Lately, I have been fighting an internal theological battle, but I am keeping it inside no more. This mental wrangling revolves around a debate about what is required to be saved. Are we saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ or is it by totally surrendering to Christ's lordship? Yesterday I read a Facebook post that assumed a girl was a Christian because she wore a cross necklace. Then they went on to condemn the girl for wearing tempting clothing! Then they said, "there is no such thing as a carnal Christian!" (1 Corinthians 3 and Gal 6:1 describe carnal Christians) This self righteousness is invading our churches and it is destructive.
If you are in a church that teaches that you are saved by keeping certain requirements or by totally surrendering, listen to the message carefully. Either we are saved by believing in God's unmerited favor given through Jesus, or as they say, all that plus "total surrender". It reminds me of a verse out of the Book of Mormon. In 2 Nephi 25:23, it says, "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." That phrase, "after all we can do" is resonating now from protestant pulpits all over our nation. It is developing self righteous condemnation of those who don't look saved enough to be called brothers or sisters. In Ephesians 2:8-9, it clearly states that it is "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." Yet this message is being heard less and less as something called Lordship Salvation is taking hold.
In 2 Corinthians 5:21, we clearly see that God made Jesus "who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." It is by Him that we are able to meet God's righteous standard. It is not by what we can do for Him to be good enough to deserve His grace!
If you are in a church that teaches that you are saved by keeping certain requirements or by totally surrendering, listen to the message carefully. Either we are saved by believing in God's unmerited favor given through Jesus, or as they say, all that plus "total surrender". It reminds me of a verse out of the Book of Mormon. In 2 Nephi 25:23, it says, "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." That phrase, "after all we can do" is resonating now from protestant pulpits all over our nation. It is developing self righteous condemnation of those who don't look saved enough to be called brothers or sisters. In Ephesians 2:8-9, it clearly states that it is "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." Yet this message is being heard less and less as something called Lordship Salvation is taking hold.
In 2 Corinthians 5:21, we clearly see that God made Jesus "who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." It is by Him that we are able to meet God's righteous standard. It is not by what we can do for Him to be good enough to deserve His grace!
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