not as bad as others. God saved him by grace alone:
- (Luke 23:42,43) And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 43 And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, To day shall you be with me in paradise.
• The Philippian jailer is another case. He had done no preparatory works to receive God's grace, and Paul only urged him to believe, or trust, in Christ and his work. This was enough for his salvation:
- (Acts 16:30-31) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.
• Paul is a third example. He was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man, so he could not plead his works. Instead, he received mercy immediately after turning to Jesus.
- (1 Tim 1:12,13) And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
- (Titus 3:4,5) But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Jesus’ teaching about the Pharisee and the publican clearly shows what the issue is. The Pharisee talked about his actions: praying, fasting, giving tithes, not being an adulterer or as wicked as other people. On the other hand, the publican knew that he had nothing good to offer before God. Therefore, he appealed only to God’s mercy, as a result of which he left the sanctuary more righteous than the publican. The example shows very well the problem of legalistic people. They do not put their hope solely in the grace of God in Jesus Christ, but constantly talk about their own deeds. Therefore, they remain outside of salvation all the time. Jesus came to save sinners, not those who trust in their own righteousness (Luke 5:32: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. / Matt 5:20 For I say to you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven):
- (Luke 18:9-14) And he spoke this parable to certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote on his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
The difference between law and gospel. As noted, a legalistic person may talk about the righteousness and grace of Christ, but in practice he relies on his actions: “I am not as bad as others, I have prayed, I have tried to fulfill God’s commandments, I go to church, I have donated money to charity…”. At the heart of everything are the words “me and what I do”. It is also characteristic of him that he lowers the requirements of the law so that it does not condemn him completely. As a result, he has self-satisfaction, self-righteousness, and that he lives in false certainty. C.O. Rosenius has described this attitude:
But let us look a little more closely at how the law is made into a way of salvation. In order that the law may not condemn man, he tries to compromise its demands and make it easier and gentler. In this way the law is more in harmony with what man himself means, and in any case with what he himself is capable of. The usual objection is this: no mortal can do this or that, therefore God cannot demand it either. After all, he cannot demand more than we can do! This is a clever move, because it would avoid "that every mouth may be stopped” (Rom 3:19). (3)
Why does a legalistic person act in the way described above? The reason is that he does not understand the difference between the law and the gospel. First, the law refers to God’s own will and character. He is completely holy, perfect, and righteous, and there is no darkness in Him. He does not lower the requirements of the law, even though some people do so, or expect Him to do so. The law does not change because God does not change. He always hates sin, otherwise He would not be a holy and righteous God. Several verses in the Bible speak of His perfection:
- (1 John 1:5) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
- (Leviticus 11:45) For I am the LORD that brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
- (Matt 5:48) Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
God’s holiness and hatred of sin are evident in many verses of the Bible. He cannot even be a good and holy God if he does not react at all to the evil in the world, if he does not hate it and does not judge it. Or how could we respect a judge who does not enforce the law and says that all the wrongs and injustices in the world do not matter? He would be indifferent if he did not defend the rights of the weak and did not judge the oppressors. People could do anything without consequences. However, the God of the Bible is not like this, but he hates evil and will judge it:
- (Rom 1:18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
- (Rom 3: 5) But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
- (Eph 5:6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God on the children of disobedience.
- (Col 3:5) 5 Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience:
But, but. God is not only a holy and righteous God who hates sin. He is also love, and this is where the gospel comes in. The law (the 10 commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, other prohibitions and warnings) shows God's holiness, but the gospel shows his love. That is, the gospel tells what God did for us through his Son Jesus Christ. The motive was God's love, so that imperfect and sinful people could have their sins forgiven.
- (John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- (1 John 4:9,10) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
- (Rom 5:8) But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
So God does not compromise the law. It always remains perfect and valid because God does not change. Instead, God solved the problem between His own holiness and love by having God’s Son, Jesus Christ, come into the world under law, living a completely sinless life, and ultimately dying on the cross for our sins. The Bible also tells us that God Himself was in Christ and was reconciling the world to Himself. In this substitutionary life and death of Jesus Christ on our behalf is the solution to how God reconciles our imperfection with His own holiness. So if we put our hope and trust in the sacrifice that comes through Jesus Christ, we will be partakers of the forgiveness of sins. On the other hand, if we reject Jesus, we will have to pay for our sins ourselves in hell:
- (Matt 5:17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
- (Matt 20:28) Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
- (Rom 8:3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
- (Gal 4:4,5) But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
- (2 Cor 5:19-21) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be you reconciled to God. 21 For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The law shows sin and human imperfection. As noted, legalistic people do not understand the holiness of God and the importance of the law. They measure everything by human standards and are satisfied when they are not as bad as others, when they have given up some blatant sins, and when they have practiced some prayer, charity, and other good deeds. The problem, however, is that God demands perfection, and the law is an accusation against man, not a means of salvation. Some may not be as bad as others, but that does not benefit man in terms of salvation. For example, if a bus drives into a ravine, there are both great and small sinners among the dead. Yet their fate is the same. Or if you had to swim across the Atlantic in one go without stopping, some might get further than others, but what good is it if you don't get there? No one would survive that. The purpose of the law is therefore other than to be a means of salvation. It shows a person that he does not meet God's standard and is therefore cursed and going to the damnation. The law is an accusation against man. It shows the hardened and self-righteous that he is like a drowning man who cannot save himself. Only when man sees his own miserable condition does the law fulfill its purpose. Man begins to seek righteousness, not from himself, but from outside, that is, from the work of Christ on the cross. Then the law works right if it gives us knowledge of sin and leads us to Christ, as Paul wrote.
- (James 2:10) For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
- (Rom 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
- (Rom 3:9,10) What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
- (Gal 3:10-13) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that does them shall live in them. 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:
- (Rom 3:19,20) Now we know that what things soever the law said, it said to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
- (Gal 3:21-24) Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Why the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
If we consider the ordinary commandments, they show our shortcomings. First, the tenth commandment tells us not to lust, but has anyone kept this? Jesus said that “whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matt 5:28). Women can also commit the same sin. No one is perfect. Has anyone ever lied or given false testimony against their neighbor? We are told that all who are guilty of lying are outside of salvation and will go to hell: “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and makes a lie” (Rev. 22:15). Have you been greedy and have you sought worldly wealth? The Bible tells us that greed is idolatry: “Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:” (Col. 3:5) . We are also told that idolaters, which include the greedy, are outside salvation: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8). What about the “You shall not kill” commandment? According to the Bible, anyone who hates his brother is already a murderer. If you have not loved everyone at all times, you have already committed this sin: “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15). Have you ever stolen or been dishonest on your tax return? The Bible shows that thieves will not inherit the kingdom of God: “ … Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:10). Have you always honored your father and mother, as one of the Ten Commandments says? Or have you condemned them in your mind? Many may be bitter toward their parents and will not forgive them. Perhaps our shortcomings are most clearly seen in the double commandment of love, which requires us to love God and our neighbor at all times with all our heart, soul, and mind. If we have not obeyed this at all times, then we have committed the greatest sin of all, simply because we have broken the greatest commandment.
- (Matt 22:35-40) Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
So there were sins that we may have committed. They show our shortcomings very clearly. We have not done what is right, and therefore we cannot go before God on our own, but we need the perfect free righteousness of Christ. Only in this way are we worthy before God, as the Bible shows in many places. Therefore, put your trust in Jesus Christ and not in your own righteousness, which does not stand before God. Only through Jesus Christ can you be acceptable to God. Let's look at another quote related to self-righteousness. Many people compare themselves to others or blame people in the church. However, this does not help anyone before God, because there is no sinless person. A self-righteous person must first see his own sin, because superiority over others does not bring anyone into communion with God. Only after a self-righteous person understands his own condition in the light of God's law can he enter into a right relationship with God. An example was given by the late well-known preacher David Pawson:
But the thing that God cannot do anything about is common both inside and outside the church, and that is self-righteousness. God cannot do anything about self-righteous people who think they are good, who think they are better than others, but who are nowhere near God’s standard. They don’t realize it themselves because they are always comparing themselves to others, to their neighbors, to the people across the street. As long as you compare yourself to other people, you think you are righteous, but that is self-righteousness. I went to the barber to get my hair cut and I thought it was time to talk to my barber. While he was cutting my hair, he just said, “I am as good as anyone who goes to your church.” I said, “I don’t think you can say that until you know them better; you may be right, but it won’t help you.” He asked, “Why not?” I replied, “Are you as good as Jesus?” The conversation stopped there and he went quiet, and then he said, “Well, maybe not exactly.” That was the beginning of him seeing himself for who he really was. He was a self-righteous man because he thought he was good when he compared himself to other people. So many people do. (4)
Right and wrong contrition
- (Rom 3:19,20: Now we know that what things soever the law said, it said to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
It was noted earlier how legalistic people are satisfied with their condition. They may compare themselves and their walk with others and draw wrong conclusions from it. They think that they are doing well because they are not as bad as others, even though they are constantly outside of salvation with their sins. One of the wrong ways in which such a person can establish their own righteousness (Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God), is also to constantly feel a kind of sense of sin and badness. They consider such a state to be good. They want to remain in their state, get a kind of comfort from it, and want to be eternal seekers who do not want to arrive. They always want to remain in the place of the wretched. This is hypocrisy. What then is a true sense of sin? A true sense of sin causes a person to no longer endure his condition, but to seek deliverance from it, just as a drowning person seeks help. When he has failed in all his own righteousness, repentance, prayer, and striving for better, he begins to seek salvation in Christ, and not in anything in himself. No more sense of sin is needed if it has led a person to Christ. Christ can save such a person, but not one who still trusts in his own goodness, righteousness, or bad conscience and rejoices in some religious act of his. Saving faith is genuine only when it loses faith in the goodness of ourselves and makes it focus on Jesus Christ. What should a person do who considers his sense of sin and guilt a good state? He should turn to God at once and confess his hypocrisy and impenitence. Furthermore, he must put his trust in Jesus Christ, and not in his own religious practice. In this way he can have assurance of salvation, and he need not be in an eternal state of misery. Any delay in this matter is rebellion against God.
Catholics and Salvation . Here is a brief overview of the Catholic Church. It and its development are a story in themselves. Many consider the Catholic Church to be Christian, but it has little to do with it. It is often the complete opposite of what Jesus and the apostles taught. Of course, there are still some priests in the Catholic Church who are living the faith, but the more centuries have passed, the fewer they are and the more the church has deviated from the biblical faith (This has happened and is happening to all the old churches. The Lutheran Church is also following in the same footsteps). The deviation from the biblical faith has also occurred in the matter of salvation. The papal church's delusions and its rebellion against God are demonstrated by the fact that Mary has been made the means of salvation. Mary has supplanted Jesus as the only mediator and the only way to God (John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me."). In practice, this means that Catholics pray to Mary (or other saints) and put their hope in her, and not in Jesus.
God has entrusted to Mary the treasury of good things, so that everyone may know that through her all hope, all grace, and all salvation are available. (Pius IX, Ubi Primum, cited in Mark Miravalle: Introduction to Mary. The Heart of Marian Doctrine and Devotion. Queenship Publishing Co., Santa Barbara 1993)
Why did the Church add these words? The Church added these words so that we might cry out to the Mother of God for help in all situations and especially so that we might pray for the blessed moment of death. (Catholic Catechism, 1953, p. 168)
The Catholic Church represents a kind of mixed religion. Christian vocabulary has been mixed into it, but idolatry is at the center of everything. The worship and prayer of Mary is one example. The following quotes also tell about this mixed religion and idolatry. When some evangelical Christians in modern times feel attracted to Catholicism, its mysticism and liturgy, I think they are clearly going in the wrong direction. Why should one look for light where there is intense darkness, idolatry and false ways of salvation? This is not an accusation against anyone, but Catholic people need to experience true conversion and rebirth. When they receive Jesus into their lives, there is no need for useless idolatry and false substitutes such as praying to saints.
It is sometimes said that Haiti is 90% Catholic and 100% Voodoo. This claim is not entirely true, of course, but it does highlight the fact that the dichotomy in Haiti's religious history has never been a confrontation between two distinct groups of people. Almost all voodoo practitioners would call themselves Catholic, and most Catholics practice voodoo. Haitian voodoo is a blend of Catholicism and West African religiosity, where ancestors are worshipped and parents allow their children to be possessed by their ancestors and other spirits. (5)
On the other side of the world is the Philippines, a nation with a strong influence of folk Catholicism. There, Catholics hold annual processions and wild carnivals celebrating the Black Nazarene, the Queen of Heaven, and a variety of saints. The “Queen of Heaven” is an idol mentioned as early as Old Testament times (Jeremiah 7:18). Vatican Radio reported that 12 million Filipinos walked barefoot in a carnival procession with a statue of the Black Nazarene in January 2016. The report continues: “The veneration of the statue dates back to the 17th century, when the Philippines was under Spanish rule.” It also mentions that the statue has a “miraculous aura.” (6)
Catholics can also practice penance and atonement, with which they try to erase their sin debt. However, this is a futile attempt. As stated above, no other atonement is acceptable to God than the vicarious life and death for us through his own Son. All human penance and atonement practices lead them to hell. The sacraments also lead there if a person has not turned to Jesus. In themselves, they do not simply save. Catholics should ask themselves why Jesus died on the cross at all, if it has no significance. If one's own penance can erase sins, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross was in vain (Gal 2: 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain). Catholics consider the following verses to be lies, among others, when they try to erase their sin debt with their works, and do not trust Jesus Christ in this matter:
- (1 Cor 15:3) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
- (Gal 1:4) Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
- (Rom 5:8) But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
- (Rom 8:32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
- (Gal 2:20) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
- (Gal 3:13) 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:
- (1 Thess 5:10) Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
- (1 Peter 3:18) For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
- (Hebr 6:20) Where the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Grace-Oriented View Without the Fear of God. As I said, there are roughly said two groups of foolish virgins: the law-oriented and the grace-oriented. The law-oriented group emphasizes commandments and following God’s law, just as the Pharisees of Jesus’ day did and did not submit to God’s righteousness (Rom 10:2,3). They like to point out that we should fulfill the commandments, love our neighbors, and follow the instructions of the Bible. However, they have never lost hope in their own works, but trust in them and in their transformation. They think that God accepts their works and efforts for Christ’s sake. On the other hand, the second group, the grace-oriented group, has an evangelical understanding in which God is merciful, compassionate and loving, and that Christ died for sinners. It is easy for them to believe in God’s mercy and that God will take care of them throughout their lives. However, their problem is that they do not have a spirit that fears God. They live according to their own will, and God is like a servant to their needs, not a Lord to be obeyed. They are not afraid to sin on the basis of grace. Instead, they think that “God is merciful anyway, so why worry about it.” They do not agree with the law, do not want to hear about God’s holiness and righteousness, the work of repentance, or that “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it” (Matt 7:14). They may consider teaching that emphasizes these basic Bible themes to be narrow-minded. John Bevere tells a dramatic example in one of his books. It is about a well-known preacher who had been in prison for his crimes and had also committed adultery. In his cell he met Jesus. The remarkable thing about his case was that he had loved Jesus all along, but had not feared him. The man stated that because of this he was on his way to hell until he was truly saved. He also stated that there are millions of similar Americans who love Jesus but do not fear God. They too are separated from God, although from the outside they may appear to be Christians.
These scriptures came alive when I visited a well-known evangelist in prison. He was the most famous preacher in the world in the 1980s. He had committed crimes against our country's government, including adultery. The man had been in prison for almost five years, but early in his sentence he had encountered Jesus in his cell and it had changed his life. One of my books had touched him deeply, and he had asked me to visit him. … One of his first words was: “John, it was not God’s judgment that put me in this prison. It was His grace that did it, for if I had continued to live as I was then, I would have ended up in hell forever.” His words struck me with a shock. I was amazed at his sincerity and humility. After listening to him for about twenty minutes, I asked an awkward question. I knew he had loved Jesus very much in the early days of his ministry and had been on fire with God. I wanted to know how he had lost his passion. Finally, I just asked, “When did you stop loving Jesus? At what point?” I looked for signs of our loss of love for him, especially as a pastor. “I didn't stop loving,” he replied convincingly. I was shocked and a little horrified by his response. How could he say that? I hit back. “What do you mean? You committed adultery. You committed fraud—you were put in prison. How can you say you didn’t stop loving Jesus?” Again he looked me straight in the eye and said without hesitation, “I loved Jesus all that time.” I was silent, and I'm sure my face showed immense confusion. Then he said, "I loved Jesus, but I wasn't afraid of him." There was silence for several minutes. He let his words sink into my heart. Emotions welled up inside me. He broke the silence by saying solemnly, “There are millions of Americans like me. They love Jesus, but they don’t fear God.” (7)
Belief in historical facts or trust in the person of Christ? When approaching this topic, it is first necessary to distinguish between different beliefs. Many people believe that Jesus Christ lived on earth, died for our sins, and rose from the dead. They have no doubt whatsoever about these events recorded in the Bible or about the other historicity of the Bible. Perhaps they were raised in a Christian home, and as a result, they find it easy to trust the historicity of the events in the Bible. Furthermore, they can easily recite the creed in church and believe all its claims to be true. This is not saving faith, however. Even demons have faith in the historicity of the events of the Bible. Instead, true faith involves putting trust in the person of Jesus and not just believing in the claims made about him. A person puts their whole life and trust in Jesus for salvation. Many may do this when their children are sick, if they have financial problems or other temporal problems, but they have never put their hope in Jesus alone for salvation, trusted in him, turned to him, and surrendered their whole lives to him. The following example well illustrates the intellectual and theoretical faith that does not lead to salvation. Charles G. Finney, a well-known preacher from the 19th century, tells how he had such faith until he finally understood that saving faith involves trusting the heart in the person of Christ and turning to Him. This is consistent with Jesus’ teaching that by coming to Him we can have eternal life (And you will not come to me, that you might have life, John 5:40):
Charles G. Finney: I’ve been faced with this faulty view of Christian belief’s nature often after I have received permission to preach. I noted, especially during my earlier years of service, that believing in “articles of faith” were heavily emphasized, and it was claimed that the belief was believing doctrines related to the Christ with firm conviction. Therefore, as a prerequisite for faith, the acceptance of the doctrines, DOCTRINES, doctrines of the Gospels was required. But I had been led to accept these doctrines intellectually and steadily before my conversion. And when I was told that I needed to believe, I replied that I believe—and no argument or assurance could convince me that I did not believe the gospel. And until the moment of my conversion, I was not, and could not be convinced, of my mistake. At the moment of my conversion or when I first time practiced faith, I saw my disastrous mistake. I noticed that faith is not a rational conviction of that the truths about Christ in the Bible are true but it is trust of heart in the person of Christ. I learned that God’s witness of Christ had to lead me to trust in Christ, to believe in Him as my Saviour, and that mere believing in the doctrines of Christ was a fateful mistake, which unavoidably left me to my sins. (...) Besides firm rational conviction being directed to His willingness and abilities, it would also be of utmost importance to go to Him, turn to Him and trust Him…(8)
Why haven’t all taken the first step, that is, turned to Jesus, put their trust in him, and surrendered their whole lives to him? The reason is that the law has never been allowed to show them how they themselves are sinners, under God’s wrath, lost, and separated from God. Perhaps many have raised their hands in a meeting, written their names on a decision card, or even said a prayer of salvation before they have properly understood their condition before God. Therefore, these people need to be brought to a state where they see themselves as God sees them: lost sinners who are going to hell without the atoning work of Christ. They need to be made to see that God demands obedience and punishes disobedience. Only the law can do this, because the law our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Gal. 3: 24 Why the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.). Without the law, man does not experience contrition and his state of being under condemnation, and he can experience a false conversion. The preaching of the law must remove the false foundations before the gospel can be of help. Pastor Rob Rufus has taken a stand on the subject:
If unsaved people are not given the law, the Holy Spirit can do nothing to lead them to Christ, for the only thing that will truly lead them to Christ is the Ten Commandments—God’s law! God’s law is therefore the necessary, missing ingredient in evangelism. Unless unsaved people hear God’s law or understand its commandments, they are in danger of coming to Christ without the law and for the wrong reasons. Let me explain—the law itself is powerless to save, but it shows us that we need a Savior. Without this understanding, people may make a purely emotional decision that is not based on a real sense of need. So, in reality, only the law can bring them to Christ. (9)
The problem is that we often too hastily urge people to believe in Christ and trust in him before they have fully realized that they are guilty, lost, and separated from God. Therefore, everything can remain superficial. Or people who are in a state of revival, but who have not yet understood their guilt before God, are urged to surrender to God. Charles G. Finney has written how this can be harmful if people are not first shown through the law their hopeless condition before God:
The soul-winner should distinguish very carefully between the awakened sinner and the sinner under contrition. If you meet a person who is somewhat interested in spiritual things, do not take it for granted that he is under contrition, and thus lose no opportunity of showing him his sinfulness... You must show him that the law condemns his thoughts and his life... Much evil has been done, and many have been given false hope, by the failure to distinguish between the awakened sinner and the one under contrition. For this reason many newly awakened ones have been hastily told, "You must repent," or "Surrender to God," when they are not at all convinced of their guilt, and have not been instructed to know what surrender to God means. (10)
What can be concluded from the above? We must distinguish between theoretical and historical faith from the faith that places its trust in Jesus Christ alone and in His atoning work, turns to Him, and in which a person surrenders his entire life to Christ. Only the latter is saving faith. Furthermore, this saving faith has always been preceded by the fact that man has noticed in the light of the law how he himself is lost, separated from God, and subject to God's wrath. Therefore, he sees no other alternative than the promises of the Word about how God himself was in Christ and reconciled the world to himself. Faith is not really a strong feeling, but placing trust in promises of the Word such as the following:
- (John 3:16) For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Faith does not remain alone, but works follow . It was stated earlier how heresy is that we must influence salvation with our works. It will not work because none of us are perfect and sinless. God does not give His grace because we first do our best, but because Christ fulfilled the law and was sinless, and when we trust in Him. This faith, or trust in Christ, is the only way we can become righteous before God and how we can enter heaven. Faith in Christ is sufficient even for the greatest sinners in the world when they turn to God (e.g. the thief on the cross who turned to Jesus, Luke 23:39-44) . No one is so good that they can enter heaven by themselves, but on the other hand, no one is so bad that they cannot enter there through Christ. Here is the paradox of the Christian faith. Every person, whether a small or great sinner, is completely worthy before God when they trust in Christ. When it comes to saving faith, it is, however, a working faith. If a person has turned to God and experienced true salvation, he does not want to sin intentionally. He may fall, and often we do fall because of our weakness, but his goal is to obey God. If a person does not have such a goal and desire, his faith is dead, as James wrote (James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also). Dead faith does not bring about a positive change in a person, but living faith causes a desire to obey God's commandments, even though a person may be far from perfection (Paul also had to admit that he had the will to do good, but he did not always succeed in it, Rom 7:18). The following verses, among others, bring out the meaning of obedience. Obedience and the desire to obey God do not save anyone, but if it is not there at all, a person is not saved:
- (Rom 1:5) By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name
- (Rom 2:6-11) Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: 8 But to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man that does evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
- (Rom 16:26) But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
- (2 Thess 1:8) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
- (Hebr 11:8) By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he went.
- (Rom 6:17) But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
- (John 3:36) 36 He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God stays on him.
The following is a related vision of John Bevere. It tells of countless people who are waiting to go to heaven but who have not changed inwardly. The vision is consistent with the parable of the ten virgins (Matt 25:1-13), in which the foolish virgins acknowledged Jesus as their Lord, yet Jesus did not know them. It is worth noting in this vision that these people lacked a burning desire to be obedient to the Father's will:
Forgiveness without repentance ? As noted, there are two groups among the foolish virgins: those who emphasize the law and commandments, and those who speak of grace. As for the latter group, it is characterized by a false image of God. It may have been taught that God loves always and unconditionally, accepting everyone as they are. God has been made a friend to all and a tolerant God who does not care about the idols and evils in people’s lives. One of the commandments says: “You shall not make to you any graven image…” (Exodus 20:4). This does not necessarily mean only wooden, stone and metal idols, but that we can create our own kind of god in our minds who will be kind to our sinful practices: “You do not need to change, because God accepts you as you are.” Perhaps people have also heard the prosperity gospel, in which God has a wonderful plan for our lives and that he wants us to be successful. God may have been made a steward and servant of men, rather than Lord. But as stated, God is not only love (1 John 4:8: He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.), who loves us and wants good for us. He is also perfect and holy (1 Peter 1:16: Because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy). He is light, and in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.). He is not a friend to everyone, and does not take lightly any sin, but hates all sin and wickedness. He will not accept it if someone deliberately and with an unrepentant heart continues to steal, slander, lie, bitterness, commit adultery and other sins. He will not forgive the unrepentant, or if this were to happen, we would not be able to consider him a good God. E.g. The following verses show that it is dangerous to come before God with an unrepentant heart and hardened self. Only through Christ and when we confess our sins can we be most secure before Him:
- (Hebr 10:26-31) For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, with which he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite to the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that has said, Vengeance belongs to me, I will recompense, said the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
- (Hebr 12:28,29) Why we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
- (1 John 1:8,9) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If a person has lived in unrighteousness and wickedness, what should he do then? The Bible has a simple answer to this: We must repent of all conscious sin and confess our sins to God. True repentance means that we turn away from sin and toward God. Yes, we can still fall into sin, but the direction should constantly be away from sin and toward God. None of us deserves forgiveness of sins through the act of repentance, but it happens only because of Christ's atoning work. However, if there is no change of heart regarding sin, a person will not inherit the kingdom of God, as Paul wrote (1 Cor 6:9,10: Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God.). E.g. The following verses highlight the meaning of repentance, or change of heart:
- (Luke 13:2,3) And Jesus answering said to them, Suppose you that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.
- (Acts 17:29,30) For as much then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone, graven by are and man's device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent:
- (Acts 20:21) 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
- (Acts 26:19,20) Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision: 20 But showed first to them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
- (Rom 2:4,5) Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But after your hardness and impenitent heart treasure up to yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
- (2 Peter 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Regarding the above Bible verses, it must be said frankly that repentance and change of heart do not always feel pleasant. It can be disgusting to our selfishness and reputation. Each of us would rather always choose the easier way. Human nature would prefer to keep the minor or major sins in our lives: extramarital sex, watching porn, spending hours at the movies, unforgiveness, stolen money, lying, and not giving our time to God or the work of God's kingdom. Or many have the opportunity to be persecuted for their faith, so following God and surrendering our lives to Him is not always an easy choice. The late, well-known preacher Frank Mangs gave an example of how choosing between God and selfishness is very difficult. It can require self-denial and perhaps the loss of a good position. The man in the example chose darkness and eternal separation from God:
I remember a man who sat on the bench against the wall of the meeting room every evening. He always had the same familiar spot. He was an old man, but for the first time in his life he was attending a revival meeting. As he listened, he often wept. He was ashamed of his tears, for he was a man. He wiped them away secretly and tried to appear carefree, though he succeeded badly. God sought him intensely; the man would certainly have become a Christian if only one thing had not stood in the way. A few years earlier, he had been the director of a large corporation. It was an open secret in the city that he had been dishonest in his work, although he had never been prosecuted for his crime. Now the man stood before Him, who searches hearts and tests motives and who is the judge of the most secret deeds of man. He stood before God, and he had to make a choice. He knew it. The choice was either truth, confession, and the poorhouse, or lies, darkness, and hell. He chose the latter. I remember well when a change took place in him. It was visible on the surface. He continued to attend meetings. He still kept his old place on the bench by the wall, but he resembled more a marble statue than a living being. Nothing moved him any more. The Word and the Spirit had no effect on him. But instead the powers of darkness acted all the more strongly. He became critical and harsh. He became a public blasphemer of the work of the Holy Spirit. He seemed to have been stigmatized already in time for damnation. A little later, in the blink of an eye, he plunged into eternity in an accident. (12)
Charles G. Finney has told another related example. There, people wanted to settle their differences with both God and people, just as Zacchaeus did in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 19:1-10: And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at your house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said to him, This day is salvation come to this house, as much as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.) The result was that people replaced what they had unjustly taken:
In recounting the revivals, I have omitted many of the crimes of which the perpetrators came to me to tell me, seeking my counsel. Often, those troubled by conscience, repaid what they had acquired either by outright embezzlement or by selfish deceit in their business dealings, sometimes thousands of dollars. The first winter I spent in Boston also led to many such revelations. I had preached there one Sunday on the subject, “He that covers his sins shall not prosper.” And in the evening I preached the last part of the verse, “but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” I remember that the effect of these two sermons was rare. For weeks afterward men and women of almost all ages came to me for spiritual counsel, confessing to me that they had committed various embezzlements and almost every kind of crime. Young men had embezzled from their employers in the store, women had stolen watches and almost any kind of women’s goods. It was truly felt that the word of God had come so strongly upon the consciences at that time that it exposed the real den of evil. It would take hours to tell of the crimes that came to my personal knowledge through the confessions of the guilty. But in all these cases, the individuals concerned seemed to be deeply remorseful and were prepared to make amends to the best of their ability. (13)
Continuing on the same theme, there is a revelation to the founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth, which he received towards the end of his life. It describes the state of the world and Christendom the day before Jesus' coming. It talks about how to come and preach with ear scabies, how there is heaven without hell, the joy of salvation without being born again, and how Christendom is full of forgiveness without repentance (the topic we just discussed). It is difficult to deny that the development has moved in the direction of the prophecy received by Booth, as many modern priests deny sin and hell and teach forgiveness without repentance. We are in a society where we have drifted further and further away from traditional Christian preaching and behavior.
2. Then there will be Heaven without hell (...) There will be a day when a great withdrawal of what the Bible says to be "the Gospel of the full truth" will take place. At that time a "gospel" for the itching ears of the people will be preached. The hearers will determine what is preached from the pulpits. Then, the common order for the pulpits will be 'speak mild, sweet words; speak about heaven, leave us in peace so that we would not have to be strained when you preach about hell.' 3. Christendom is full of forgiveness without repentance. The Bible's doctrine that there can be no forgiveness of sins without repenting of the sin is disappearing from Christianity. 4. The day before Jesus' coming is filled with the joy of salvation, in people who have not been born again from above. 5. There is a lot of religion without the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:5 Jude 18,19). 6. Christianity without Christ. Christ is not anywhere where the 'BLOOD and FIRE' are not valid – deny one of the two and you will have forms of Christianity but without Christ."
When should a person be concerned about their salvation? This article has discussed the so-called foolish virgins, i.e. people who can confess Jesus as Lord and believe that they are going to heaven, but who are still not saved and born again. How can one know that a person himself or someone close to him is living in such a false delusion? The following will attempt to present a few clear signs.
• Do you consider yourself a good person? The first question is surprising. A false convert may consider himself a good person or not as bad as others. However, this is one of the clearest signs that the law has not been allowed to lead a person to Christ (Gal 3:24 Why the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.). For when the law comes, it shows a person his sin and transgression against God. At that point, a person no longer speaks of his own goodness, but sees his sin and transgression in the light of God’s perfect holiness – just as light reveals dust in a room that was previously not noticed in the dark. This seeing of sin in itself and the state of man is described in the following verses. First, Paul’s words about himself:
- (Rom 7:7,13,18) What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. No, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, You shall not covet. 13 Was then that which is good made death to me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
- (Isaiah 6:5) Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the middle of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Without the light of the law, man may consider himself better than he is, and therefore he cannot rely on Christ as his only righteousness. Only when he sees his own righteousness and goodness as God sees it, that is, as a stained garment (Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.), does he understand to seek the perfect righteousness of Christ for his refuge. Those who have a criminal background or who have been public sinners often find it easier to understand this. They know that they cannot present their good works to God. That is why Jesus stated that publicans and harlots who repent of their sins are more likely to enter the kingdom of heaven than religious people (Matt 21:31 Whether of them two did the will of his father? They say to him, The first. Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.) John Bunyan has written more on this subject in his book “The Pilgrim’s Progress” He mentions in the form of a discussion how a false convert can consider himself and his heart good because he has not seen it in the light of God’s perfect law:
Then Christian addressed his words to the Ignorant: - How are you? How are things between God and your soul? Ignorant: I hope so, for I always have good feelings that comfort me as I go. Christian: What kinds? Tell us. Ignorant: Well, I'm thinking about God and Heaven. Christian: Even devils and damned souls think so. Ignorant: But I think longingly. Christian: That is what many think who do not reach their goal. The soul of the lazy person desires and receives nothing. Ignorant: But I think and leave everything else. Christian: I doubt it, for leaving everything is difficult, much more difficult than many people realize. But on what grounds do you think you have left everything because of God and heaven? Ignorant: My heart proves it to me. Christian: The wise man says: “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool.” Ignorant: That's what they say about an evil heart, but my heart is good (…) My heart says it. Christian: Ask my friend, am I a thief? Or does your heart say so? If the Word of God does not prove it, other testimonies are worthless (…) Ignorant: When do our thoughts about ourselves align with the Word of God? Christian: When we pronounce the same judgment about ourselves as the Word of God. Let me explain a little: The Word of God says of people in their natural state that there is no one righteous, not one who does good. It also says that all the thoughts of the heart of man are only evil all the time, and that the imaginations of the heart of man are evil from their youth. So when we think about ourselves in this way and realize it, then our thoughts are good and in accordance with the Word of God. Ignorant: I never believe that my heart would be so bad. Christian: That is why you have never had a single good thought about yourself in your life. But let me continue: As the Word judges our hearts, so it judges our ways. And when our hearts and our ways agree with the judgment of the Word, then both are good, or in accordance with the Word of God.
• Do you take sin lightly? Do you have an imaginary god? This topic is a continuation of the previous one. When a false convert does not see his life in the light of God’s law and perfection, he also takes the same view of the sins in his own life. If you yourself are inclined to justify your sinful habits or do not even want to get rid of them, your condition is worrying. A true Christian can also fall into sin, but he never calls it a good condition, and he is sad that he is not completely free from his sins. His great desire is to get rid of his sinful habits – even those sins that no one but God sees. Many may fear sin only because of the temporal consequences – loss of reputation, illness… – or fear of damnation, but a God-fearing person does so because he does not want to act against God. This is where the image of God comes into play. If your God is holy and you want to love him, you will not want to sin under the guise of grace. On the other hand, if you think of God the opposite way, that is, you have an imaginary god created by your own mind, you can sin without fear of God’s wrath. It is worth remembering that Jesus called the many who confessed his name but were not saved as workers of lawlessness (Matt 7:23).
• Do you or do you not thirst for righteousness in your life? As stated, a true Christian does not want to sin intentionally, but rather wants to do God’s will and love Him. His sorrow is that he is so far from perfection. This leads to a person thirsting for more righteousness in his life and not to break God’s will so often. The following Bible verses relate to this:
- (Matt 5:3,6) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Instead, the common problem of a false convert is that he is completely satisfied with his current life and spirituality. He does not long for God's touch, nor does he thirst for righteousness in his life, but is self-sufficient. The condition of such lukewarm people is described in the third chapter of Revelation, where Jesus stands outside the hearts of people and waits for people to open the door for him. The description fits well with the modern church, which has a lot of emphasis on success, where there is an arrogant attitude towards the clear teachings of Jesus and the apostles, and where the focus is on man and not on God.
- (Rev 3:14-22) And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things said the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. 16 So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. 17 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches.
• Relationship to the Bible: Object of criticism or authority? When a person turns to God, experiencing rebirth and salvation, there is one interesting consequence: the Bible becomes a living word for such a person and not just a dead letter. For example, an atheist who previously criticized the Bible, after his salvation experiences that the Bible is God's word and God's revelation to him, and not just the word of men. For a true Christian, the Bible is like God's love letter to us, the bread of life and a map for the different stages of life. Every born-again Christian strives to submit to the word of God, and does not want to place himself above it. What about the foolish virgins and those who have experienced false conversion? Some of them may respect the Bible as the word of God, but the typical idea for many is that the Bible is people's thoughts and opinions about God. The Bible is thought to reflect the worldview of its own time, and cannot be considered a guideline and authority for life today. This kind of religiosity asks, like Satan, "Yes, has God said?" (Genesis 3:1), i.e. doubt and criticism are typical of this kind of religiosity. On the other hand, even if a false convert considers the Bible to be authoritative, he usually does not feel a strong desire to read it. If asked when he last read the Bible, he may admit that it has been a while. How does this kind of religiosity relate to moral matters? According to it, “the commandments must be updated” for modern times. Therefore, in this kind of religiosity, there is not much difference between the church and the world; both have the same morality, and it is considered reasonable. Therefore, in modern times, it is possible to justify unmarried couples living together, premarital sex, homosexual relationships, easy divorces, and other moral trends that are popular in society. The teaching that these are sins against God – sins that lead a person to hell – is no longer seen as important. Here it is worth remembering the above-mentioned prophecy of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, according to which the day before Jesus comes, “ Christendom will be full of forgiveness without repentance. The Bible teaching that there can be no forgiveness of sin without repentance for sin will disappear from Christendom.” Booth's prophecy really describes the current state of the church, especially in the Western world, where one of the basic teachings of the Bible, repentance, has been abandoned in order to conform to society. We do not respect the authority of God's Word as previous generations did. The following verses are relevant to the subject. They speak of false teachers and deceivers. Many priests and bishops are among these because they have arrogantly placed themselves above the teachings of Jesus and the apostles in matters of morality and other teachings. They do not understand their own responsibility before God and how they are leading people away from God and into hell:
- (Acts 20:29-31) For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
- (Jude 1:4) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
- (2 Peter 2:1-7) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved to judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample to those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
When a person poses as a representative of God, as many priests do, but at the same time opposes the clear commands of God in His Word, this action can be given another name: hypocrisy. A person is a hypocrite pretender, even if he himself is not aware of it. This also occurred in the time of Jesus and before, and it is easy for each of us to be guilty of it. We so easily want the approval of men that we are ready to compromise God's commands, keeping our hearts far from God:
- (Matt 15:6-9) And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
- (Isa 29:13,14) Why the Lord said, For as much as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
The most serious problem, if the words of Jesus and the apostles are true, is that an unregenerate priest leads others astray and damnation. It is an inevitable consequence if the teachings of the Bible are true and are God's revelation to us, but man now teaches differently. Such a person is then responsible for the people to whom he teaches falsely and whom he separates from God and the salvation He offers. We look at a quote that talks about the same topic. It is about a preacher in hell, who made his own rules about right and wrong, rejecting God's Word. Are we the same kind of teachers, who do not turn people's gaze to God and Christ, but away from Him?
We stopped at yet another pit of fire and brimstone. There was a fairly large man in the pit, and I heard that he was preaching the Gospel! I didn’t ask anything anymore. I just looked at Jesus, amazed, to get an answer, because He always knew what I was thinking. And the Lord answered, “When he was on the earth, he was a preacher of Gospel.” I wondered what such a man was doing in Hell. (...) He spread his hands as if holding a book and started to read from it, like from the Bible. He read one writing after another, and I thought that this was good. Jesus said to the man, with great love in His voice, "Quiet. Be still.” The man immediately stopped talking and slowly turned to look at Jesus. I saw his soul inside his bony figure. He said to Jesus, “Lord, I am preaching the truth now to all people. Now, Lord, I am prepared to go and tell everyone about this place. When I was on the earth, I did not believe in damnation – nor did I believe in Your second coming. I told people what they wanted to hear and changed the truth so that it pleased them. I made my own rules about Heaven, about right and wrong. I led many astray and caused many to abandon Your Holy Word. I caused many to abandon You.” “But, Lord, I have changed. Please let me out, and I will do as You want.” Jesus said to the preacher,
“Not only did you pervert God's Holy Word but you also lied that you did not know the truth. The joys of life were more important to you than the truth. I visited you myself and tried to change you, but you turned your back on me. You went your own ways and held the Devil as your lord. You knew the truth but you did not turn back to me. I was there all the time, waiting for you, calling for you. I wanted you to come back to me but you refused. The judgement has now been given.”
There was pity in the Lord’s face. I knew that if the man had listened to the Saviour’s call, he would not be here. Jesus spoke again,
“You should have told the truth, and you would have turned many to faith with God’s Word. All my Words are true. You knew the way of the Cross. You knew the way of righteousness. You knew you should have spoken the truth. Yet, Satan filled your heart with lies and you turned to sin. You should have sincerely repented, instead of only partly. Now it is too late.” (14)
• Concern for the salvation of people or not? When a person turns to God and allows himself to be saved, an immediate consequence is that he becomes interested in the salvation of others as well. He tries to do something to ensure that his neighbors are saved. This can happen through the spread of the gospel, by supporting missionary work, or by praying for the salvation of people. For example, Paul had this desire strongly (Rom 9:1-3, 10:1: I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh… Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.). On the other hand, if a person has no concern at all for the salvation of his neighbors, he himself is not saved. What about the foolish virgins and false converts? It is typical of them that they have no desire to pray for the salvation of the souls of their neighbors; after all, they have not been interested even in the salvation of their own souls. Their prayers are usually focused only on the well-being and success of themselves or their children, if they even pray at all. They are not enthusiastic about missionary work and revival Christianity (there is no other true Christianity in fact than that. Everything else is the religiosity of men without God), are often inclined to believe in universal salvation and that Jesus is not the only way to God. Instead, their interest can often only be in social topics such as the fight against oppression, the environment, equality, racism, peace, the fight against poverty, concern for others. Their sermons are often reflections on these topics. They are not bad topics, but why did they forget about saving people from damnation and sin? In addition, if the gospel is accepted and a person repents of their sins, it automatically fixes many problems on its own: social problems, interpersonal problems, crime. This happened, for example, under the influence of the sermon of John the Baptist, when he urged people to turn to God and abandon their sins. People were supposed to share their surplus with others, not to abuse their position (corruption) or not to demand higher wages. When people came into a right relationship with God, it also had an impact socially. However, at the heart of everything was and is the salvation of the human soul:
- (Luke 3:8-14,18) Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say to you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answers and said to them, He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise. 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said to him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said to them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said to them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. 18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he to the people.
• Assurance of salvation – is it there and is it sought? As for assurance of salvation, it is one of the fundamentals of the Christian faith. The question is whether God has truly given man the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, and whether man can be sure of it. How is assurance of salvation achieved? Religions always start with deeds. They think that when a person first does their best, God may give them grace as a result. Through deeds, people try to approach God and expect him to respond favorably to them. Christian faith is an exception, however; it places hope in what God himself did for us through his Son Jesus Christ. It trusts in the promises of the Word that God reconciled us through the work of Jesus on the cross, when Jesus first lived a sinless life and then gave his life on the cross for us. When a person puts his trust in, among other things, the following types of Bible verses, and not in himself, he can experience the assurance of salvation. Saving faith is trust in the promises of the Word:
- (2 Cor 5:19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
- (Col 1:19-22) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and unreproveable in his sight:
- (John 3:16,17) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Can a person be saved without immediately experiencing assurance of salvation? Yes, he absolutely can. Many have realized their lost condition, have turned to Jesus Christ, trusting in him, have given their lives to him, and want to follow him with all their heart. They are certainly saved. Their only problem may be that they have not yet fully understood the promises of the Word, and therefore they may still look partly to themselves and their transformation for salvation. They only need to be taught not to look to themselves and their feelings, but only to the promises of the Word, and they too will attain assurance. However, it is a different matter for foolish virgins, who lack the certainty of salvation, and who do not even worry about it. They don't even want to find out, but settle for vagueness. They may say that it is a personal matter for them or that it is inappropriate to discuss such a topic. Some may even say that it is arrogant to claim to be a child of God and saved. The reason for this behavior of theirs is surely that they have never been in the light of God's law and holiness with their whole being. That is why they have not been able to long for the certainty of forgiveness of sins, but are content with a vague state and consider it humility. However, the Bible clearly teaches that salvation can be assured. For example, Jesus told his disciples to rejoice that their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.). Such rejoicing would be impossible if one were not certain of the matter. On the other hand, if someone claims that salvation can never be assured, such a person, through his unbelief, nullifies all the promises of the Bible about the forgiveness of sins (e.g. Acts 16:31: And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.). Jesus taught about such an unbelieving attitude as follows. According to him, those who do not believe in the name of the only Son of God are condemned:
- (John 3:18) He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
- (John 8:23,24) And he said to them, You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.
Renunciators. While this article has discussed the foolish virgins and those who have experienced false conversion, it is also possible to lose genuine salvation. A person can drift away from God. There are certainly thousands who have responded to the call to salvation in evangelistic campaigns, but where are they now? The Christian walk is not just about a person turning to God once and then that is all. Instead, it is about a lifetime of following Jesus and making choices. Salvation is of course in Jesus all the time and a person can be under grace all the time, but if he abandons Jesus and following Him, he drifts away from salvation. A person’s name can be erased from the book of life. Several verses warn us of this. The doctrine that if a person has been once saved, he is always saved, contradicts the following verses:
- (Hebr 10:38,39) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back to perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
- (Rev 3:5) He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
- (Luke 8:13,14) They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
- (Luke 12:45,46) But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
- (John 15:4-6) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches: He that stays in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
- (Rom 11:20-22) Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high minded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not you. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off.
- (Gal 6:7,8) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
- (1 Tim 1:18,19) This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on you, that you by them might war a good warfare; 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
- (1 Tim 6:20,21) O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
- (Hebr 3:12-14) Take heed, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end;
- (1 John 2:19) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
- (2 Peter 2:20-22) For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it is happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Why then do some give up? Perhaps the reason is the theory of evolution or the liberal theological teaching that they have heard in school. However, here they act stupidly. No one has ever been able to prove that life could have arisen by itself. Similarly, there are no examples of intermediate forms in natural history museums. This clearly points to God's creative work. What about the rest of the Bible's historicity? There are hundreds and thousands of pieces of evidence for this in archaeology and nature. For example, in all the high mountains there are remains of marine life, which proves the Flood. These issues could be discussed more here, but the most important point is that people give up their faith in vain because of these atheistic thought patterns. They believe lies instead of the truth. They become cynical, shallow and unbelieving in vain after listening to liberal theological teaching. Lack of supervision can be another reason for apostasy. The book of Hebrews says that we should lay aside the sin that so easily besets us (Heb 12:1 Why seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us), and this is good advice. It is so easy for us to drift onto the broad road and into old sinful habits. We can start to play with sin because we are sure that we have a ticket to heaven. We fail to consider that following Jesus requires a lifetime of discipline and seeking God. On the other hand, if we do fall, we should get up quickly and confess our sin to God. We should also keep sources of temptation far away and not go near them. Many people have problems with television and the Internet, and it is best to give them up altogether or use them only for essential needs, such as paying bills. Or if someone has had problems with alcohol in the past, they should not try any “controlled” drinking habits again. Many have slipped away from God because they have not been careful with these things. To gain more clarity on the subject under discussion, let us look at a vision that the late preacher, Frank Mangs, had at the age of 91. It brings up the previously discussed topics, namely how many can consider themselves Christians and saved, even though they are not. Perhaps they have only awakened, but have never entered into salvation. They have a name and a confession, but no life. Furthermore, Mangs' vision tells of those who have gradually drifted away from the right path and begun to play with sin. They have abandoned faith and God through small steps:
I would have liked to see these people walk all the way home, but this was not allowed. I was forced to look at the beginning of the road and the narrow gate. I saw a large number of people standing there, right in front of the gate. What was strange was that many of them seemed happy. They were happy because they thought they were on the road even though they had never turned to true conversion by moving through the narrow gate. (...) We have guaranteed people their eternity because they have been baptised once. We have guaranteed that seeking souls have born of the Spirit even though they were only born by the influence of man. We have told them that they are children of God simply because they are “nice”. We have become pious quacks, and we have assured spiritual seekers that they have born of God even though they have just recently awakened. Sometimes, we have disrupted the spiritual process of birth this way. As a result of this, there are plenty of people who think that they are headed for Heaven even though they are not. Jesus said that this would be the case in the evening of this era. At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. No oil! No Spirit! No functional spiritual life. Name and recognition. And they thought this would be enough. I saw even more: I saw people who had entered through the gate, experienced the miracle of rebirth and started to walk the road but who had changed the road into something else than was meant. They had stopped and made the road a resting place instead of a travel route. They had not stopped because of old age. Their growth and development had simply stopped. They had stopped and started to live in their memories. Some of them had simply stopped and fallen asleep. They had all forgotten Paul’s command: “Even though we have already made progress on our journey, let us keep walking along the same road!” (...) Paul was ruled by sacred poverty but these people are ruled by Laodicean satisfaction: “We have enough.” I saw something else, too. I saw people who had drawn away from the supernatural light shining on the road. They had retreated into the twilight on either side of the road. Into the twilight, where the vision of both sin and bliss was shrouded in darkness. Everything was murky and grey and unreal. And that grey unreality made possible something that was not possible in the middle of the road: playing with sin, speech and actions. And I saw that the darkness on either side of the road had become the object of their attention. What had happened to them was the same that happened to Israel when the people started to listen to the calling of Egypt's food. The listening grew into lust. A hunger that trapped their thoughts and feelings. It overcame their dreams and visions. And so they were walking on the side of the road even though they seemed to be on it. Then, something horrible happened. Silently, like shadows, they slipped away from the road: there was no ditch or fence around it. They slipped away from the road onto which they had entered with tears and prayers. Away from the light, into the darkness. Away from life, into death. Away from living hope and into hopelessness. Into hopelessness that they did not feel. Because they were dead. They had lost their ability to understand and react. They had lost their ability to experience a crisis of spirit. After seeing all this, I quietly sank to my knees and burst into tears. I wished I was even half a century younger than I was. And that I would have the opportunity, better than I had done, to put all my efforts into giving God's Holy Spirit the freedom to use me even more than had happened. (15)
Those in uncertainty . When a person turns to God, after his salvation he has two natures; both the old and the new man. Man simultaneously hates and loves sin. He has a constant, lifelong battle between the flesh and the Spirit that lives in us. A true Christian does not want to make a covenant with sin and hopes not to fall, but in the moment of temptation he may see sin as sweet and attractive. As a result, he may fall, and will only find peace when he has broken free from sin and confessed it to God. Such a battle exists in the lives of many. Even the apostles, who were more Spirit-filled than all the others, were not completely free from sin after their Pentecost experience. We are told in the Bible, for example, about Peter’s fear and hypocrisy in certain situations (Gal. 2:11-13) or how Paul and Barnabas were angry with each other (Acts 15:39). It is a lie to think that they were sinless after their salvation. They were not, and neither are any of us. Anyone who expects perfection from others will be disappointed at some point. We should put our hope in Christ, who alone is perfect, and not in men. What about a person's own assurance of salvation? Many struggle with this, and the reason is simple: they look too much at their own shortcomings and not at Christ. As long as you keep your eyes on your own shortcomings or how much you have changed, you will not experience assurance. Only when the law has shown that you cannot save yourself through yourself and you turn your eyes to Jesus Christ will you receive assurance. Therefore, look to Jesus Christ and put your trust in the promises of the Word about how he has borne your sins. Assurance of salvation is not a question of feelings, but of trusting the promises of the Word about how God reconciled us to himself through Christ. The following verses, among others, show how we should look to Jesus Christ and not to ourselves:
- (John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
- (Acts 16:30,31) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.
- (Gal 3:1) O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Some people may also fear that they have committed the unpardonable sin. However, a person who is concerned about this matter and about his own salvation has not committed it. Only a person who consciously and resolutely rejects Christ can commit this sin. On the other hand, a person who wants to follow Jesus Christ, who acknowledges Him as Lord and who wants to live according to God's will, is not in this state. A person only needs to turn his gaze from himself and his shortcomings to Christ and not listen to Satan's false accusations. These accusations and lies come from Satan, not from God and Jesus Christ, who does not abandon a person who trusts in Him.
How to be saved? As stated, a person can fill his life with Christianity, but Jesus can be outside of the person, knocking on the door of the person's heart. This is very possible. It is likely that most of the so-called Christianity is just such an activity, where Jesus has never been allowed to enter people's lives. Millions and millions live in such a state, where they are not saved, but are ultimately foolish virgins who are not going to heaven. Jesus himself warned about this possibility several times, so the matter must be taken seriously. Furthermore, during revivals, when people's emotions are strong, it is possible to experience even a false conversion, which does not change people's inner being. People can experience a fear of hell and a false contrition, which does not, however, appear as something that opposes the holiness of God. Satan can give people these false feelings. I will not discuss it further here, but for example, Jonathan Edwards, who was involved in the 18th century revivals, stated in his book "Treatise Concerning Religious Affections" that only the fruit of people's lives and their change in a positive direction proves whether the conversion is genuine. Edwards discovered that strong talk about spiritual experiences does not guarantee the authenticity of conversion, but only fruit, and that a person is committed to following Jesus and doing what is right throughout his life. Jesus himself stated the same in his Sermon on the Mount (Matt 7:15-20: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Why by their fruits you shall know them.) The following verses clearly show how Jesus Christ can stand outside the door of a person's heart. There may be Christian practices and activities within a person's life, but Jesus has not been allowed to enter their innermost being.
- (2 Cor 13:5) Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?
- (Rev 3: 20-22) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches.
If Jesus stands outside the door of a person's heart, what should such a person do? The simple answer is that he should welcome Jesus Christ into his life. He should turn to Jesus in prayer and receive Him into his life. So you who have theoretical faith, do not leave it half-way, but turn to Jesus Christ, surrender yourself to Him and receive salvation. According to the Bible, if you have received Jesus and turned to Him, you are a children of God and have eternal life:
- (John 5:40) And you will not come to me, that you might have life.
- (John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
- (1 John 5:11-13) 11 And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. 13 These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.
The prayer of salvation: Lord, Jesus, I turn to You. I confess that I have sinned against You and have not lived according to Your will. However, I want to turn away from my sins and follow You with all my heart. I also believe that my sins have been forgiven through Your atonement and I have received eternal life through You. I thank You for the salvation that You have given me. Amen.
REFERENCES:
1. Arthur W. Pink, An Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1953), 424 2. C.O. Rosenius: Vanhurskaana Jeesuksessa (Rättfärdig i Jesus), p. 10 3. C.O. Rosenius: Tie Rauhaan (Vägledning till frid), s. 10 4. David Pawson: Vanhurskas Jumala ja vanhurskauden evankeliumi (The God and the Gospel of Rightteousness), p. 50,51 5. Per-Arne Imsen: Ei muita jumalia (Inga andra godar) / No other goods), p. 70 6. Per-Arne Imsen: Ei muita jumalia (Inga andra godar) / No other goods), p. 72 7. John Bevere: Hyvyys vai Jumala? (Good or God), p. 228-230 8. Charles G. Finney: Voima korkeudesta (Power from on High), p. 126, 127 9. Rob Rufus: Living in the Grace of God, United Kingdom: Authentic Media 2007 10. Charles G. Finney: kuinka voitat sieluja (How to win souls), p. 38-40 11. John Bevere: Turvapaikka (Under Cover), p. 47,48 12. Frank Mangs: Oletko kristitty, p. 79, 80 13. Charles G. Finney: Ihmeellisiä herätyksiä, p. 360, 361 14. Mary Baxter: Jumalan ilmoitus kadotuksesta (A Divine Revelation of Hell), p. 37-39 15. Frank Mangsin taivastestamentti, p. 143-145
Theoretical belief. Many have faith in God, having outward forms of Christianity, and some are even church workers, but they still do not know the matter of salvation Religiousness or faith? What is the difference between religiosity and saving faith in Jesus and God? They are not the same thing About salvation. How do Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses understand salvation, and how their teaching differs from traditional Christian and biblical teaching? Jesus and the Catholics. Mary, the merits of the saints, the works of atonement, and the sacraments have supplanted Jesus in the Catholic Church. Therefore, most lack salvation and certainty Yogis in church. Bringing Hinduism into churches. Have yogis received salvation?
|
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life
Grap to eternal life!
|
Theoretical belief. Many have faith in God, having outward forms of Christianity, and some are even church workers, but they still do not know the matter of salvation Religiousness or faith? What is the difference between religiosity and saving faith in Jesus and God? They are not the same thing About salvation. How do Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses understand salvation, and how their teaching differs from traditional Christian and biblical teaching? Jesus and the Catholics. Mary, the merits of the saints, the works of atonement, and the sacraments have supplanted Jesus in the Catholic Church. Therefore, most lack salvation and certainty Yogis in church. Bringing Hinduism into churches. Have yogis received salvation?
|
