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Christian Chronicles, May, 2005 - Volume 7, Issue 112
| The
Editor's Pen | Perspectives | Mid-East Update |
Fruit of the Vine |
| God Helps Those That Help
Themselves? |
| The Need for Salvation | The
Provision of Salvation | The Just
Shall Live by Faith |
| The Gospel in a Verse |
Each Sunday at my church, when the pastor announces that it is time for the offering, the congregation shouts, “Praise the Lord!” It is a shout of genuine rejoicing for most of us, I believe, because we recognize that it is a great privilege to be blessed in such a way as to be able to return to the Giver of Gifts a portion of that which He has entrusted to our stewardship. In similar fashion, when we here at Christian Chronicles determine that it is time for another issue devoted to the doctrine of salvation, our hearts rejoice, for there is no more fundamental doctrine which the lost must understand than that they are lost and in need of a Savior.
We recognize that most of our subscribers are already saved, but it is our desire to cast such light upon that doctrine that you, our readers, may become increasingly fruitful in your own individual ministries. After all, we wish to share in the rewards of your ministries through our teaching and intercessory prayer on your behalf.
Many Christians feel that they do not need to read anything further on salvation. Ah, but they miss out on the wonderful articles of our guest writers, and they may also miss out on the very perspective that they will need tomorrow in their ministry to some lost soul. Therefore, we hope that you will all read this issue, and greet it with the excitement with which it was written.
We are proud to include two articles in this month’s issue by Donald M. Reid, Th.D., formerly of Dallas Theological Seminary, and now pastor of the fast-growing Aletheia (
it means “Truth”) Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia. Dr. Reid is President and Dean of Crossroads Biblical Studies Institute, a seminary begun by him five years after the founding of his church. Dr. Reid’s article on the depravity of man presents the need for salvation systematically and clearly. He and our staff writers then present the answer to this need. We trust that you will find this issue of CC helpful in your ministry to the lost.
Nor is there salvation in any other,
for there is no other name under heaven
given among men
by which we must be saved.
I
t was a long-time goal of the recently deceased Pope John Paul II to name the Virgin Mary Co-Redemptrix with Christ. This notion springs from the fountain of a profound misunderstanding of both Mary and Jesus. Mary was mortal, not immortal. There is no Scriptural basis for the erroneous teaching of the Roman Catholic Church that Mary ascended into heaven, or that she was in any way other than as each of us, mortal. Thus, she was a sinner. Christ, however, was sinless altogether. The doctrine is called the impeccability of Christ, His complete sinlessness. Mary was not chosen to the incomparably great honor of being the “birth mother” (to use the modern vernacular) of Christ on account of any special worthiness in her, although we know that she was a fine and upstanding woman, a virgin. But that she was also a sinner is apparent, for it was said to her by the angel Gabriel that she had found favor with God (Lk 1:30). The word that is translated “favor” is in Greek, “charis,” a word that is elsewhere and in many places translated “grace.” Grace is not necessary where there is no sin, but where sin exists, grace is its only solution. In order for Mary to be Christ’s Co-Redemptrix, she would have to qualify to die for the sins of others. This, because redemption is through the shedding of blood (Heb 9:22). You, dear Reader, could not die for someone else because you would have to die for your own sins had Jesus not died in your place. Mary could not die for someone else either, for being human and quite peccable, she, like us, would have had to die for her own sins had not her Son died for hers when He died for ours. Mary could not redeem even herself, and she certainly could not redeem anyone else. It is an attempt to diminish and demean the work that Jesus did at Calvary.Jesus Christ: There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. It is very clear, is it not? Buddha cannot get a single soul to heaven. Mohammed cannot offer salvation to anyone. The devil has a plethora of alternatives to Christ, but none of them are able to offer even the tiniest glimpse into the realities of the afterlife. Men ask, “Who is the Antichrist?” Oh, Christian, think about it! Every religion that teaches any doctrine other than salvation by faith alone through grace alone is anti-Christian. That includes many, many so-called Christian groups and denominations. The grace that true Christianity embraces must involve the shedding of Christ’s blood. The single confounding factor that separates genuine Christianity from every other religion that man has ever devised is found in the method of salvation. Every other religion (and many nominally Christian denominations and sects and cults), teaches that man must improve himself somehow in order to become worthy of whatever final estate his body of doctrine espouses, whether heaven or nirvana or Valhalla or what have you. Every religious system except true Christianity glorifies man and makes him become worthy. Christianity says that you cannot get into heaven by any name other than Jesus Christ’s—not even your own name, no matter how “good” you become. Paul wrote that there is none good, not even one (
Rom 3:10,12). The simple fact is that every other religion is about its adherents, not its god or gods. Christianity is not about the sinner, but the Savior. It does not glorify any man, but God only. False religion is about self improvement; Christianity is about the recognition of, worship of, and fellowship with a God whom man cannot approach in any way outside of an acceptance of the fact that it is the sacrifice of the Son of God that qualifies us for heaven. Other religious systems are about what man does; Christianity is about what Christ has already done on our behalf.We trust that most of our readers are already saved, recognizing the futility of self-reformation. Depraved creatures cannot become sinless or righteous outside their presence in the body of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Far too many Christian churches—genuine Christian churches—focus too much of their attention on the deeds of the congregation rather than upon the more positive doctrines of theology. When the focus of a local assembly turns to God rather than to the congregation, that church begins to grow and prosper spiritually. When the focus is on the sinner, it becomes a negative thing, sin-sniffing, rather than the exciting process of learning what it means to be a Christian, not because of what the Christian is, but because of what our God is. It is not our blessedness that makes us special, but it is God’s character and attributes that empower us. We do not grow by increasing in the knowledge of ourselves, but our growth comes through an increase in the knowledge of God (
Col 1:10; 2 Pet 1:2). There is no other name, and may we ever remember that it is that name by which we are called: Christ-ians.
Things are moving ahead in Israel and in the land that is called by many Palestine. Actually, according to the Scriptures, that land is part and parcel of Israel. Nevertheless, the movement toward an organized Palestinian state is gaining momentum of late. The militant group Hamas has been active in political campaigns, seeking to legitimize itself and become a part of a structured civilization rather than a group of loosely organized terrorists and thugs. It is amazing to see how quickly public perceptions can be altered. In recent months, Hamas has participated in three rounds of municipal elections, posing a strong challenge to the ruling Fatah party, led until his death by Yasser Arafat. In local elections, Fatah won in a majority of eighty-three towns and villages, but Hamas won in the four biggest races in the towns of Rafah, Beit Lahiya, al Bureij, and Kalkilya. The Fatha party is seeking to delay further elections, and Hamas is warning that such a move would be met with resistance from them. Apparently, Fatah wishes to consolidate its voter base and strengthen its political power before more votes are taken.
In spite of apparent progress in Israel and Palestine, not all is rosy in the Middle East. Hizbollah has been firing rockets into northern Israel from southern Lebanon in spite of continued warnings by the United Nations that they must cease. There are those who, for selfish interests, would derail the peace process by any means possible. The hatred of Israel continues to fester and simmer just beneath the surface of civilities throughout the non-Jewish population of the Middle East. The desire to push Israel into the Mediterranean Sea is widespread, if largely unspoken.
While there is a renewed push for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, other conflicts and concerns make the entire Middle East a volatile cauldron that could erupt at any moment. Iran is pushing ahead with its nuclear program, no doubt encouraged by America’s bluster but apparent unwillingness to take any concrete action against another emerging nuclear state, North Korea. The insurgency in Iraq, rather than being weakened by the American presence, is increasingly dangerous, with larger numbers of victims of their violence revealed, seemingly with every passing day. Syria has withdrawn its troops from Lebanon, but still wields great influence among the powers that be in Hizbollah, as witnessed by the increasing attacks of late. Syria must be watched, as it is certain that its national prestige has taken a great blow in being forced out of Lebanon. It should be expected that Syria will embark upon some adventure in order to assuage the embarrassment that it recently suffered in Lebanon.
As Christians, aware that the tribulation will begin with the ratification of a comprehensive Middle East treaty, we watch the ongoing peace process intently. Many Christians are either encouraged or discouraged by the day-to-day ups and downs of that process. This is not healthy. The fact is, we know that there will be a treaty of some sort, whether it is drawn in the near or distant future. We at Christian Chronicles urge a more stable view of this process, without becoming overly optimistic or pessimistic on account of the vicissitudes of the process on a daily basis.
In fact, Daniel seems to indicate that the treaty that we ought to be watching for may not be this treaty at all. This, because he says that the prince who is to come, the Antichrist, will confirm a covenant with many. The current treaty under negotiation is only between Israel and the Palestinians. While it could take a broader turn, this treaty is likely to encompass only those two peoples, the Jews and the Palestinians. Not exactly hedging our bets on the current negotiations, we believe that there might follow closely upon the heels of that treaty a new and much broader covenant among many of the nations of the Middle East, something on the order of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement. In the case of the Middle East, of course, it would bear the acronym “MEFTA,” the Middle East Free Trade Agreement. Such an agreement would indeed encompass many more peoples and nations than merely Israel and Palestine. While a treaty officially recognizing Israel’s right to exist would be met with hostility in many corners, a treaty that promised great prosperity for the masses, would be more likely to be accepted almost by acclamation. The point is, while we should be encouraged generally by the processes unfolding in the Middle East, we ought not get caught up in euphorias and depressions over such uncertainties as whether or not this is the treaty we are awaiting. Let us be soberly watchful.
It is why we are here, isn’t it, this fruit of the vine that we all seek? Every Christian wants to be fruitful. Some pray about it and work harder for it than others, but there is an inherent desire in the heart of every Christian to be fruitful. If we love God, then we surely desire to hear Him say, “Well done!” at the judgment seat of Christ.
One of the reasons why many Christians fail in their soul-winning is because they seek to be the bearers of this fruit themselves. However, we are merely the branches. It is the vine that supports the branches and produces the fruit. Without the vine, the branch becomes a mere stick, dead and without merit of any kind. Those who would bear fruit must not depend upon their own abilities or talents, but must recognize that, while God may use those things, any fruit that is borne is by that which the vine supplies. Once a Christian’s dependence is upon God and not himself, then he is able to become a profitable servant. The proper prayer for the soul-winner is not, “God let me bear fruit,” but, “Father, glorify Yourself in me, that lost souls may see the light of your grace in the things that You give me to say.” The former is selfish and vain; the latter is selfless and is based upon love for others and the glory of God, not of man. Selfless love is the oil that lubricates everything Christian. If you would be fruitful, love God and your neighbor, without thought of yourself. Then can God use you profitably.
God Helps Those That Help Themselves? - OMM
This is the saying that many people have committed to their memory. So well accepted is it that people believe it to be in the Bible.
`The worldly gospel declares that God rewards those who work for all things especially salvation. ‘I try to be good, I think I’ll make it.’ ‘He’s a good person, he’s in a better place now.’ ‘I’ve done my best, the Man upstairs will bless me.’
Also note, by inference of omission; God does not help those that do not help themselves.
‘I haven’t been good; why should God love me?’ ‘What if I blow it, the ground will open up and swallow me.’ ‘That guy is a sinner, he lost his chance.’
This and so many other demonic sayings have even crept in the church.
‘When you pray move your feet.’ ‘I go to church.’ ‘I’ve been baptized.’ ‘I prayed a prayer.’ ‘Jews don’t need Jesus, they’re Chosen People.’ ‘I worship God my own way.’ ‘He will save you but first you must…’
God’s word truly states, “For a time will be when they will not endure sound doctrine, but they will heap up teachers to themselves according to their own lusts, tickling the ear. And they will turn away
their ears from the truth and will be turned to myths” (2 Tim 4:3-4).The Gospel we hold to is not the one of the world. The Apostle Paul entrusts to us our message: “And, brothers, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you have received, and in which you stand; by which you also are being kept safe, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (
1 Cor 15:1-4). This is Paul’s gospel. This is the message that is to be preached and believed today. No works, no good intentions, only by grace through faith are we saved. Count today how many hold to and teach this gospel.
“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of
the mystery kept secret since the world began but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for the obedience of faith - to God alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen” (Rom 16:25-27).Paul’s gospel according to the revelation of the mystery. This establishes a man, and that, by Him who is able. So many believe we have to do something to be saved or become spiritually mature. Only God can save us and grow us, and not by our own works or merit but by His grace. Unlike the world we do not do to be. God makes us be to do. God make us become new, so that we may do (
2 Cor 5). Now note how clear it is that we do not work for our salvation but the saved may then work for God.
Eph 2:4-10).“But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us, (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them” (
“But God…” God is the motivated and able party in salvation, not us.
“His great love with which He loved us (even when we were dead in sins)” He is merciful and loving toward sinners! He desires to save those because they cannot help themselves. The dead can’t help and don’t need God’s help. The dead need God to give life, the life of Jesus Christ! We were dead ones but now we are born ones in Christ.
“…has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus” God makes the Christian perfect and positions the believer securely and exalted forever in Christ. This, too, is not the person’s doing but the work of God.
v.5).How were dead sinners saved and made alive? (by grace you are saved) (
Why are believers raised up in the heavenlies in Christ? “…so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace” (
v.7).How are we saved again? Verses 8&9—“For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (
vv. 8, 9).His grace, our faith, not works. Our salvation, even our faith, comes not from our doing, but is the gift of God. A gift is not earned or worked for; it is given by One who is gracious.
He has created us new in Christ so that we may work for Him. Even our works are chosen by Him and He empowers us to do them. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them” (
v. 10)..We don’t even do the work; we walk in them by walking in the Spirit. (
Rom 8, 2 Cor 3, Gal 5).
Marvelous Grace - HGS
No evangelical theme is more deserving of prayerful and careful study than that of salvation. The pre-eminent reason for a Biblical understanding of this basic doctrine is that it represents the supreme mission of the Master. Why was He, when He was so rich in heaven, willing to become poor on earth? Why did He willingly discard a garment of glory for the robe of our humanity? Paul answers these, and other pertinent questions associated with Christ’s incarnation. He came into the world to save sinners (
1 Tim 1:15). He did not leave the battlements above, where He was the Prince of Glory, to become a teacher, or a model for our obedience, or a martyr willing to die for truths and principles He believed. According to His own declaration, He came to seek and to save the lost (Lk 19:10). His saving name was ready for Him as soon as He entered the world to die as its Savior. “Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save His people from their sin” (Mt 1:21). Such a matchless name carried with it the promise of deliverance from sin’s guilt and government.It is also imperative to know all the Bible teaches about salvation, seeing that it contains the only divinely-provided remedy for sin. Without such a provision, the sinner is both helpless and hopeless. Accepting this blood-bought salvation so freely offered, the sinner can experience freedom from the past with all its failure; victory in present days from sin’s tyranny; and certainty of escape from sin’s full reward in hell. All who are lost are shut up to God’s perfect, peerless salvation. There is no other way out of the gloom and despair of sin. “There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we may be saved” (
Acts 4:12). If this salvation is neglected and finally rejected, there can be no escape from the righteous judgments of God (2 Th 1:9; Heb 2:3). All that we can know about this indispensable salvation is found within the covers of the Bible, and what it says about this important theme is all that concerns us. With man’s estimation of salvation we are not concerned. The best scheme that man has yet devised is that man must improve himself, in both character and behavior, until he has made himself worthy of eternal life.The theme of the book of Galatians is salvation by grace. The churches in Galatia had received the gospel of salvation and had made some progress into spiritual maturity. When a group of Judaizers came into the church from Jerusalem with a message, the message was of a legalistic nature, teaching that works (the Law) are a part of salvation. So, Paul wrote in Galatians 1:6-9, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you that what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you that what you have received, let him be accursed.” Those who would add man’s works to God’s free grace are perverts according to Paul’s message to the churches in Galatia. Rather than standing in the pulpit foaming out their own shame, they should be hiding that foolishness in the privacy of a dark closet where it cannot be seen or heard. But the devil has grown bolder in these last days, and has more ministers in the world preaching false doctrine than God has sound teachers of correct doctrine. The devil’s message is always designed to drive man away from God in fear, rather than draw him to God in the glorious light of God’s love.
We know that the word Gospel means “good news”. The good news is that, because of our Savior's work on the cross, we will never be condemned to hell but be forever with Him in heaven. So Paul warned if anyone distorts the gospel he is to be accursed. The word accursed in Greek is “anathema,” meaning “excommunicated (from the favor of Jehovah).”
In the above verse Paul says that to preach any other message is to nullify the death of Christ. With this in mind, let us move to Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Paul says: “...by grace you have been saved...” It could be said, “because of God’s grace we are saved”. Grace means “favor that is not deserved, or unmerited love”. “Through faith,” according to Hebrews 11:1, “...faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In other words, it is believing, not seeing, as though you did see. “Not of yourself”, there is absolutely nothing within man that one can do for salvation. He can’t get good enough on his own. “It is a gift of God;” it is a free gift. A gift is something given to show friendship, affection, or support. “Not of works;” there is no work one can do for salvation. You can’t earn it - you can’t buy it. The problem in Galatia was that some came saying that salvation is by faith, but that a person, once saved, must be kept by the works of the Law. The Bible teaches throughout the book of Romans that no flesh will be justified by the works of the law. “Lest anyone should boast;” so we see that since we had nothing to do with it, the work of salvation was finished on Calvary, we have nothing of which to boast.
Understanding God’s free plan of salvation should bring us to our knees and make us want to worship God more and learn more of His wonderful grace. Negligence or rejection of this salvation is made more terrible because of all that Jesus did to provide it. By the shedding of His blood, by His death and resurrection, He secured a perfect salvation for a sinning race. It is, therefore, a precious salvation, seeing it has come down to us drenched with the precious blood of Christ. He had to give His life a ransom in order to save us. (
Mt 28:28; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet 1:19). Creation was a great work of God, but only cost Him His breath. He spake and it was done. But when it came to our salvation, He had to give more than His breath; He had to give His blood. We were purchased by that precious blood (Acts 20:28). As Christians, we are guardians of the great truths of the Bible, and the most fundamental truth that Satan would destroy is the doctrine of a free salvation, dependent only upon God’s work, without any reference to whatever man may or may not do. Let us guard what has been commited to our trust!
The Need
for Salvation
Donald M. Reid, Th.D.
Why does man need to be saved in the first place? What does man need to be saved from? What is wrong with man that necessitates his salvation? If man does need to be saved, why can’t he save himself? The reasons why man needs to be saved are because:
A.) Man is Lost
Prov 14:12). The way that leads to life escapes man. He foolishly follows the crowd because he reasons that so many people cannot be wrong. However, look at Jesus’ own statements: “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few are those that find it” (Mt 7:13-14). Because man is lost, he seeks to make his own way to God. The Apostle Paul writes concerning the Jews, who substitute their own way in place of God’s way: “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God” (Rom 10:2-3 NASB).Man could not find his way out of a brier patch, let alone his way to God. The Bible plainly states that, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death” (
B.) Man is Blind
1 Cor 4:3-4). Paul says elsewhere that, “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart” (Eph 4:17-18). Until the spiritual scales have been removed, man will continue living in a spiritually blind condition (see Ananias and Saul in Acts 9:18).Man is lost because he is blind. He is in spiritual darkness in need of the light of God’s salvation. He has been blinded by sin and Satan. Paul writes, “...and even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose mind the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (
C.) Man is Spiritually Dead
Rom 5:12). Note: Everyone born into this world is born spiritually dead because we all died in Adam. Every person somehow participates actively in Adam’s sin. The Bible says, “...and you were dead in your trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1). Death in the Bible means separation. Thus is fallen man separated from God.When Adam sinned against God in the garden of Eden, he plunged the whole world into sin, which brought spiritual death immediately, and physical death eventually. Paul writes: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (
D.) Man is a Sinner by Nature
Jer 17:9ab—NKJV). The Hebrew word for desperately wicked actually means beyond cure. Thus, man’s heart is hopelessly, and incurably wicked. Dr. Floyd Barackman, in his very fine book, “Practical Christian Theology,” page 297, writes, “Out of this corrupted inner nature, dominated by sin, flows all kinds of defiling moral sewage like evil thoughts, actions, words, attitudes, and the like…” Barackman goes on to say, “This corruption of nature is often called total depravity and total inability. Total depravity means that this inherent corruption extends to every part of the unsaved person’s make-up— his personhood and his human nature (body, soul and spirit). It affects his thinking (Gen 6:5; 8:21; Rom 1:21-23; 3:11; 8:5-8; 1 Cor 2:14; Eph 4:17-18), his emotions and attitudes (John 3:19-20; Rom 1:24-32; 3:18; Eph 4:18), his will (Jn 5:40; 8:44; Eph 2:2-3), and his body (Rom 8:10; 1 Cor 15:50).”Man’s need for salvation is great because he is a sinner by nature. His very nature is corrupt, defiled and polluted. The condition of his heart is diseased, defiled and corrupt. This is the Biblical understanding of the total depravity of man.
Man is a person distinct from animals because he possesses the basic components of personality. There are three components: (1.) intellect, which allows a person to know and to think; (2.) emotions, which allow a person to feel and express different emotions; and (3.) will, which allows a person to decide, and to act on the decisions made. The doctrine of Total Depravity states that every part of man’s personality and being has been adversely affected by sin. He can do absolutely nothing to make himself acceptable to God. The prophet Jeremiah writes, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (
However, every person does not act out his depravity to the same degree. Man can perform some benevolent acts, like giving to the poor, giving to hospitals and universities. It does mean that these very acts are self-oriented and not oriented towards God’s glory. Dr. Earl Radmacher aptly states, “While unbelievers may carry out benevolent and altruistic acts, those actions have no ultimate value before God because they do not have His glory as their goal. Even the best actions of a non-Christian are self-oriented.” “Salvation, “ Page 8.
And so we see that man is in need of salvation that comes from outside himself. He cannot save himself because he is lost, blind, spiritually dead, and is a sinner by his very nature. While fallen man is capable of doing good deeds, and granting charity to many, all his thought, goals and desires are directed at showing himself how good he is, and none have any bearing upon the great glory of our Lord. It is more likely that a rock should spring up from the ground and become a righteous living being than that any lost person should find his way to God without the salvation that he needs, and which comes only toward man from God Himself.
The
Provision of Salvation
Donald M. Reid, Th.D.
The Doctrine of Salvation, commonly referred to as Soteriology in theological circles, has caused much confusion in recent years. With so many different religions today that are vying for peoples’ allegiance, many are confused as to which one is the right one. Many teachers of religious studies, especially since 9/11, are teaching that “All roads lead to God.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. Politicians and many preachers have opted for political correctness instead of Biblical accuracy. This is one of the operating principles of the great ecumenical movement that is sweeping the planet in modern times. Therefore, the teaching about salvation has become muddled in confusion.
Among conservative evangelicals, there is no babble of a thousand different voices. This, because we agree upon a plain, or normal, interpretation of the Scriptures, and such a method leads inexorably to salvation by grace through faith, without any works on the part of man either necessary or possible. The previous article shows that man, totally depraved, can do nothing to effect his salvation. He is hopelessly and helplessly lost in sin and spiritual darkness. This article takes up the discussion at that point.
In order for man’s sin problem to be solved, God Himself had to act. Man could not bridge the gap between his sin and God’s holiness. The relationship between God and man was haplessly broken. “Salvation is of the Lord,” the Psalmist writes (
Ps 3:8). Thus, salvation is monergistic; that is, is is solely the work of God alone. God had to move if man was ever going to be saved. Therefore, God sent His Son, Jesus, to forever take care of the sin problem. John 1:29 states, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” It is very interesting that the word sin is singular rather than plural. The reason for this is that Jesus’ death would take away sin in a comprehensive way. The penalty for sin would be totally paid for with no balance remaining. The Lord Jesus Christ bore the penalty for the sin of every individual that has ever lived or will ever live. This does not in any way mean that people will automatically be saved, but it does mean that everyone is savable. In oder for the death of Christ to benefit an individual, it must be applied by faith. This is reminiscent of the paschal lamb the night before the children of Israel left Egypt. They were to take a lamb, kill it, and apply its blood to the doorposts and lintels of the houses to escape God’s judgments. Just having blood was insufficient. In order for the blood to become effective, it had to be applied. In the same way, in order for the death of Christ to effect a person’s salvation, that death has to be applied by faith. Just because Christ’s death was sufficient to save every person, it was only efficient to save those who had applied that death to their lives by faith. It is the faith in the risen Lord that saves, and nothing else. Thus we can ask, “From what are we saved?” Let us now look briefly at:What did the death of Christ accomplish for man?
A.) It Paid the Penalty for Man’s Sin
There have been various views espoused concenring the nature of Christ’s death or atonement. However, the one that the Scriptures espouse is commonly referred to as penal substitution. This refers to the fact that Christ paid the sin debt we could not pay. He took our place at Calvary that we might have a relationship with the Father by becoming one of His children. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”
B.) It Provided Forgiveness
1 Jn 1:7)The word forgiveness is a word that means to send away. It is used of the scapegoat in Leviticus 16, where the priest would symbolically confess the sins of the people on the head of the goat after making atonement for their sins and give him to a trusted servant, most probably a Levite, to take into the wilderness and let loose. The idea is that the goat, upon whose head the people’s sins were, would never find his way back into the camp where the people were. Thus, their sins have been effectively sent away, or remitted. Dr. Wendell Miller cites four forms of forgiveness in his book entitled, “Forgiveness: The Power and the Puzzles,” Page 23:
Initial Judicial Forgiveness
Time: At the moment of belief in Christ
Nature: Conditioned on faith alone
Sins involved: All previous sins committed before justification
Result: Eternal lifeInitial Fellowship Forgiveness
Time: At the moment of belief in Christ
Nature: Removal of estrangement
Sins involved: All previous sins committed before
justification
Results: Fellowship with God begun (
Repetitive Judicial Forgiveness
Time: At the moment a Christian sins
Means: Jesus’ work as the believer’s Advocate
Nature: Immediate and unconditional
Sins involved: Sins committed in a believer’s life
Repetitive Fellowship Forgiveness
Time: When a Christian confesses his sin
Means: Jesus’ ministry as the believer’s High Priest
Nature: Conditioned on confession
Result: Fellowship with God restored (
What Happens When a Person Accepts Christ:
When a person accepts Christ as his personal Savior by faith, several things
take place in his life. First, the person is regenerated; that is, given new
life (
In conclusion, salvation is the work of God on behalf of man.
Man got himself into a problem that he could not solve. Therefore, God stepped
in by sending His only Son to do what man could not do. Salvation is free and
eternal. It is appropriated by faith and faith alone. Why don’t you bow your
head right now and pray this simple prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe that Jesus died for my sin.
Right now I am trusting in Him and Him alone to save me. Thank you for saving
me. In Your name I pray. Amen.
Editor’s note:
Dr. Reid founded Aletheia Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia, upon his graduation from Dallas Theological Seminary. Since that beginning, he has instituted a school of theology on the premises of the church, instructing laymen and ministers alike in sound doctrine and Biblical languages. Dr. Reid will be an occasional contributor to Christian Chronicles.
Evidently, Adam and Eve did not believe God when He told them that they would surely die if they ate of the forbidden fruit. Why would they eat it if they knew it would kill them? They believed the serpent instead. Actually, Eve believed the serpent, but Adam simply rebelled against what he knew was so (
1 Tim 2:14). Surely, after they gazed into the lifeless eyes of the animal or animals that God slew in order to make their coats of skins, they knew the awful finality and certainty of death. How it must have horrifed them to see the light of life leave those animals’ eyes, and how heavy must have been the realization that their own eyes would one day become as lifeless as the slain animals.Worse than that, however, was the impending separation from God. What had been a close fellowship had turned to enmity. The reality of the presence of God among them was diminished to a hope for a restored relationship when their mortal lives ended. It is evident that they believed that they would see and fellowship with God forever, for it is clear that they continued making sacrifices for their sins. This faith, issuing in their sacrificial works afterward, was the evidence and substance of their hope. Although God has shown Himself to His people through various means since the Fall, it may fairly be said that man has lived by faith since then.
In the days after Moses, God appeared to the prophets, and for thirty-three years He walked among men as a Man Himself. Since His ascension in to heaven, He has appeared to only one man on earth, Saul, although He also appeared to John, and Paul once again, though the latter two were in heaven rather than on earth.
Today, God reveals Himself to man through His Word. If someone says to you, “I saw Jesus…” or, “Jesus appeared to me and said…” you may wholly discount those tall tales. Today, more than in any other age, man must live by faith, and not by sight. But then, we have the complete Word of God, which other generations before Christ did not have. If the Bible is not sufficient proof of the reality of Christ, then a man would not believe if Jesus were to return and slap him in the face.
Today, it is all about faith. The faith that saves, and the faith that sustains; the faith that provides our hope, and the faith that assures us. But a life of faith must begin at Calvary, where a sinner lays down his heavy load and takes up the light burden of Christ. Saving faith is not about believing in God. The devil believes and trembles. Many men believe in God, but do not have the sense to tremble, or to believe that they should. But once the sacrifice at Calvary is appropriated for oneself, thence comes the faith that will assure and sustain forever. His soul is not upright in him, but the just shall live by faith! (
Hab 2:4)
The context of John 3:18 (
see Scripture Says: above and right) makes this the plainest statement of the Gospel in the entire Bible. In context, this single verse is even clearer than Acts 16:30. The context indicates what it is that must be believed about Jesus (Even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up…) if one is to be saved. A lost person must understand the reason for the crucifixion. He must understand what it means to say that Jesus died for our sins. He must appropriate to himself that lifting up of the Savior at Calvary as sufficient to pay the full penalty for his sins. Believing that, he is saved. It could not be simpler. No man could possibly preach a simpler or fuller gospel than our Lord preached in one verse.The problem is not that lost people cannot understand the concept; the problem is that few churches are stating the Gospel as a liberating force. Instead, the vast majority of local churches ignore the cross and preach the Mosaic Law from week to burdensome week. The focus is turned upon the sins of the congregation rather than upon the grace of the Savior. Paul did not instruct his hearers about behavior except in the most rudimentary of ways. Rather, he spoke of Jesus, and Him crucified (
1 Cor 2:2). He did not speak about the congregation, but about the Object of our faith. That is where so many churches have gone wrong. Preach the Gospel, in season and out of season.