Does God Owe Me Something? PART 1

There are many issues that make Christianity distinct and unique from every other "religion" on earth. For instance, there are many subjects like the diety of Christ, verifiable fulfilled prophecies, et al... and of course the subject we are going to deal with in this article... salvation by faith alone.

One of the great proofs that the Bible is THE Word of God is the way it sets itself apart from all other works oriented religions of the world by presenting salvation as a work of God from beginning to end. ALL of the worlds other religions, whether large or small, involve some set of actions / works / good deeds / rules to keep that one must perform in order to earn ones way into good standing in the after-life. Some attempt to cloak their works religion by saying their "good deeds" only qualify them for heaven. Simple logic destroys such a notion. If ones PERFORMANCE "qualifies" that one to be saved (or go to heaven), then obviously ones works are involved. Such a religion offers no just basis for the forgiveness of sin.

So what is my point? There is one inescapable conclusion to any works religion... if ones works, good deeds or qualifying actions are what gets them to heaven... then God OWES it to them. If you living a good life gets you to heaven, it wasn't God that saved you... you did (by your actions / works / good deeds). So, this begs the question... Does God, the Eternal Creator of all things (including the air you are breathing) OWE you ANYTHING? NO, NO and NO. Somehow, this simple logic seems to evade the majority of humanity.

The Bible talks to this issue in Romans 4:1-4 and 11:5-6

Romans 4
[1] What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
[2] For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
[3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
[4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Romans 11
[5] Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
[6] And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Verses 4 and 6 above close the issue completely and utterly. Either a person will try and earn their way to heaven or they will trust God to save them by His mercy and grace. The Bible is clear... your choice is clear... His way or your way and yours will not get you there.

In conclusion, if there is salvation, God alone has provided the end and the means. God, through Jesus Christ has fully accomplished our salvation in paying the just penalty for our sins and thus providing a JUST means of forgiving sin. Thus God is the author and finisher of our salvation. The forgiveness of sins and the resulting justification before God is His work from beginning to end (no amount of our deeds could result in this). What is our part? That is the easy part...

John 3:16-18
[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.
[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

My Faith, Your Faith

In our increasingly syncretistic and ecumenical world many folks have thrown the idea that absolute truth could possibly exist out the window. When confronted with the idea of absolute truth (in the context of religion) the cry is, "well, you have your faith and I have mine". Is this a rational statement? Does it really make sense? OR is it a ploy to avoid dealing with the accountability that we all have to submit to the truth?

Let's examine this statement...

The best way I know to expose the irrational nature of this statement is by analogy. Let's see if this philosophy works in any other area of life.

Scenario #1 - A basketball player charges down the baseline, makes a quick turn to shoot and is blocked ball, arm and all! The referee's whistle blows, "foul!" The player then protests, "I didn't foul him!" The referee responds, "you struck his arm while he was shooting and that is a foul by the rules of basketball". The player looks at the ref and defiantly says, "you have your rules and I have mine, I did not foul him".

Scenario #2 - A Math teacher concerned about one of his students requests that they meet after class. "Johnny", the teacher says, "I am concerned about some of the answers on your test. Much of the math is below your level as a 9th grader and I am concerned that maybe you need to start getting some tutoring outside of class". "What part of the test are you referring to?" Johnny replied. "Well here for instance, in this problem you have 2 plus 2 equaling 5". Johnny then sits back comfortably and says, "well, you have your math and I have mine, I believe that 2 plus 2 is 5".

From these two examples you should be getting the point (many more could no doubt be given). In both cases they (the Basketball player and Johnny) both had their own ideas about what the rules should be; however, their ideas did not line up with the ACTUAL rules. In the same way we shake our fist at God and tell him, "you have your rules and I have mine!" In this way we make ourselves little "gods" to rule over our own universe. Yahweh (the God of the Bible) says to those, "Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens." (Jeremiah 10:11)

Is is funny how absolute truth is essential in every part of life but all of a sudden when it comes to how we should live our lives... or submitting our lives to a loving Creator (Who would logically know best)... well... we can't have that! Is it truly rational (in the least) to think that everything in life is absolute EXCEPT the way in which we should lead our lives?

Let's be "open minded" (lol, we'll deal with that fallicy soon) for a second. Let's be tolerant of Johnny's "faith" our belief that to him 2 plus 2 ought to equal 5. We don't want to be narrow-minded or dogmatic about the thing so let's make 2 plus 2 equal five on Mondays. Imagine the chaos! Parts would not fit! Planes would fall out of the sky! Not to mention the basic fact that 2 plus 2 could not possibly equal 5!!!

Why are so many who DEPEND ON ABSOLUTES in every part of life not willing to accept them when it comes to how we should live our lives? Consider the words of Jesus:

"[19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (John 3:19-20)

"[40] And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." (John 5:40)

And Paul:

"[1] And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;...... [3b] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." (Ephesians 1 & 3b)

But let's not forget the GOOD NEWS!

Ephesians 2

[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
[5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For more info on God's salvation, GO TO http://www.kism-nc.org/romanswalk.htm