“Do you believe that ‘once
saved, always saved’ is true?” he asked me. Obviously the man was looking
for an argument, his mind already mind up. I smiled because like most clichés it was true
on the surface but left much unsaid and misunderstood. Some repeat that line like a mantra, excusing
huge holes in their Christian life and personal devotion. Others scoff at it
and live in perpetual fear that they are not ‘good enough for God.’ For those of you not in on the old debate, the
question is about having trusted Christ as Savior, can a person lose their way,
falling back into sin, and be alienated from the Lord?
My thought when questioned about that is why is it
important? If we love God, we choose to live close to Him, we follow and obey
the Spirit and the issue is non-existent, is it not? I compare it to a married person asking, “How
much do I have to love my spouse in order to stay married?” Marriage is not
just a legal contract conditioned on fidelity. It is a covenant that is fed and
nurtured, not because of
obligation, but in devotion.
John encourages me with this truth. "This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving
God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands.
And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the
world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is
it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
(1 John 5:1-5, NIV) If we claim to know Christ Jesus and responded
to the invitation to faith, there will be observable evidence of an inward
change. What is it? That love will show in our choices. We will obey our
Father. Moreover, that devotion will not be something we sigh about, complain
over, or look for a minimal compliance. No,
it will not be a heavy burden to live for Him, it will be our delight! Why? Because our focus will not be on our
ability to be holy, but on Him who is transforming us, inside out.
The Christian religion puts the focus on the goodness of the
person. Be good. Don’t sin. Go to church. Don’t … don’t … don’t! That is at
the least an extremely immature way of understanding the way of Jesus and, at
worst, it is a lie that robs the one attempting on his own to do what only God,
the Holy Spirit, can do through faith and by grace of true peace and genuine
salvation! The Word tells us that God intervened,
sent His Son to erase the blot of human disobedience. How do we get in on that
promise? We believe and trust. "God
saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this;
it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have
done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has
created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us
long ago." (Ephesians 2:8-10, NLT)
That profound truth of amazing grace will inevitably change the way we live. Stop asking the question
about whether you are ‘eternally secure.’ Instead focus on the majesty of the
Gospel, shown us in Christ Jesus.
Here is a word from the Word, a real promise and an
invitation for a Monday morning. "So, then, if with Christ you’ve put
all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let
yourselves be bullied by it? “Don’t touch this! Don’t taste that! Don’t go near
this!” Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that
kind of attention?" (Colossians
2:20-22, The Message) "If you’re serious about living this new
resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ
presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things
right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around
Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old
life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to
spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life." (Colossians 3:1-4,
The Message)
Don’t leave Jesus at your church, take Him with you to work
today and let the whole world see His love in you, for you, and through you.
__________
This Is Amazing Grace
Who breaks the power
of sin and darkness
Whose love is mighty
and so much stronger
The King of Glory the
King above all kings
Who shakes the whole
earth with holy thunder
Who leaves us
breathless in awe and wonder
The King of Glory the
King above all kings
This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my
place
That You would bear my
cross
You laid down Your
life
That I would be set
free
Oh Jesus I sing for
all that You've done for me
Who brings our chaos
back into order
Who makes the orphan a
son and daughter
The King of Glory the
King of Glory
Who rules the nations
with truth and justice
Shines like the sun in
all of its brilliance
The King of Glory the
King above all kings
Jeremy Riddle | Josh Farro | Phil Wickham
© 2012 Phil Wickham Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Seems Like Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
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