Matthew 1:21
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
I sat with a man for over two hours Thursday evening, in the local Village Inn as we discussed some things that we have in common. The context we spoke of was often compared to the society of the world, and the problem we came together to discuss is one that he contends is common to the church in most cases, as it is too much like the world. Without divulging any things discussed in confidence, let me tell you the summarization of what his main point was.
He said that the core of the issue was that there is a lack of a clear, Biblical understanding of the word "salvation" in the Western world today. When someone discusses salvation, the first thing most people think of is being granted exemption from judgment in Hell for the glory of Heaven. He stated that consistently, the Bible does not say this. He does contend that eternity with God does go with salvation, but most of the time in the New Testament and much of the time in the Old Testament, we are being saved not from Hell, but from sin.
He never insinuated that salvation was the same thing as piety, or that we could ever reach a state of sinlessness. He did say, though, that with this understanding of salvation, many passages make more sense. I must say that much of this concept rings true, though it is a different definition of the term than what I have been taught all of my life. I suppose one way to put it is that through Christ, we have a salvation and are also saved. Through the blood of Christ, we are saved from the bondage of sin and are also secured as heirs of what will one day be our reality.
I share this viewpoint for the sake of discussion. For your convenience, I am sharing a few examples from the Bible that seem to agree with him. Unless noted otherwise, the examples are taken from the English Standard Version. As I said earlier, there are other uses of the word "salvation" in the scriptures, such as Israel finding salvation from their enemies on the battlefield. So here's the question: What is it that we are to be saved from? What doctrine of salvation should be preached? Should we be offering out free tickets to Heaven or show the way to the remission of sin?
Matthew 7:21
Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
If faith without works is dead, would that mean the same thing as the Holy Spirit must be within us, and that it is impossible for us to be of the spirit without a change in attitude or behavior, thus by our fruits we are known? Is it possible to be marinated in God and not take on His flavor?
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
I sat with a man for over two hours Thursday evening, in the local Village Inn as we discussed some things that we have in common. The context we spoke of was often compared to the society of the world, and the problem we came together to discuss is one that he contends is common to the church in most cases, as it is too much like the world. Without divulging any things discussed in confidence, let me tell you the summarization of what his main point was.
He said that the core of the issue was that there is a lack of a clear, Biblical understanding of the word "salvation" in the Western world today. When someone discusses salvation, the first thing most people think of is being granted exemption from judgment in Hell for the glory of Heaven. He stated that consistently, the Bible does not say this. He does contend that eternity with God does go with salvation, but most of the time in the New Testament and much of the time in the Old Testament, we are being saved not from Hell, but from sin.
He never insinuated that salvation was the same thing as piety, or that we could ever reach a state of sinlessness. He did say, though, that with this understanding of salvation, many passages make more sense. I must say that much of this concept rings true, though it is a different definition of the term than what I have been taught all of my life. I suppose one way to put it is that through Christ, we have a salvation and are also saved. Through the blood of Christ, we are saved from the bondage of sin and are also secured as heirs of what will one day be our reality.
I share this viewpoint for the sake of discussion. For your convenience, I am sharing a few examples from the Bible that seem to agree with him. Unless noted otherwise, the examples are taken from the English Standard Version. As I said earlier, there are other uses of the word "salvation" in the scriptures, such as Israel finding salvation from their enemies on the battlefield. So here's the question: What is it that we are to be saved from? What doctrine of salvation should be preached? Should we be offering out free tickets to Heaven or show the way to the remission of sin?
Matthew 7:21
Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
If faith without works is dead, would that mean the same thing as the Holy Spirit must be within us, and that it is impossible for us to be of the spirit without a change in attitude or behavior, thus by our fruits we are known? Is it possible to be marinated in God and not take on His flavor?
Mark 1:4 (New King James Version) John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
1 Peter 2:1-3 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvationif indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 John 2:4-6 Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
James 2:14-26 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believeand shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousnessand he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believeand shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousnessand he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
