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While I was teaching the bible in my local church one Sunday, a brother asked me a very important question. And the question was 'why do you always preach salvation?' . This is an important question in every circumstance when it comes to the meeting of the Saints. But when this fellow brother in Christ asked this impressive question, I could sense an unrest in him. For the way he spew out the question clearly expressed some dislike towards the repetition of salvation teachings. I understood him. Most of us Christians think that we've got the basic doctrines done. And therefore, we must move on to other 'advanced' doctrines. But that's not true. There's no stages when it comes to the teachings and learning of doctrines. There's no rank in doctrines. All the doctrines are important at all times. For we must uphold all of them together at the same time. We can't leave salvation in a hidden box and supposedly move on to other more important and advanced ones.
Whenever I read Apostle Pauls epistles to the churches, one thing stands out. He never misses the opportunity to talk about salvation. As a preacher, how will I know the time God has apportioned to save someone ?. As a matter of fact, I wasn't always preaching salvation. But the brother said that to express his impatience to me in a hyperbolic way. Am I writing this post to defend myself? God forbid. How would I waste such a precious time of yours talking about such stories which won't benefit your soul. Let us then move on to address some issues concerning salvation.
Salvation is not about being immune to difficulties.
I remember some time ago when I used to believe the lie that when I become a 'true' Christian and obey God perfectly, I might possibly be the richest man on earth. So when I wasn't becoming a rich man, I doubted my salvation. I thought maybe I wasn't following God in the right way or perhaps God has failed to prosper me. That is in fact a palatable lie that can easily be swallowed. It's not surprising that many church fellows have it. But someone may comment that since it doesn't harm then it must be a good thing. It would be okay if this question comes from an unbeliever. Pathetically, most of such comments proceed from the mouths of church people. And these same people are the once who are impatient towards the teachings of basic stuffs. They've not even understood the basic important stuffs but are forcing themselves to a so called more important ones. Such people need the Gospel itself. To think that God must give you money in response to your salvation is to prove that you never received His salvation. Because there's no promise of such in the new covenant. Let's think for a moment. Did God hate Paul?
Because Paul dedicated verses to talk about his difficulties. Paul introduced chapter 11 of first Corinthians with these unpredictable words
'I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. (2 Corinthians 11:1, NASB)'
He perfectly knew that what he was going to boast about will be insane to those who've bought into the lies of easy living form of Christianity. Here are his words concerning his difficulties;
'23 Are they servants of Christ?--I speak as if insane--I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (2 Corinthians 11:23-27, NASB)'
Thats unthinkable. And this verse strikes a death blow through the heart of the idea that Christians must live a life of no difficulty. Did God hate Paul, big no. For If prosperity in Christ is measured by these wealth and health and fame, then God hated Paul. That's why I know that God doesn't measure His standard of Christian living by them.
Salvation is not about doing good.
What do I mean by that. There are some folks who also believe that because they do good to others, they are qualified to go to heaven. But the bible says that 'THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." (Romans 3:12, NASB)'. The second phrase in this verse is worth notice ,'Not even one'. I think here Paul was shutting the mouths of those who would elevate themselves above the rule that there's no one good. Without that confirming phrase, a hypocrite might have said, 'it's I alone who's good'. But no. There's no chance for that. 'But I am a good person, can't you see how I provide for the poor, pay my taxes, love my family and others?' says another man. Okay. You're right but there's none good. There's none righteous. We are not saved by our goodness but Christ's goodness. Haven't you read this that 'all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (Isaiah 64:6, NASB)' . Am I saying that Christians are bad people? God forbid. For how can the one who've received such a powerful regeneration from God continue to live in sin?. That'll be a proof that one has never been saved. But were we saved because of our righteous living?, no. We were saved because of Christs righteousness that was imputed to us. We must also note that this salvation is a powerful thing. It's Author describes it as a born-again experience where one receives a new life. A new heart and a new affection. That person does good because God has already being good to him. That person loves because God has first loves him. All that the Christian does is something he or she has learnt from his Master Jesus Christ whom he follows as a disciple. There's a danger attached to relying on one's goodness and self-righteousness as a ticket to heaven. Jesus told the people;
22 Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' (Matthew 7:22-23, NASB)
And if in case you're still relying upon your goodness, then we have to forsake them all, repent and look into Jesus, the absolute righteous MAN who died on the cross for our sins and by so doing gave us the chance to live with him Him for eternity in heaven. Repent and believe in Him for the Salvation of your soul.
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