Earning Salvation?
Jul 13, 2019 19:13:08 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Jul 13, 2019 19:13:08 GMT -5
Earning Salvation?
First, Salvation from what?, is the question. What exactly is it that we need to be saved from? Well, contrary to popular or secular opinion, which considers aging and death as natural, the Bible tells us that the deterioration of aging followed by death are a consequence of an inherited sinful condition passed on to us by our first parents Adam and Eve.
Romans 5:12 ►ESV
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
King James Bible
1 cor 15:26
25For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
The original intention was that they should live forever along with their offspring-us. But once they chose disobedience, they became flawed physically and began to age and die. This aging and dying without any hope would have continued forever had God not provided an escape
John 17:3
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Revelation 21:4
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
There is also salvation from God's destruction of those who choose to defy him by living wicked lives. Those who prefer a universe were sin is allowed, condoned and even encouraged. These he tells us will be destroyed in a war called Armageddon.
www.saviourofall.org/Tracts/TheWrathOfGod.html
So those are the things being referred to when the scriptures mention being saved.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a misconception among certain people who choose to call themselves Christian, that salvation can be earned. Three ways in which this is attempted are: Isolation, Constant preaching and Church Attendance, and Confession and Penance.
Isolation:
Under this category are individuals who called monks who seclude themselves in remote monastaries far from all worldly temptations and even take on temporary vows of total silence. Also, the Amish do something similar but less drastic by separating themselves from modern society and dressing and grooming themselves in a distinct way.
Constant Preaching and Church attendance:
In the case of Jehovah's witnesses, it's related not only to living a morally clean life, but on the frequency of attending meetings and preaching. In both cases, behavior is seen as increasing the probability that the person will gain God's approval and maintain God's approval or lose it if the activity is not maintained to an acceptable degree.
Confession and Penance
Then we have Catholics with their confession booths and penances. Say so many hail Maries and your sins are forgiven until next confession where another penance will be required for another type of sin. Each time the person walks away feeling forgiven for having confessed and for having done penance and feels that he will earn eternal life in that manner.
Flawed Idea
In all these cases, the basic idea is that salvation can be EARNED. But exactly how scriptural is this idea? Is it in fact a Christian idea? Or is it a notion based on misundersatanding of the scriptures. Well, as it turns out, it is a misunderstanding of the scriptures.
Is the misunderstanding a justifiable one? Is the Bible unclear about what is needed in order to obtain forgiveness? No, the Bible is very clear on what is needed in order to be forgiven and have the assurance of eternal life as mentioned earlier. It is faith in the Ransom sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and not based on our efforts. It is by grace or undeserved kindness that we are forgiven. It is referred to as a gift, and something that we cannot earn.
Eph 2:9
…8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
2 Timothy 1:9
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our own works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time eternal.
Titus 3:5
He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.